diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index 69ddc9bca..6c2fe3615 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
-$Id: CHANGELOG 58297 2008-09-21 12:50:56Z hpk $
+$Id: CHANGELOG 58308 2008-09-21 15:15:28Z hpk $
 
 Changes between 0.9.2 and 1.0 (UNRELEASED)
 =============================================
 
-* py.test.skip(ifraises=execstring) allows to 
-  conditionally skip, e.g. ifraises="import docutils"
-  will skip if there is no docutils installed. 
+* new method: py.test.importorskip(mod,minversion)
+  will either import or call py.test.skip()
 
 * revised internal py.test architecture
 
diff --git a/py/__init__.py b/py/__init__.py
index 7bbf46eab..1c7bbdddd 100644
--- a/py/__init__.py
+++ b/py/__init__.py
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ version = "1.0.0a1"
 
 initpkg(__name__,
     description = "pylib and py.test: agile development and test support library",
-    revision = int('$LastChangedRevision: 58190 $'.split(':')[1][:-1]),
-    lastchangedate = '$LastChangedDate: 2008-09-17 10:50:04 +0200 (Wed, 17 Sep 2008) $',
+    revision = int('$LastChangedRevision: 58308 $'.split(':')[1][:-1]),
+    lastchangedate = '$LastChangedDate: 2008-09-21 17:15:28 +0200 (Sun, 21 Sep 2008) $',
     version = version, 
     url = "http://pylib.org", 
     download_url = "http://codespeak.net/py/0.9.2/download.html",
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ initpkg(__name__,
     'test.raises'            : ('./test/outcome.py', 'raises'),
     'test.deprecated_call'   : ('./test/outcome.py', 'deprecated_call'), 
     'test.skip'              : ('./test/outcome.py', 'skip'),
+    'test.importorskip'      : ('./test/outcome.py', 'importorskip'),
     'test.fail'              : ('./test/outcome.py', 'fail'),
     'test.exit'              : ('./test/outcome.py', 'exit'),
     'test.pdb'               : ('./test/custompdb.py', 'set_trace'),
diff --git a/py/doc/conftest.py b/py/doc/conftest.py
index ce281d254..7bb922f4d 100644
--- a/py/doc/conftest.py
+++ b/py/doc/conftest.py
@@ -61,10 +61,7 @@ def deindent(s, sep='\n'):
 _initialized = False
 def checkdocutils():
     global _initialized
-    try:
-        import docutils
-    except ImportError:
-        py.test.skip("docutils not importable")
+    py.test.importorskip("docutils")
     if not _initialized:
         from py.__.rest import directive
         directive.register_linkrole('api', resolve_linkrole)
diff --git a/py/doc/test.txt b/py/doc/test.txt
index 545ab0e43..3940d317e 100644
--- a/py/doc/test.txt
+++ b/py/doc/test.txt
@@ -90,20 +90,17 @@ Skipping tests
 ----------------------------------------
 
 If you want to skip tests you can use ``py.test.skip`` within
-test or setup functions.  Examples::
+test or setup functions.  Example::
 
     py.test.skip("message")
-    py.test.skip(ifraises="import docutils")
-    py.test.skip(ifraises="""
-        import somepkg
-        assert somepkg.__version__.startswith("2")
-    """)
 
-The first skip will cause unconditional skipping
-The second skip will only cause skipping if 
-``docutils`` is not importable.  
-The third form will cause skipping if ``somepkg``
-is not importable or is not at least version "2". 
+You can also use a helper to skip on a failing import::
+
+    docutils = py.test.importorskip("docutils")
+
+or to skip if the library does not have the right version::
+
+    docutils = py.test.importorskip("docutils", minversion="0.3")
 
