diff --git a/mpl_interactions/generic.py b/mpl_interactions/generic.py
index 3968e15..bc63484 100644
--- a/mpl_interactions/generic.py
+++ b/mpl_interactions/generic.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 from matplotlib.pyplot import close, ioff, subplots
 from matplotlib.widgets import LassoSelector
 from numpy import asanyarray, asarray, max, min
+from packaging.version import parse
 
 from .controller import gogogo_controls, prep_scalars
 from .helpers import (
@@ -32,6 +33,24 @@
 ]
 
 
+def compare_version(v1, v2):
+    """Compare two version strings.
+
+    Returns:
+        -1 if v1 < v2
+         0 if v1 == v2
+         1 if v1 > v2
+    """
+    p1 = parse(v1)
+    p2 = parse(v2)
+    if p1 < p2:
+        return -1
+    elif p1 > p2:
+        return 1
+    else:
+        return 0
+
+
 def heatmap_slicer(
     X,
     Y,
@@ -517,7 +536,7 @@ def __init__(
         default_props = {"color": "black", "linewidth": 1, "alpha": 0.8}
         if (props is None) and (lineprops is None):
             props = default_props
-        elif (lineprops is not None) and (mpl_version >= "3.7"):
+        elif (lineprops is not None) and (compare_version(mpl_version, "3.7") == 1):
             print("*lineprops* is deprecated in matplotlib 3.7+,  please use *props*")
             props = {"color": "black", "linewidth": 1, "alpha": 0.8}
 
@@ -528,7 +547,7 @@ def __init__(
         if isinstance(lasso_mousebutton, str):
             lasso_mousebutton = button_dict[lasso_mousebutton.lower()]
 
-        if mpl_version < "3.7":
+        if compare_version(mpl_version, "3.7") == -1:
             self.lasso = LassoSelector(
                 self.ax, self._onselect, lineprops=props, useblit=useblit, button=lasso_mousebutton
             )