diff --git a/AUTHORS b/AUTHORS
index 2e487e77226..895310caa48 100644
--- a/AUTHORS
+++ b/AUTHORS
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ Punyashloka Biswal
 Quentin Pradet
 Ralf Schmitt
 Raphael Pierzina
+Raquel Alegre
 Roberto Polli
 Romain Dorgueil
 Roman Bolshakov
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.rst b/CHANGELOG.rst
index d571a2bf3db..6c9aaaffa1a 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.rst
+++ b/CHANGELOG.rst
@@ -8,8 +8,9 @@
 
 * Fix loader error when running ``pytest`` embedded in a zipfile.
   Thanks `@mbachry`_ for the PR.
-
-*
+ 
+* Fix pkg_resources import error in Jython projects (`#1853`).
+  Thanks `@raquel-ucl`_ for the PR.
 
 *
 
diff --git a/_pytest/config.py b/_pytest/config.py
index 2a121581148..8d115ea6530 100644
--- a/_pytest/config.py
+++ b/_pytest/config.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 import types
 import warnings
 
-import pkg_resources
 import py
 # DON't import pytest here because it causes import cycle troubles
 import sys, os
@@ -950,6 +949,7 @@ def _consider_importhook(self, args, entrypoint_name):
             except SystemError:
                 mode = 'plain'
             else:
+                import pkg_resources
                 self.pluginmanager.rewrite_hook = hook
                 for entrypoint in pkg_resources.iter_entry_points('pytest11'):
                     for entry in entrypoint.dist._get_metadata('RECORD'):