diff --git a/py/__init__.py b/py/__init__.py
index d16105739..5ff8de317 100644
--- a/py/__init__.py
+++ b/py/__init__.py
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ initpkg(__name__,
     'code.Frame'             : ('./code/frame.py', 'Frame'),
     'code.ExceptionInfo'     : ('./code/excinfo.py', 'ExceptionInfo'),
     'code.Traceback'         : ('./code/traceback2.py', 'Traceback'),
+    'code.getfslineno'       : ('./code/source.py', 'getfslineno'),
 
     # backports and additions of builtins
     'builtin.__doc__'        : ('./builtin/__init__.py', '__doc__'),
diff --git a/py/code/source.py b/py/code/source.py
index 6923012fe..515464a05 100644
--- a/py/code/source.py
+++ b/py/code/source.py
@@ -217,6 +217,26 @@ def compile_(source, filename=None, mode='exec', flags=
     return co
 
 
+def getfslineno(obj):
+    try:
+        code = py.code.Code(obj)
+    except TypeError:
+        # fallback to 
+        fn = (py.std.inspect.getsourcefile(obj) or
+              py.std.inspect.getfile(obj))
+        fspath = fn and py.path.local(fn) or None
+        if fspath:
+            try:
+                _, lineno = findsource(obj)
+            except IOError:
+                lineno = None
+        else:
+            lineno = None
+    else:
+        fspath = code.path
+        lineno = code.firstlineno 
+    return fspath, lineno
+
 #
 # helper functions
 #
diff --git a/py/code/testing/test_source.py b/py/code/testing/test_source.py
index 0c2045478..641b26fd4 100644
--- a/py/code/testing/test_source.py
+++ b/py/code/testing/test_source.py
@@ -355,3 +355,27 @@ def test_findsource___source__():
     assert 'if 1:' in str(src)
     assert src[lineno] == "    def x():"
     
+
+def test_getfslineno():
+    from py.code import getfslineno
+
+    def f(x):
+        pass
+
+    fspath, lineno = getfslineno(f)
+
+    fname = __file__
+    if fname.lower().endswith('.pyc'):
+        fname = fname[:-1]
+
+    assert fspath == py.path.local(fname)
+    assert lineno == f.func_code.co_firstlineno-1 # see findsource
+
+    class A(object):
+        pass
+
+    fspath, lineno = getfslineno(A)
+
+    _, A_lineno = py.std.inspect.findsource(A)
+    assert fspath == py.path.local(fname)
+    assert lineno == A_lineno
diff --git a/py/test/collect.py b/py/test/collect.py
index f3442467e..6a76e3b66 100644
--- a/py/test/collect.py
+++ b/py/test/collect.py
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ class Item(Node):
         """ deprecated, here because subclasses might call it. """
         return obj(*args)
 
-    def metainfo(self):
+    def reportinfo(self):
         return self.fspath, None, ""
         
 def warnoldcollect(function=None):
diff --git a/py/test/funcargs.py b/py/test/funcargs.py
index 016f764e9..e7b2008ed 100644
--- a/py/test/funcargs.py
+++ b/py/test/funcargs.py
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ class FuncargRequest:
                     name = name[len(self._argprefix):]
                     if name not in available:
                         available.append(name) 
-        fspath, lineno, msg = self._pyfuncitem.metainfo()
+        fspath, lineno, msg = self._pyfuncitem.reportinfo()
         line = "%s:%s" %(fspath, lineno)
         msg = "funcargument %r not found for: %s" %(self.argname, line)
         msg += "\n available funcargs: %s" %(", ".join(available),)
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/api.py b/py/test/plugin/api.py
index 7f057b3fb..3b46fc5b8 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/api.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/api.py
@@ -99,6 +99,12 @@ class PluginHooks:
     def pytest_terminal_summary(self, terminalreporter):
         """ add additional section in terminal summary reporting. """
 
