diff --git a/swift/common/utils/checksum.py b/swift/common/utils/checksum.py
index 9f9a273ebc..dc1b88bd6d 100644
--- a/swift/common/utils/checksum.py
+++ b/swift/common/utils/checksum.py
@@ -43,14 +43,20 @@ def find_isal():
         # with isal baked in?
         try:
             import pyeclib  # noqa
-            from importlib.metadata import files as pkg_files  # py38+
+            from importlib.metadata import \
+                files as pkg_files, PackageNotFoundError  # py38+
         except ImportError:
             pass
         else:
-            pyeclib_files = pkg_files('pyeclib')
-            if not pyeclib_files:
-                # see https://docs.python.org/3/library/importlib.metadata.html
-                raise RuntimeError('pyeclib installed but missing files')
+            # Assume busted installs won't have it
+            try:
+                pyeclib_files = pkg_files('pyeclib')
+                if pyeclib_files is None:
+                    # Have a dist-info, but no RECORD file??
+                    pyeclib_files = []
+            except PackageNotFoundError:
+                # Could import pyeclib, but no dist-info directory??
+                pyeclib_files = []
             isal_libs = [f for f in pyeclib_files
                          if f.name.startswith("libisal")]
             if len(isal_libs) == 1:
diff --git a/test/unit/common/utils/test_checksum.py b/test/unit/common/utils/test_checksum.py
index 87ffe29bac..a17642d534 100644
--- a/test/unit/common/utils/test_checksum.py
+++ b/test/unit/common/utils/test_checksum.py
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 # implied.
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
-
 import sys
 import unittest
 from unittest import mock
@@ -25,16 +24,52 @@ from test.unit import requires_crc32c, requires_crc64nvme
 
 
 class TestModuleFunctions(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_find_isal_sys_package_preferred(self):
+        with mock.patch('ctypes.util.find_library', return_value='my-isal.so'):
+            with mock.patch('ctypes.CDLL', return_value='fake') as mock_cdll:
+                self.assertEqual('fake', checksum.find_isal())
+        self.assertEqual([mock.call('my-isal.so')], mock_cdll.call_args_list)
+
+    @unittest.skipIf(
+        sys.version_info.major == 3 and sys.version_info.minor < 8,
+        "importlib.metadata not available until py3.8")
+    def test_find_isal_pyeclib_install_found(self):
+        mock_pkg = mock.MagicMock()
+        mock_pkg.locate = mock.MagicMock(return_value='fake-pkg')
+        with mock.patch('ctypes.util.find_library', return_value=None):
+            with mock.patch('ctypes.CDLL', return_value='fake') as mock_cdll:
+                with mock.patch('importlib.metadata.files',
+                                return_value=[mock_pkg]):
+                    self.assertEqual('fake', checksum.find_isal())
+        self.assertEqual([mock.call('fake-pkg')], mock_cdll.call_args_list)
+
+    @unittest.skipIf(
+        sys.version_info.major == 3 and sys.version_info.minor < 8,
+        "importlib.metadata not available until py3.8")
+    def test_find_isal_pyeclib_install_not_found(self):
+        mock_pkg = mock.MagicMock()
+        mock_pkg.locate = mock.MagicMock(return_value='fake-pkg')
+        with mock.patch('ctypes.util.find_library', return_value=None):
+            with mock.patch('importlib.metadata.files', return_value=[]):
+                self.assertIsNone(checksum.find_isal())
+
     @unittest.skipIf(
         sys.version_info.major == 3 and sys.version_info.minor < 8,
         "importlib.metadata not available until py3.8")
     def test_find_isal_pyeclib_dist_missing_files(self):
         with mock.patch('ctypes.util.find_library', return_value=None):
             with mock.patch('importlib.metadata.files', return_value=None):
-                with self.assertRaises(RuntimeError) as cm:
-                    checksum.find_isal()
-        self.assertEqual('pyeclib installed but missing files',
-                         str(cm.exception))
+                self.assertIsNone(checksum.find_isal())
+
+    @unittest.skipIf(
+        sys.version_info.major == 3 and sys.version_info.minor < 8,
+        "importlib.metadata not available until py3.8")
+    def test_find_isal_pyeclib_dist_info_missing(self):
+        from importlib.metadata import PackageNotFoundError
+        with mock.patch('ctypes.util.find_library', return_value=None):
+            with mock.patch('importlib.metadata.files',
+                            side_effect=PackageNotFoundError):
+                self.assertIsNone(checksum.find_isal())
 
 
 # If you're curious about the 0xe3069283, see "check" at