--- a/paste/httpheaders.py
+++ b/paste/httpheaders.py
@@ -137,7 +137,10 @@
 import mimetypes
 import urllib2
 import re
-from rfc822 import formatdate, parsedate_tz, mktime_tz
+try:
+    from rfc822 import formatdate, parsedate_tz, mktime_tz
+except ImportError:
+    from email.utils import formatdate, parsedate_tz, mktime_tz
 from time import time as now
 from httpexceptions import HTTPBadRequest