 automatic collection of tests on all levels
 -------------------------------------------
diff --git a/py/path/local/local.py b/py/path/local/local.py
index eff910a5a..512d485d2 100644
--- a/py/path/local/local.py
+++ b/py/path/local/local.py
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ class LocalPath(common.FSPathBase, PlatformMixin):
                     break
         for arg in strargs:
             arg = arg.strip(sep)
-            if py.std.sys.platform == 'win32':
+            if iswin32:
                 # allow unix style paths even on windows.
                 arg = arg.strip('/')
                 arg = arg.replace('/', sep)
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ class LocalPath(common.FSPathBase, PlatformMixin):
             if p.check(file=1):
                 return p
         else:
-            if py.std.sys.platform == 'win32':
+            if iswin32:
                 paths = py.std.os.environ['Path'].split(';')
                 try:
                     systemroot = os.environ['SYSTEMROOT']
diff --git a/py/path/svn/testing/svntestbase.py b/py/path/svn/testing/svntestbase.py
index 26974f097..410b32c0a 100644
--- a/py/path/svn/testing/svntestbase.py
+++ b/py/path/svn/testing/svntestbase.py
@@ -7,6 +7,13 @@ from py.__.path.svn import cache, svncommon
 mypath = py.magic.autopath()
 repodump = mypath.dirpath('repotest.dump')
 
+def getsvnbin():
+    svnbin = py.path.local.sysfind('svn')
+    if svnbin is None:
+        py.test.skip("svn binary not found")
+    return svnbin
+    
+
 # make a wc directory out of a given root url
 # cache previously obtained wcs!
 #
diff --git a/py/path/svn/testing/test_auth.py b/py/path/svn/testing/test_auth.py
index bf2a66cc6..33f8cc993 100644
--- a/py/path/svn/testing/test_auth.py
+++ b/py/path/svn/testing/test_auth.py
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ class svnwc_no_svn(py.path.svnwc):
 class TestSvnWCAuth(object):
     def setup_method(self, meth):
         self.auth = SvnAuth('user', 'pass', cache_auth=False)
+        svntestbase.getsvnbin()
 
     def test_checkout(self):
         wc = svnwc_no_svn('foo', auth=self.auth)
@@ -250,6 +251,7 @@ class TestSvnURLAuth(object):
 
 class SvnAuthFunctionalTestBase(object):
     def setup_class(cls):
+        svntestbase.getsvnbin()
         if not option.runslowtests:
             py.test.skip('skipping slow functional tests - use --runslowtests '
                          'to override')
diff --git a/py/path/svn/testing/test_test_repo.py b/py/path/svn/testing/test_test_repo.py
index bc43bb4a3..0425a3632 100644
--- a/py/path/svn/testing/test_test_repo.py
+++ b/py/path/svn/testing/test_test_repo.py
@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
 import py
-from py.__.path.svn.testing.svntestbase import make_test_repo
+from py.__.path.svn.testing.svntestbase import make_test_repo, getsvnbin
 
 
-if py.path.local.sysfind('svn') is None:
-    py.test.skip("cannot test py.path.svn, 'svn' binary not found")
-
 class TestMakeRepo(object):
     def setup_class(cls):
+        getsvnbin()
         cls.repo = make_test_repo()
         cls.wc = py.path.svnwc(py.test.ensuretemp("test-wc").join("wc"))
 
diff --git a/py/path/svn/testing/test_urlcommand.py b/py/path/svn/testing/test_urlcommand.py
index 1e82a2d7c..e3138859c 100644
--- a/py/path/svn/testing/test_urlcommand.py
+++ b/py/path/svn/testing/test_urlcommand.py
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 import py
 from py.__.path.svn.urlcommand import InfoSvnCommand
 from py.__.path.svn.testing.svntestbase import CommonCommandAndBindingTests, \
-                                               getrepowc
+                                               getrepowc, getsvnbin
 import datetime
 import time
 
 def setup_module(mod):
-    if py.path.local.sysfind('svn') is None:
-        py.test.skip("cannot test py.path.svn, 'svn' binary not found")
+    getsvnbin()
 
