diff --git a/bluesky/resourcepath.py b/bluesky/resourcepath.py
index cc59a24a95..4ff8b118e3 100644
--- a/bluesky/resourcepath.py
+++ b/bluesky/resourcepath.py
@@ -2,8 +2,13 @@
 import shutil
 import itertools
 from pathlib import Path
-from importlib.resources import files
-from importlib.readers import MultiplexedPath
+try:
+    from importlib.resources import files
+    from importlib.readers import MultiplexedPath
+except ImportError:
+    # Python < 3.9 only provides deprecated resources API
+    from importlib_resources import files
+    from importlib_resources.readers import MultiplexedPath
 
 
 class ResourcePath(MultiplexedPath):
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index e29fd5ae8e..275cb67376 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Always prefer setuptools over distutils
 import os
+import sys
 from pathlib import Path
 from setuptools import setup, find_packages, Extension
 import configparser
@@ -16,6 +17,9 @@
 with open(os.path.join(here, 'requirements.txt'), encoding='utf-8') as f:
     install_requires = f.readlines()
 
+# If Python version < 3.9, add importlib_resources requirement
+if sys.version_info.major == 3 and sys.version_info.minor < 9:
+    install_requires.append('importlib_resources')
 
 # get extra requirements from setup.cfg
 parser = configparser.ConfigParser()