diff --git a/feeadjuster/clnutils.py b/feeadjuster/clnutils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..68161ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/feeadjuster/clnutils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import re
+
+
+def cln_parse_rpcversion(string):
+    """
+    Parse cln version string to determine RPC version.
+
+    cln switched from 'semver' alike    `major.minor.sub[rcX][-mod]`
+    to ubuntu style with version 22.11  `yy.mm[.patch][-mod]`
+    make sure we can read all of them for (the next 80 years).
+    """
+    rpcversion = string
+    if rpcversion.startswith('v'):  # strip leading 'v'
+        rpcversion = rpcversion[1:]
+    if rpcversion.find('-') != -1:  # strip mods
+        rpcversion = rpcversion[:rpcversion.find('-')]
+    if re.search('.*(rc[\\d]*)$', rpcversion):  # strip release candidates
+        rpcversion = rpcversion[:rpcversion.find('rc')]
+    if rpcversion.count('.') == 1:  # imply patch version 0 if not given
+        rpcversion = rpcversion + '.0'
+
+    # split and convert numeric string parts to actual integers
+    return list(map(int, rpcversion.split('.')))
diff --git a/feeadjuster/feeadjuster.py b/feeadjuster/feeadjuster.py
index 355c065..72c5677 100755
--- a/feeadjuster/feeadjuster.py
+++ b/feeadjuster/feeadjuster.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 import random
-import semver
 import statistics
 import time
 import math
+from clnutils import cln_parse_rpcversion
 from pyln.client import Plugin, Millisatoshi, RpcError
 from threading import Lock
 
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ def forward_event(plugin: Plugin, forward_event: dict, **kwargs):
         out_scid = forward_event["out_channel"]
         maybe_add_new_balances(plugin, [in_scid, out_scid])
 
-        if plugin.rpcversion.major == 0 and plugin.rpcversion.minor < 12:
+        if plugin.rpcversion[0] == 0 and plugin.rpcversion[1] < 12:
             plugin.adj_balances[in_scid]["our"] += int(forward_event["in_msatoshi"])
             plugin.adj_balances[out_scid]["our"] -= int(forward_event["out_msatoshi"])
         else:
@@ -287,14 +287,9 @@ def feeadjuster_toggle(plugin: Plugin, value: bool = None):
 
 @plugin.init()
 def init(options: dict, configuration: dict, plugin: Plugin, **kwargs):
-    # parse semver string to determine RPC version
-    # strip leading 'v' although semver should ignore it, but it doesn't.
+    # do all the stuff that needs to be done just once ...
     plugin.getinfo = plugin.rpc.getinfo()
-    rpcversion = plugin.getinfo.get('version')
-    if rpcversion.startswith('v'):
-        rpcversion = rpcversion[1:]
-    plugin.rpcversion = semver.VersionInfo.parse(rpcversion)
-
+    plugin.rpcversion = cln_parse_rpcversion(plugin.getinfo.get('version'))
     plugin.our_node_id = plugin.getinfo["id"]
     plugin.deactivate_fuzz = options.get("feeadjuster-deactivate-fuzz")
     plugin.forward_event_subscription = not options.get("feeadjuster-deactivate-fee-update")
diff --git a/feeadjuster/requirements.txt b/feeadjuster/requirements.txt
index 38ec7a5..7ebb30e 100644
--- a/feeadjuster/requirements.txt
+++ b/feeadjuster/requirements.txt
@@ -1,2 +1 @@
 pyln-client>=0.12
-semver==2.*
diff --git a/feeadjuster/test_clnutils.py b/feeadjuster/test_clnutils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..002e5c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/feeadjuster/test_clnutils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+from clnutils import cln_parse_rpcversion
+
+
+def test_rpcversion():
+    foo = cln_parse_rpcversion("0.11.2")
+    assert(foo[0] == 0)
+    assert(foo[1] == 11)
+    assert(foo[2] == 2)
+
+    foo = cln_parse_rpcversion("0.11.2rc2-modded")
+    assert(foo[0] == 0)
+    assert(foo[1] == 11)
+    assert(foo[2] == 2)
+
+    foo = cln_parse_rpcversion("22.11")
+    assert(foo[0] == 22)
+    assert(foo[1] == 11)
+    assert(foo[2] == 0)
+
+    foo = cln_parse_rpcversion("22.11rc1")
+    assert(foo[0] == 22)
+    assert(foo[1] == 11)
+    assert(foo[2] == 0)
+
+    foo = cln_parse_rpcversion("22.11rc1-modded")
+    assert(foo[0] == 22)
+    assert(foo[1] == 11)
+    assert(foo[2] == 0)
+
+    foo = cln_parse_rpcversion("22.11-modded")
+    assert(foo[0] == 22)
+    assert(foo[1] == 11)
+    assert(foo[2] == 0)
+
+    foo = cln_parse_rpcversion("22.11.0")
+    assert(foo[0] == 22)
+    assert(foo[1] == 11)
+    assert(foo[2] == 0)
+
+    foo = cln_parse_rpcversion("22.11.1")
+    assert(foo[0] == 22)
+    assert(foo[1] == 11)
+    assert(foo[2] == 1)