diff --git a/pkg_resources/__init__.py b/pkg_resources/__init__.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/pkg_resources/__init__.py
+++ b/pkg_resources/__init__.py
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import plistlib
 import email.parser
 import tempfile
 import textwrap
+import itertools
 from pkgutil import get_importer
 
 try:
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@ if PY3:
 
 if PY2:
     from urlparse import urlparse, urlunparse
+    filter = itertools.ifilter
 
 if PY3:
     string_types = str,
Always use Python 3 filter in pkg_resources