diff --git a/backportpackage b/backportpackage
index 320486b..13a7a5e 100755
--- a/backportpackage
+++ b/backportpackage
@@ -27,7 +27,10 @@ import sys
 import tempfile
 from urllib.parse import quote
 
-import lsb_release
+try:
+    import lsb_release
+except ImportError:
+    lsb_release = None
 from httplib2 import Http, HttpLib2Error
 from distro_info import DebianDistroInfo, UbuntuDistroInfo
 
@@ -396,11 +399,17 @@ def main(args):
     Launchpad.login_anonymously(service=opts.lpinstance)
 
     if not opts.dest_releases:
-        distinfo = lsb_release.get_distro_information()
-        try:
-            current_distro = distinfo['ID']
-        except KeyError:
-            error('No destination release specified and unable to guess yours.')
+        if lsb_release:
+            distinfo = lsb_release.get_distro_information()
+            try:
+                current_distro = distinfo['ID']
+            except KeyError:
+                error('No destination release specified and unable to guess yours.')
+        else:
+            err, current_distro = subprocess.getstatusoutput('lsb_release --id --short')
+            if err:
+                error('Could not run lsb_release to retrieve distribution')
+
         if current_distro == "Ubuntu":
             opts.dest_releases = [UbuntuDistroInfo().lts()]
         if current_distro == "Debian":