+    def pytest_report_iteminfo(self, item):
+        """ return (fspath, lineno, name) for the item.
+            the information is used for result display and to sort tests
+        """
+    pytest_report_iteminfo.firstresult = True
+
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     # doctest hooks 
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_default.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_default.py
index aa559f4b0..b3a50f5de 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_default.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_default.py
@@ -54,6 +54,9 @@ class DefaultPlugin:
         Directory = parent.config.getvalue('Directory', path) 
         return Directory(path, parent=parent)
 
+    def pytest_report_iteminfo(self, item):
+        return item.reportinfo()
+
     def pytest_addoption(self, parser):
         group = parser.addgroup("general", "test collection and failure interaction options")
         group._addoption('-v', '--verbose', action="count", 
@@ -248,3 +251,16 @@ def test_dist_options(testdir):
     
     config = testdir.parseconfigure("-d")
     assert config.option.dist == "load"
+
+def test_pytest_report_iteminfo():
+    plugin = DefaultPlugin()
+
+    class FakeItem(object):
+
+        def reportinfo(self):
+            return "-reportinfo-"
+
+    res = plugin.pytest_report_iteminfo(FakeItem())
+
+    assert res == "-reportinfo-"
+    
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_restdoc.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_restdoc.py
index 33bc1dd40..cb04ce238 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_restdoc.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_restdoc.py
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class ReSTSyntaxTest(py.test.collect.Item):
         super(ReSTSyntaxTest, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
         self.project = project
 
-    def metainfo(self):
+    def reportinfo(self):
         return self.fspath, None, "syntax check"
 
     def runtest(self):
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ class ReSTSyntaxTest(py.test.collect.Item):
                     #return [] # no need to rebuild 
 
 class DoctestText(py.test.collect.Item): 
-    def metainfo(self):
+    def reportinfo(self):
         return self.fspath, None, "doctest"
 
     def runtest(self): 
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ class LinkCheckerMaker(py.test.collect.Collector):
                             args=(tryfn, path, lineno), callobj=localrefcheck)
         
 class CheckLink(py.test.collect.Function): 
-    def metainfo(self, basedir=None):
+    def reportinfo(self, basedir=None):
         return (self.fspath, self._args[2], "checklink: %s" % self._args[0])
 
     def setup(self): 
diff --git a/py/test/plugin/pytest_terminal.py b/py/test/plugin/pytest_terminal.py
index d73e5260e..e003055f0 100644
--- a/py/test/plugin/pytest_terminal.py
+++ b/py/test/plugin/pytest_terminal.py
@@ -149,19 +149,19 @@ class TerminalReporter:
             # for dist-testing situations itemstart means we 
             # queued the item for sending, not interesting (unless debugging) 
             if self.config.option.debug:
-                line = self._metainfoline(item)
+                line = self._reportinfoline(item)
                 extra = ""
                 if node:
                     extra = "-> " + str(node.gateway.id)
                 self.write_ensure_prefix(line, extra)
         else:
             if self.config.option.verbose:
-                line = self._metainfoline(item)
+                line = self._reportinfoline(item)
                 self.write_ensure_prefix(line, "") 
             else:
                 # ensure that the path is printed before the 
                 # 1st test of a module starts running
-                fspath, lineno, msg = item.metainfo()
+                fspath, lineno, msg = self._getreportinfo(item)
                 self.write_fspath_result(fspath, "")
 
     def pytest_itemtestreport(self, rep):
@@ -173,10 +173,10 @@ class TerminalReporter:
             markup = {}
         self.stats.setdefault(cat, []).append(rep)
         if not self.config.option.verbose:
-            fspath, lineno, msg = rep.colitem.metainfo()
+            fspath, lineno, msg = self._getreportinfo(rep.colitem)
             self.write_fspath_result(fspath, letter)
         else:
-            line = self._metainfoline(rep.colitem)
+            line = self._reportinfoline(rep.colitem)
             if not hasattr(rep, 'node'):
                 self.write_ensure_prefix(line, word, **markup)
             else:
@@ -254,8 +254,8 @@ class TerminalReporter:
         for rootdir in rootdirs:
             self.write_line("### Watching:   %s" %(rootdir,), bold=True)
 
