diff --git a/py/_com.py b/py/_com.py
index f8ed6fcfb..7f6fdf8ed 100644
--- a/py/_com.py
+++ b/py/_com.py
@@ -1,21 +1,5 @@
 """
-py lib plugins and events. 
-
-you can write plugins that extend the py lib API. 
-currently this is mostly used by py.test 
-
-registering a plugin
-++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
-
-::
-    >>> class MyPlugin:
-    ...    def pyevent__plugin_registered(self, plugin):
-    ...       print "registering", plugin.__class__.__name__
-    ... 
-    >>> import py
-    >>> py._com.pyplugins.register(MyPlugin())
-    registering MyPlugin
-
+py lib plugins and plugin call management
 """
 
 import py
@@ -92,7 +76,6 @@ class PyPlugins:
     def import_module(self, modspec):
         # XXX allow modspec to specify version / lookup 
         modpath = modspec
-        self.notify("importingmodule", modpath)
         __import__(modpath) 
 
     def consider_env(self):
@@ -155,13 +138,6 @@ class PyPlugins:
         return MultiCall(self.listattr(methname, plugins=[plugin]), 
                     *args, **kwargs).execute(firstresult=True)
 
-    def notify(self, eventname, *args, **kwargs):
-        #print "notifying", eventname, args, kwargs
-        MultiCall(self.listattr("pyevent__" + eventname), 
-             *args, **kwargs).execute()
-        #print "calling anonymous hooks", args, kwargs
-        MultiCall(self.listattr("pyevent"), eventname, args, kwargs).execute()
-
 
 class PluginAPI: 
     def __init__(self, apiclass, plugins=None):
diff --git a/py/initpkg.py b/py/initpkg.py
index 126bbc0de..fe5c73933 100644
--- a/py/initpkg.py
+++ b/py/initpkg.py
@@ -280,5 +280,4 @@ def autoimport(pkgname):
     ENVKEY = pkgname.upper() + "_AUTOIMPORT"
     if ENVKEY in os.environ:
         for impname in os.environ[ENVKEY].split(","):
-            py._com.pyplugins.notify("autoimport", impname)
             __import__(impname) 
diff --git a/py/misc/testing/test_com.py b/py/misc/testing/test_com.py
index 2c4eb1927..43bbde593 100644
--- a/py/misc/testing/test_com.py
+++ b/py/misc/testing/test_com.py
@@ -97,21 +97,6 @@ class TestPyPlugins:
         assert not plugins.isregistered(my)
         assert plugins.getplugins() == [my2]
 
-    def test_onregister(self):
-        plugins = PyPlugins()
-        l = []
-        class MyApi:
-            def pyevent__plugin_registered(self, plugin):
-                l.append(plugin)
-            def pyevent__plugin_unregistered(self, plugin):
-                l.remove(plugin)
-        myapi = MyApi()
-        plugins.register(myapi)
-        assert len(l) == 1
-        assert l[0] is myapi 
-        plugins.unregister(myapi)
-        assert not l
-
     def test_call_methods(self):
         plugins = PyPlugins()
         class api1:
@@ -175,21 +160,6 @@ class TestPyPlugins:
         l = list(plugins.listattr('x', reverse=True))
         assert l == [43, 42, 41]
 
-    def test_notify_anonymous_ordered(self):
-        plugins = PyPlugins()
-        l = []
-        class api1:
-            def pyevent__hello(self): 
-                l.append("hellospecific")
-        class api2:
-            def pyevent(self, name, args, kwargs): 
-                if name == "hello":
-                    l.append(name + "anonymous") 
-        plugins.register(api1())
-        plugins.register(api2())
-        plugins.notify('hello')
-        assert l == ["hellospecific", "helloanonymous"]
-
     def test_consider_env(self, monkeypatch):
         plugins = PyPlugins()
         monkeypatch.setitem(os.environ, 'PYLIB', "unknownconsider_env")
@@ -201,14 +171,7 @@ class TestPyPlugins:
         mod.pylib = ["xxx nomod"]
         excinfo = py.test.raises(ImportError, "plugins.consider_module(mod)")
         mod.pylib = "os"
-        class Events(list):
-            def pyevent__importingmodule(self, mod):
-                self.append(mod)
-        l = Events()
-        plugins.register(l)
         plugins.consider_module(mod)
-        assert len(l) == 1
-        assert l[0] == (mod.pylib)
 
 def test_api_and_defaults():
     assert isinstance(py._com.pyplugins, PyPlugins)
@@ -226,30 +189,6 @@ def test_subprocess_env(testdir, monkeypatch):
     finally:
         old.chdir()
 
