diff --git a/.github/workflows/packaging-test.yml b/.github/workflows/packaging-test.yml
index 5ecbc3e513..5821073157 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/packaging-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/packaging-test.yml
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ jobs:
     - uses: pypa/cibuildwheel@v2.21
       env:
         CIBW_ARCHS_MACOS: universal2
-        CIBW_BUILD: cp39-win_amd64 cp310-manylinux_x86_64 cp38-macosx_universal2
+        CIBW_BUILD: cp39-win_amd64 cp310-manylinux_x86_64 cp39-macosx_universal2
       with:
         config-file: cibuildwheel.toml
         package-dir: awkward-cpp
diff --git a/awkward-cpp/src/awkward_cpp/cpu_kernels.py b/awkward-cpp/src/awkward_cpp/cpu_kernels.py
index 20e18fdd7a..e1bcd186be 100644
--- a/awkward-cpp/src/awkward_cpp/cpu_kernels.py
+++ b/awkward-cpp/src/awkward_cpp/cpu_kernels.py
@@ -3,13 +3,8 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import ctypes
+import importlib.resources as importlib_resources
 import platform
-import sys
-
-if sys.version_info < (3, 9):
-    import importlib_resources
-else:
-    import importlib.resources as importlib_resources
 
 import awkward_cpp._kernel_signatures
 
diff --git a/awkward-cpp/src/awkward_cpp/libawkward.py b/awkward-cpp/src/awkward_cpp/libawkward.py
index 2cf9f85e7a..c6bdb5f52c 100644
--- a/awkward-cpp/src/awkward_cpp/libawkward.py
+++ b/awkward-cpp/src/awkward_cpp/libawkward.py
@@ -3,13 +3,8 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import ctypes
+import importlib.resources as importlib_resources
 import platform
-import sys
-
-if sys.version_info < (3, 9):
-    import importlib_resources
-else:
-    import importlib.resources as importlib_resources
 
 if platform.system() == "Windows":
     name = "awkward.dll"