diff --git a/.github/workflows/CI.yml b/.github/workflows/CI.yml
index 7c7e6c5..6d00926 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/CI.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/CI.yml
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ jobs:
           - master
           - stable-4.13
           - stable-4.12
-          - stable-4.11
         GAP_PKGS_TO_BUILD: ['profiling']
         HPCGAP: ['no']
         ABI: ['']
diff --git a/PackageInfo.g b/PackageInfo.g
index c73ccce..9509e88 100644
--- a/PackageInfo.g
+++ b/PackageInfo.g
@@ -93,16 +93,17 @@ PackageDoc := rec(
 ),
 
 Dependencies := rec(
-  GAP := ">=4.11",
+  GAP := ">=4.12",
   NeededOtherPackages := [],
   SuggestedOtherPackages := [],
   ExternalConditions := []
 ),
 
 AvailabilityTest := function()
-  if (not("io" in SHOW_STAT())) and
-     (Filename(DirectoriesPackagePrograms("io"), "io.so") = fail) then
-    #Info(InfoWarning, 1, "IO: kernel IO functions not available.");
+  if not IsKernelExtensionAvailable("io") then
+    LogPackageLoadingMessage(PACKAGE_WARNING,
+                              ["the kernel module is not compiled, ",
+                               "the package cannot be loaded."]);
     return fail;
   fi;
   return true;
diff --git a/init.g b/init.g
index 6e1e487..2adc9a8 100644
--- a/init.g
+++ b/init.g
@@ -13,14 +13,8 @@
 # First look after our C part: #
 ################################
 
-# load kernel function if it is installed:
-if (not IsBound(IO)) and ("io" in SHOW_STAT()) then
-  # try static module
-  LoadStaticModule("io");
-fi;
-if (not IsBound(IO)) and
-   (Filename(DirectoriesPackagePrograms("io"), "io.so") <> fail) then
-  LoadDynamicModule(Filename(DirectoriesPackagePrograms("io"), "io.so"));
+if not LoadKernelExtension("io") then
+  Error("failed to load the io package kernel extension");
 fi;
 
 ReadPackage("IO", "gap/io.gd");