diff --git a/geopandas/_compat.py b/geopandas/_compat.py
index fa86961..8cb4fc7 100644
--- a/geopandas/_compat.py
+++ b/geopandas/_compat.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ PANDAS_GE_11 = str(pd.__version__) >= LooseVersion("1.1.0.dev")
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
-SHAPELY_GE_17 = str(shapely.__version__) >= LooseVersion("1.7.0")
+SHAPELY_GE_17 = True
 
 HAS_PYGEOS = None
 USE_PYGEOS = None