-class TestPyPluginsEvents:
-    def test_pyevent__named_dispatch(self):
-        plugins = PyPlugins()
-        l = []
-        class A:
-            def pyevent__name(self, x): 
-                l.append(x)
-        plugins.register(A())
-        plugins.notify("name", 13)
-        assert l == [13]
-
-    def test_pyevent__anonymous_dispatch(self):
-        plugins = PyPlugins()
-        l = []
-        class A:
-            def pyevent(self, name, args, kwargs): 
-                if name == "name":
-                    l.extend([args, kwargs])
-
-        plugins.register(A())
-        plugins.notify("name", 13, x=15)
-        assert l == [(13, ), {'x':15}]
-
-
 class TestPluginAPI:
     def test_happypath(self):
         plugins = PyPlugins()
diff --git a/py/misc/warn.py b/py/misc/warn.py
index ad79c1b5d..30404a333 100644
--- a/py/misc/warn.py
+++ b/py/misc/warn.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class WarningPlugin(object):
                 filename = module
         path = py.path.local(filename)
         warning = Warning(msg, path, lineno)
-        self.bus.notify("WARNING", warning)
+        self.bus.call_each("pyevent__WARNING", warning)
 
 # singleton api warner for py lib 
 apiwarner = WarningPlugin(py._com.pyplugins)
diff --git a/py/test/config.py b/py/test/config.py
index d81058a76..3fbee0f1f 100644
--- a/py/test/config.py
+++ b/py/test/config.py
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class Config(object):
 
     def trace(self, msg):
         if getattr(self.option, 'traceconfig', None):
-            self.bus.notify("trace", "config", msg) 
+            self.api.pytest_trace(category="config", msg=msg)
 
     def _processopt(self, opt):
         if hasattr(opt, 'default') and opt.dest:
diff --git a/py/test/dist/dsession.py b/py/test/dist/dsession.py
index 3d91b11f1..a05a8c988 100644
--- a/py/test/dist/dsession.py
+++ b/py/test/dist/dsession.py
@@ -96,11 +96,9 @@ class DSession(Session):
         loopstate.dowork = True 
           
         callname, args, kwargs = eventcall
-        call = getattr(self.config.api, callname, None)
-        if call is not None:
+        if callname is not None:
+            call = getattr(self.config.api, callname)
             call(*args, **kwargs)
-        else:
-            self.bus.notify(callname, *args, **kwargs)
 
         # termination conditions
         if ((loopstate.testsfailed and self.config.option.exitfirst) or 
@@ -177,7 +175,7 @@ class DSession(Session):
             if isinstance(next, py.test.collect.Item):
                 senditems.append(next)
             else:
-                self.bus.notify("collectstart", next)
+                self.config.api.pytest_collectstart(collector=next)
                 self.queueevent("pytest_collectreport", basic_collect_report(next))
         if self.config.option.dist == "each":
             self.senditems_each(senditems)
diff --git a/py/test/dist/testing/test_dsession.py b/py/test/dist/testing/test_dsession.py
index c292b55d1..40acd4a46 100644
--- a/py/test/dist/testing/test_dsession.py
+++ b/py/test/dist/testing/test_dsession.py
@@ -129,9 +129,9 @@ class TestDSession:
         # check that RescheduleEvents are not immediately
         # rescheduled if there are no nodes
         assert loopstate.dowork == False 
-        session.queueevent("anonymous")
+        session.queueevent(None)
         session.loop_once(loopstate)
-        session.queueevent("anonymous")
+        session.queueevent(None)
         session.loop_once(loopstate)
         assert node.sent == [[item]]
         session.queueevent("pytest_itemtestreport", run(item, node))
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ class TestDSession:
         session.addnode(node)
         loopstate = session._initloopstate([item])
 
