diff --git a/py/test/collect.py b/py/test/collect.py
index 614e8fe2f..7b6c68d14 100644
--- a/py/test/collect.py
+++ b/py/test/collect.py
@@ -465,14 +465,8 @@ class Directory(FSCollector):
             return self.config.pytestplugins.call_each(
                 'pytest_collect_directory', path=path, parent=self)
 
-from py.__.test.runner import basic_run_report, forked_run_report
 class Item(Node): 
     """ a basic test item. """
-    def _getrunner(self):
-        if self.config.option.boxed:
-            return forked_run_report
-        return basic_run_report
-
     def _deprecated_testexecution(self):
         if self.__class__.run != Item.run:
             warnoldtestrun()
diff --git a/py/test/dist/testing/test_dsession.py b/py/test/dist/testing/test_dsession.py
index 8954035ed..1233d1a90 100644
--- a/py/test/dist/testing/test_dsession.py
+++ b/py/test/dist/testing/test_dsession.py
@@ -7,10 +7,9 @@ import py
 XSpec = py.execnet.XSpec
 
 def run(item, node):
-    runner = item._getrunner()
-    rep = runner(item)
-    rep.node = node
-    return rep
+    report = item.config.pytestplugins.do_itemrun(item) 
+    report.node = node 
+    return report
 
 class MockNode:
     def __init__(self):
diff --git a/py/test/dist/txnode.py b/py/test/dist/txnode.py
index 4caba485c..f536bf27d 100644
--- a/py/test/dist/txnode.py
+++ b/py/test/dist/txnode.py
@@ -132,7 +132,5 @@ class SlaveNode(object):
             raise
 
     def runtest(self, item):
-        runner = item._getrunner()
-        testrep = runner(item)
-        self.sendevent("itemtestreport", testrep)
-
+        report = item.config.pytestplugins.do_itemrun(item)
+        self.sendevent("itemtestreport", report)
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/api.py b/py/test/plugin/api.py
index ea2078e97..305878e13 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/api.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/api.py
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ class PluginHooks:
     def pytest_pymodule_makeitem(self, modcol, name, obj):
         """ return custom item/collector for a python object in a module, or None.  """
 
+    def pytest_itemrun(self, item, pdb=None):
+        """ run given test item and return test report. """ 
+
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     # runtest related hooks 
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_default.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_default.py
index c1d1655a4..cf4acea13 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_default.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_default.py
@@ -3,6 +3,15 @@ import py
 class DefaultPlugin:
     """ Plugin implementing defaults and general options. """ 
 
+    def pytest_itemrun(self, item, pdb=None):
+        from py.__.test.runner import basic_run_report, forked_run_report
+        if item.config.option.boxed:
+            runner = forked_run_report
+        else:
+            runner = basic_run_report
+        report = runner(item, pdb=pdb) 
+        return report 
+
     def pytest_pyfunc_call(self, pyfuncitem, args, kwargs):
         pyfuncitem.obj(*args, **kwargs)
 
@@ -13,8 +22,8 @@ class DefaultPlugin:
            path in parent.config.args:
             if ext == ".py":
                 return parent.Module(path, parent=parent) 
-      
-    def pytest_collect_directory(self, path, parent):
+
+    def pytest_collect_recurse(self, path, parent):
         #excludelist = parent._config.getvalue_pathlist('dir_exclude', path)
         #if excludelist and path in excludelist:
         #    return 
@@ -24,7 +33,11 @@ class DefaultPlugin:
                 if path == arg or arg.relto(path):
                     break
             else:
-                return 
+                return False 
+        return True
+      
+    def pytest_collect_directory(self, path, parent):
+        # XXX reconsider the following comment 
         # not use parent.Directory here as we generally 
         # want dir/conftest.py to be able to 
         # define Directory(dir) already 
diff --git a/py/test/pytestplugin.py b/py/test/pytestplugin.py
index 725479dd4..bf387a425 100644
--- a/py/test/pytestplugin.py
+++ b/py/test/pytestplugin.py
@@ -105,6 +105,9 @@ class PytestPlugins(object):
         self.pyplugins.call_each("pytest_unconfigure", config=config)
         config.bus.unregister(self)
 
+    def do_itemrun(self, item, pdb=None):
+        return self.pyplugins.call_firstresult("pytest_itemrun", item=item, pdb=pdb)
+
 # 
 #  XXX old code to automatically load classes
 #
diff --git a/py/test/session.py b/py/test/session.py
index 3450e87ad..168bc38e0 100644
--- a/py/test/session.py
+++ b/py/test/session.py
@@ -133,7 +133,6 @@ class Session(object):
         post_mortem(excinfo._excinfo[2])
 
     def runtest(self, item):
-        runner = item._getrunner()
         pdb = self.config.option.usepdb and self.runpdb or None
-        testrep = runner(item, pdb=pdb) 
-        self.bus.notify("itemtestreport", testrep)
+        report = item.config.pytestplugins.do_itemrun(item, pdb=pdb)
+        self.bus.notify("itemtestreport", report)