diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 8fd41a22c..9abb9006d 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ classifiers = [
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12",
 ]
 dependencies = [
+    "backports.entry_points_selectable",
     "defusedxml", # For safely parsing XML files
     "pydantic<2", # Locked to <2 by zocalo
     "requests",
@@ -55,7 +56,6 @@ developer = [
 server = [
     # "matplotlib", # For visual statistical analysis of images
     "aiohttp",
-    "backports.entry_points_selectable",
     "cryptography",
     "fastapi[standard]",
     "ispyb", # Responsible for setting requirements for SQLAlchemy and mysql-connector-python; v10.0.0: sqlalchemy <2, mysql-connector-python >=8.0.32
diff --git a/src/murfey/client/context.py b/src/murfey/client/context.py
index 675f07679..5230a89bb 100644
--- a/src/murfey/client/context.py
+++ b/src/murfey/client/context.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, Dict, List, NamedTuple
 
-import importlib_metadata
+from backports.entry_points_selectable import entry_points
 
 from murfey.client.instance_environment import MurfeyInstanceEnvironment
 
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ def __init__(self, name: str, acquisition_software: str):
         self.name = name
 
     def post_transfer(self, transferred_file: Path, role: str = "", **kwargs):
-        for h in importlib_metadata.entry_points(group="murfey.post_transfer_hooks"):
+        # Search external packages for additional hooks to include in Murfey
+        for h in entry_points(group="murfey.post_transfer_hooks"):
             if h.name == self.name:
                 h.load()(transferred_file, role=role, **kwargs)
 
diff --git a/src/murfey/server/__init__.py b/src/murfey/server/__init__.py
index ae7abcf81..0165bf992 100644
--- a/src/murfey/server/__init__.py
+++ b/src/murfey/server/__init__.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 import time
 from datetime import datetime
 from functools import partial, singledispatch
+from importlib.resources import files
 from pathlib import Path
 from threading import Thread
 from typing import Any, Dict, List, NamedTuple, Tuple
@@ -17,8 +18,10 @@
 import uvicorn
 import workflows
 import zocalo.configuration
+from backports.entry_points_selectable import entry_points
 from fastapi import Request
 from fastapi.templating import Jinja2Templates
+from importlib_metadata import EntryPoint  # For type hinting only
 from ispyb.sqlalchemy._auto_db_schema import (
     AutoProcProgram,
     Base,
@@ -42,8 +45,10 @@
 import murfey
 import murfey.server.prometheus as prom
 import murfey.server.websocket
+import murfey.util.db as db
 from murfey.client.contexts.tomo import _midpoint
 from murfey.server.murfey_db import url  # murfey_db
+from murfey.util import LogFilter
 from murfey.util.config import (
     MachineConfig,
     get_hostname,
@@ -51,24 +56,14 @@
     get_microscope,
     get_security_config,
 )
+from murfey.util.spa_params import default_spa_parameters
+from murfey.util.state import global_state
 
 try:
     from murfey.server.ispyb import TransportManager  # Session
 except AttributeError:
     pass
-from backports.entry_points_selectable import entry_points
-from importlib_metadata import EntryPoint  # For type hinting only
 
-import murfey.util.db as db
-from murfey.util import LogFilter
-from murfey.util.spa_params import default_spa_parameters
-from murfey.util.state import global_state
-
-try:
-    from importlib.resources import files  # type: ignore
-except ImportError:
-    # Fallback for Python 3.8
-    from importlib_resources import files  # type: ignore
 
 logger = logging.getLogger("murfey.server")
 
diff --git a/src/murfey/server/main.py b/src/murfey/server/main.py
index 040bd313d..61ab08201 100644
--- a/src/murfey/server/main.py
+++ b/src/murfey/server/main.py
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 
 import logging
 import os
-import sys
 
+from backports.entry_points_selectable import entry_points
 from fastapi import FastAPI
 from fastapi.middleware.cors import CORSMiddleware
 from fastapi.staticfiles import StaticFiles
@@ -23,12 +23,6 @@
 from murfey.server import template_files
 from murfey.util.config import get_security_config
 
-# Use importlib_metadata based on Python version
-if sys.version_info < (3, 10):
-    from importlib_metadata import entry_points
-else:
-    from importlib.metadata import entry_points
-
 # Import Murfey server or demo server based on settings
 if os.getenv("MURFEY_DEMO"):
     from murfey.server.demo_api import router
@@ -82,5 +76,6 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
 app.include_router(murfey.server.api.hub.router)
 app.include_router(murfey.server.websocket.ws)
 
+# Search external packages for additional routers to include in Murfey
 for r in entry_points(group="murfey.routers"):
     app.include_router(r.load())