diff --git a/sopel/plugins/handlers.py b/sopel/plugins/handlers.py
index d4e41aef23..051b5d99e7 100644
--- a/sopel/plugins/handlers.py
+++ b/sopel/plugins/handlers.py
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@
 from __future__ import generator_stop
 
 import abc
-import imp
 import importlib
 import inspect
 import itertools
@@ -53,13 +52,6 @@
 from sopel import loader
 from . import exceptions
 
-try:
-    reload = importlib.reload
-except AttributeError:
-    # py2: no reload function
-    # TODO: imp is deprecated, to be removed when py2 support is dropped
-    reload = imp.reload
-
 
 class AbstractPluginHandler(abc.ABC):
     """Base class for plugin handlers.
@@ -303,7 +295,7 @@ def reload(self):
 
         This method assumes the plugin is already loaded.
         """
-        self._module = reload(self._module)
+        self._module = importlib.reload(self._module)
 
     def is_loaded(self):
         return self._module is not None