diff --git a/telethon/_updates/messagebox.py b/telethon/_updates/messagebox.py
index 536172a3a..da10100ff 100644
--- a/telethon/_updates/messagebox.py
+++ b/telethon/_updates/messagebox.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 from enum import Enum
 from .session import SessionState, ChannelState
 from ..tl import types as tl, functions as fn
+from ..helpers import get_running_loop
 
 
 # Telegram sends `seq` equal to `0` when "it doesn't matter", so we use that value too.
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@
 _sentinel = object()
 
 def next_updates_deadline():
-    return asyncio.get_running_loop().time() + NO_UPDATES_TIMEOUT
+    return get_running_loop().time() + NO_UPDATES_TIMEOUT
 
 
 class GapError(ValueError):
@@ -237,7 +238,7 @@ def check_deadlines(self):
         If a deadline expired, the corresponding entries will be marked as needing to get its difference.
         While there are entries pending of getting their difference, this method returns the current instant.
         """
-        now = asyncio.get_running_loop().time()
+        now = get_running_loop().time()
 
         if self.getting_diff_for:
             return now
@@ -283,7 +284,7 @@ def reset_deadline(self, entry, deadline):
 
     # Convenience to reset a channel's deadline, with optional timeout.
     def reset_channel_deadline(self, channel_id, timeout):
-        self.reset_deadline(channel_id, asyncio.get_running_loop().time() + (timeout or NO_UPDATES_TIMEOUT))
+        self.reset_deadline(channel_id, get_running_loop().time() + (timeout or NO_UPDATES_TIMEOUT))
 
     # Reset all the deadlines in `reset_deadlines_for` and then empty the set.
     def apply_deadlines_reset(self):
@@ -496,7 +497,7 @@ def apply_pts_info(
                 # TODO store chats too?
                 if pts.entry not in self.possible_gaps:
                     self.possible_gaps[pts.entry] = PossibleGap(
-                        deadline=asyncio.get_running_loop().time() + POSSIBLE_GAP_TIMEOUT,
+                        deadline=get_running_loop().time() + POSSIBLE_GAP_TIMEOUT,
                         updates=[]
                     )
 
diff --git a/telethon/client/updates.py b/telethon/client/updates.py
index 802b99f92..ac2067971 100644
--- a/telethon/client/updates.py
+++ b/telethon/client/updates.py
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 from ..events.common import EventBuilder, EventCommon
 from ..tl import types, functions
 from .._updates import GapError, PrematureEndReason
+from ..helpers import get_running_loop
+
 
 if typing.TYPE_CHECKING:
     from .telegramclient import TelegramClient
@@ -358,7 +360,7 @@ async def _update_loop(self: 'TelegramClient'):
                     continue
 
                 deadline = self._message_box.check_deadlines()
-                deadline_delay = deadline - asyncio.get_running_loop().time()
+                deadline_delay = deadline - get_running_loop().time()
                 if deadline_delay > 0:
                     # Don't bother sleeping and timing out if the delay is already 0 (pollutes the logs).
                     try:
diff --git a/telethon/helpers.py b/telethon/helpers.py
index aac058b08..9ddfe470a 100644
--- a/telethon/helpers.py
+++ b/telethon/helpers.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 import inspect
 import logging
 import functools
+import sys
 from pathlib import Path
 from hashlib import sha1
 
@@ -423,3 +424,9 @@ def close(self, *args, **kwargs):
         pass
 
 # endregion
+
+def get_running_loop():
+    if sys.version_info[:2] <= (3, 6):
+        return asyncio._get_running_loop()
+
+    return asyncio.get_running_loop()