 class TestSvnURLCommandPath(CommonCommandAndBindingTests):
     def setup_class(cls): 
diff --git a/py/path/svn/testing/test_wccommand.py b/py/path/svn/testing/test_wccommand.py
index 1b7887412..68c73db1e 100644
--- a/py/path/svn/testing/test_wccommand.py
+++ b/py/path/svn/testing/test_wccommand.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import py
 import sys
-from py.__.path.svn.testing.svntestbase import CommonSvnTests, getrepowc
+from py.__.path.svn.testing.svntestbase import CommonSvnTests, getrepowc, getsvnbin
 from py.__.path.svn.wccommand import InfoSvnWCCommand, XMLWCStatus
 from py.__.path.svn.wccommand import parse_wcinfotime
 from py.__.path.svn import svncommon
@@ -22,8 +22,7 @@ else:
             return os.path.normpath(os.path.normcase(p))
 
 def setup_module(mod):
-    if py.path.local.sysfind('svn') is None:
-        py.test.skip("cannot test py.path.svn, 'svn' binary not found")
+    getsvnbin()
 
 class TestWCSvnCommandPath(CommonSvnTests):
     def setup_class(cls): 
diff --git a/py/rest/testing/setup.py b/py/rest/testing/setup.py
index f2c2a6d9c..dc1cbaa98 100644
--- a/py/rest/testing/setup.py
+++ b/py/rest/testing/setup.py
@@ -8,3 +8,4 @@ def getdata():
     tmpdir = py.test.ensuretemp(rel.replace(pydir.sep, '_'))
     mydatadir.copy(tmpdir)
     return tmpdir
+
diff --git a/py/rest/testing/test_directive.py b/py/rest/testing/test_directive.py
index 85f41f9b2..570abc8ca 100644
--- a/py/rest/testing/test_directive.py
+++ b/py/rest/testing/test_directive.py
@@ -1,13 +1,10 @@
 import py
-try:
-    import docutils
-except ImportError:
-    py.test.skip("docutils not present")
 
+from py.__.rest.testing.setup import getdata
+docutils = py.test.importorskip("docutils")
 from py.__.rest import directive
 from py.__.misc import rest
 from py.__.rest.latex import process_rest_file
-from py.__.rest.testing.setup import getdata
 
 def setup_module(mod):
     mod.datadir = getdata()
diff --git a/py/rest/testing/test_htmlrest.py b/py/rest/testing/test_htmlrest.py
index 52bba9f78..c3e3ada46 100644
--- a/py/rest/testing/test_htmlrest.py
+++ b/py/rest/testing/test_htmlrest.py
@@ -4,16 +4,13 @@ import py
 from py.__.misc import rest
 from py.__.rest.testing.setup import getdata
 
+
 def setup_module(mod):
+    py.test.importorskip("docutils")
     if not py.path.local.sysfind("gs") or \
            not py.path.local.sysfind("dot") or \
            not py.path.local.sysfind("latex"):
         py.test.skip("ghostscript, graphviz and latex needed")
-    try:
-        import docutils
-    except ImportError:
-        py.test.skip("docutils not present")
-
     mod.datadir = getdata()
 
 def test_process_simple():
diff --git a/py/rest/testing/test_rst2pdf.py b/py/rest/testing/test_rst2pdf.py
index a13f4b1e9..89a58bd8d 100644
--- a/py/rest/testing/test_rst2pdf.py
+++ b/py/rest/testing/test_rst2pdf.py
@@ -4,11 +4,7 @@ import py
 from py.__.rest.latex import process_configfile, process_rest_file
 from py.__.rest.testing.setup import getdata
 
-try:
-    import docutils
-except ImportError:
-    py.test.skip("docutils not present")
-
+docutils = py.test.importorskip("docutils")
 
 def setup_module(mod):
     if not py.path.local.sysfind("gs") or \
diff --git a/py/test/outcome.py b/py/test/outcome.py
index 2f9b1d262..468f91316 100644
--- a/py/test/outcome.py
+++ b/py/test/outcome.py
@@ -49,31 +49,30 @@ def exit(msg):
     __tracebackhide__ = True
     raise Exit(msg)
 