-        session.queueevent("NOP")
+        session.queueevent(None)
         session.loop_once(loopstate)
 
         assert node.sent == [[item]]
diff --git a/py/test/looponfail/remote.py b/py/test/looponfail/remote.py
index d07da54fd..dd3983ae9 100644
--- a/py/test/looponfail/remote.py
+++ b/py/test/looponfail/remote.py
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ def slave_runsession(channel, config, fullwidth, hasmarkup):
             try:
                 colitem = py.test.collect.Collector._fromtrail(trail, config)
             except AssertionError, e:  
-                #XXX session.bus.notify of "test disappeared"
+                #XXX send info for "test disappeared" or so
                 continue 
             colitems.append(colitem)
     else:
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest__pytest.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest__pytest.py
index 61ed7df26..adb18ee44 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest__pytest.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest__pytest.py
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ class CallRecorder:
     def finalize(self):
         for recorder in self._recorders.values():
             self._pyplugins.unregister(recorder)
+        self._recorders.clear()
 
     def recordsmethod(self, name):
         for apiclass in self._recorders:
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_pytester.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_pytester.py
index d8747f191..6dc759976 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_pytester.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_pytester.py
@@ -385,21 +385,20 @@ class EventRecorder(object):
 
     def clear(self):
         self.events[:] = []
+        self.callrecorder.calls[:] = []
 
     def unregister(self):
         self.pyplugins.unregister(self)
+        self.callrecorder.finalize()
 
-@py.test.mark.xfail
-def test_eventrecorder():
+def test_eventrecorder(testdir):
     bus = py._com.PyPlugins()
-    recorder = EventRecorder(bus)
-    bus.notify("anonymous")
-    assert recorder.events 
+    recorder = testdir.geteventrecorder(bus)
     assert not recorder.getfailures()
     rep = runner.ItemTestReport(None, None)
     rep.passed = False
     rep.failed = True
-    bus.notify("pytest_itemtestreport", rep)
+    bus.call_each("pytest_itemtestreport", rep=rep)
     failures = recorder.getfailures()
     assert failures == [rep]
     failures = recorder.getfailures()
@@ -408,12 +407,12 @@ def test_eventrecorder():
     rep = runner.ItemTestReport(None, None)
     rep.passed = False
     rep.skipped = True
-    bus.notify("pytest_itemtestreport", rep)
+    bus.call_each("pytest_itemtestreport", rep=rep)
 
     rep = runner.CollectReport(None, None)
     rep.passed = False
     rep.failed = True
-    bus.notify("pytest_itemtestreport", rep)
+    bus.call_each("pytest_itemtestreport", rep=rep)
 
     passed, skipped, failed = recorder.listoutcomes()
     assert not passed and skipped and failed
@@ -427,8 +426,7 @@ def test_eventrecorder():
     recorder.clear() 
     assert not recorder.events
     assert not recorder.getfailures()
-    bus.notify(pytest_itemtestreport, rep)
-    assert not recorder.events 
+    bus.call_each("pytest_itemtestreport", rep=rep)
     assert not recorder.getfailures()
 
 class LineComp:
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_runner.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_runner.py
index 98dbd41e0..749f143e1 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_runner.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_runner.py
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ class RunnerPlugin:
     def pytest_item_setup_and_runtest(self, item):
         setupstate = item.config._setupstate
         call = item.config.guardedcall(lambda: setupstate.prepare(item))
-        rep = ItemSetupReport(item, call.excinfo, call.outerr)
         if call.excinfo:
-            item.config.pytestplugins.notify(pytest_itemsetupreport, rep)
+            rep = ItemSetupReport(item, call.excinfo, call.outerr)
+            item.config.api.pytest_itemsetupreport(rep=rep)
         else:
             call = item.config.guardedcall(lambda: item.runtest())
             item.config.api.pytest_item_runtest_finished(
diff --git a/py/test/pytestplugin.py b/py/test/pytestplugin.py
index 4365841c1..4cac4b34d 100644
--- a/py/test/pytestplugin.py
+++ b/py/test/pytestplugin.py
@@ -79,9 +79,6 @@ class PytestPlugins(object):
         #print "plugins.call_each", args[0], args[1:], kwargs
         return self.pyplugins.call_each(*args, **kwargs)
 
-    def notify(self, eventname, *args, **kwargs):
-        return self.pyplugins.notify(eventname, *args, **kwargs)
-
     def notify_exception(self, excinfo=None):
         if excinfo is None:
             excinfo = py.code.ExceptionInfo()