diff --git a/py/impl/test/looponfail/remote.py b/py/impl/test/looponfail/remote.py
index 712475b78..7df75b661 100644
--- a/py/impl/test/looponfail/remote.py
+++ b/py/impl/test/looponfail/remote.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ class RemoteControl(object):
             py.builtin.print_("RemoteControl:", msg)
 
     def initgateway(self):
-        return execnet.PopenGateway()
+        return execnet.makegateway("popen")
 
     def setup(self, out=None):
         if out is None:
diff --git a/py/plugin/pytest_default.py b/py/plugin/pytest_default.py
index ae5540d11..96ad78321 100644
--- a/py/plugin/pytest_default.py
+++ b/py/plugin/pytest_default.py
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ try:
     import execnet
 except ImportError:
     execnet = None
+else:
+    if not hasattr(execnet, 'Group'):
+        execnet = None
 
 def pytest_pyfunc_call(__multicall__, pyfuncitem):
     if not __multicall__.execute():
@@ -70,7 +73,7 @@ def pytest_addoption(parser):
         add_dist_options(parser)
     else:
         parser.epilog = (
-        "'execnet' package required for --looponfailing / distributed testing.")
+        "'execnet>=1.0.0b4' package required for --looponfailing / distributed testing.")
 
 def add_dist_options(parser):
     #  see http://pytest.org/help/dist")