-def skip(msg="", ifraises=None, ns=None):
-    """ (conditionally) skip this test/module/conftest. 
-       
-    msg: use this message when skipping. 
-    ifraises: 
-        if "exec ifraises in {'py': py}" raises an exception 
-        skip this test. 
-    ns: use this namespace when executing ifraises
-    """
+def skip(msg=""):
+    """ skip with the given message. """
     __tracebackhide__ = True
-    if ifraises is not None:
-        ifraises = py.code.Source(ifraises).compile()
-        if ns is None:
-            ns = {}
-        try:
-            exec ifraises in ns
-        except (KeyboardInterrupt, SystemExit):
-            raise
-        except Exception, e:
-            if not msg:
-                msg = repr(e)
-        else:
-            return    
     raise Skipped(msg=msg) 
 
+def importorskip(modname, minversion=None):
+    """ return imported module or skip() """
+    compile(modname, '', 'eval') # to catch syntaxerrors
+    try:
+        mod = __import__(modname)
+    except ImportError:
+        py.test.skip("could not import %r" %(modname,))
+    if minversion is None:
+        return mod
+    verattr = getattr(mod, '__version__', None)
+    if isinstance(minversion, str):
+        minver = minversion.split(".")
+    else:
+        minver = list(minversion)
+    if verattr is None or verattr.split(".") < minver:
+        py.test.skip("module %r has __version__ %r, required is: %r" %(
+                     modname, verattr, minversion))
+    return mod
+
 def fail(msg="unknown failure"):
     """ fail with the given Message. """
     __tracebackhide__ = True
diff --git a/py/test/testing/acceptance_test.py b/py/test/testing/acceptance_test.py
index c6d9aa5c6..e3fdec714 100644
--- a/py/test/testing/acceptance_test.py
+++ b/py/test/testing/acceptance_test.py
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ class TestPyTest(AcceptBase):
 
 class TestInteractive(AcceptBase):
     def getspawn(self):
-        py.test.skip(ifraises="import pexpect", ns=globals())
+        pexpect = py.test.importorskip("pexpect")
         def spawn(cmd):
             return pexpect.spawn(cmd, logfile=self.tmpdir.join("spawn.out").open("w"))
         return spawn
diff --git a/py/test/testing/test_outcome.py b/py/test/testing/test_outcome.py
index f5f15c50a..ea6ad6854 100644
--- a/py/test/testing/test_outcome.py
+++ b/py/test/testing/test_outcome.py
@@ -59,33 +59,25 @@ def test_deprecated_explicit_call():
     py.test.deprecated_call(dep_explicit, 0)
     py.test.deprecated_call(dep_explicit, 0)
 
-
-
 def test_skip_simple():
     excinfo = py.test.raises(Skipped, 'py.test.skip("xxx")')
     assert excinfo.traceback[-1].frame.code.name == "skip"
     assert excinfo.traceback[-1].ishidden()
 
-def test_skip_ifraises():
-    excinfo = py.test.raises(Skipped, '''
-        py.test.skip(ifraises="""
-            import lky
-        """)
-    ''')
-    assert excinfo.traceback[-1].frame.code.name == "skip"
-    assert excinfo.traceback[-1].ishidden()
-    assert excinfo.value.msg.startswith("ImportError")
-
-def test_skip_ifraises_ns():
-    d = {}
-    py.test.skip(ns=d, ifraises="import py")
-    assert d['py'] == py
-
-def test_skip_ifraises_syntaxerror():
+def test_importorskip():
     try:
-        excinfo = py.test.raises(SyntaxError, '''
-            py.test.skip(ifraises="x y z")''')
+        sys = py.test.importorskip("sys")
+        assert sys == py.std.sys
+        #path = py.test.importorskip("os.path")
+        #assert path == py.std.os.path
+        py.test.raises(Skipped, "py.test.importorskip('alskdj')")
+        py.test.raises(SyntaxError, "py.test.importorskip('x y z')")
+        py.test.raises(SyntaxError, "py.test.importorskip('x=y')")
+        path = py.test.importorskip("py", minversion=".".join(py.__version__))
+        py.test.raises(Skipped, """
+            py.test.importorskip("py", minversion="5.0")
+        """)
     except Skipped:
-        py.test.fail("should not skip")
-    assert not excinfo.traceback[-1].ishidden()
+        print py.code.ExceptionInfo()
+        py.test.fail("spurious skip")