-    def _metainfoline(self, item):
-        fspath, lineno, msg = item.metainfo()
+    def _reportinfoline(self, item):
+        fspath, lineno, msg = self._getreportinfo(item)
         if fspath:
             fspath = self.curdir.bestrelpath(fspath)
         if lineno is not None:
@@ -267,16 +267,26 @@ class TerminalReporter:
         elif fspath and lineno:
             line = "%(fspath)s:%(lineno)s"
         else:
-            line = "[nometainfo]"
+            line = "[noreportinfo]"
         return line % locals() + " "
-
+        
     def _getfailureheadline(self, rep):
         if isinstance(rep.colitem, py.test.collect.Collector):
             return str(rep.colitem.fspath)
         else:
-            fspath, lineno, msg = rep.colitem.metainfo()
+            fspath, lineno, msg = self._getreportinfo(rep.colitem)
             return msg
 
+    def _getreportinfo(self, item):
+        try:
+            return item.__reportinfo
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass
+        reportinfo = item.config.hook.pytest_report_iteminfo(item=item)
+        # cache on item
+        item.__reportinfo = reportinfo
+        return reportinfo
+
     #
     # summaries for testrunfinish 
     #
@@ -579,11 +589,11 @@ class TestTerminal:
             "*test_show_path_before_running_test.py*"
         ])
 
-    def test_itemreport_metainfo(self, testdir, linecomp):
+    def test_itemreport_reportinfo(self, testdir, linecomp):
         testdir.makeconftest("""
             import py
             class Function(py.test.collect.Function):
-                def metainfo(self):
+                def reportinfo(self):
                     return "ABCDE", 42, "custom"    
         """)
         item = testdir.getitem("def test_func(): pass")
@@ -599,6 +609,25 @@ class TestTerminal:
             "*ABCDE:43: custom*"
         ])
 
+    def test_itemreport_pytest_report_iteminfo(self, testdir, linecomp):
+        item = testdir.getitem("def test_func(): pass")
+        class Plugin:
+            def pytest_report_iteminfo(self, item):
+                return "FGHJ", 42, "custom"
+        item.config.pluginmanager.register(Plugin())             
+        tr = TerminalReporter(item.config, file=linecomp.stringio)
+        item.config.pluginmanager.register(tr)
+        tr.config.hook.pytest_itemstart(item=item)
+        linecomp.assert_contains_lines([
+            "*FGHJ "
+        ])
+        tr.config.option.verbose = True
+        tr.config.hook.pytest_itemstart(item=item)
+        linecomp.assert_contains_lines([
+            "*FGHJ:43: custom*"
+        ])
+
+
     def pseudo_keyboard_interrupt(self, testdir, linecomp, verbose=False):
         modcol = testdir.getmodulecol("""
             def test_foobar():
diff --git a/py/test/pycollect.py b/py/test/pycollect.py
index ab2740c8a..7a7c91732 100644
--- a/py/test/pycollect.py
+++ b/py/test/pycollect.py
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ a tree of collectors and test items that this modules provides::
 """ 
 import py
 from py.__.test.collect import configproperty, warnoldcollect
-from py.__.code.source import findsource
 pydir = py.path.local(py.__file__).dirpath()
 from py.__.test import funcargs
 
@@ -65,37 +64,21 @@ class PyobjMixin(object):
         s = ".".join(parts)
         return s.replace(".[", "[")
 
-    def getfslineno(self):
+    def _getfslineno(self):
         try:
             return self._fslineno
         except AttributeError:
             pass
         obj = self.obj
-        # let decorators etc specify a sane ordering
+        # xxx let decorators etc specify a sane ordering
         if hasattr(obj, 'place_as'):
             obj = obj.place_as
-        try:
-            code = py.code.Code(obj)
-        except TypeError:
-            # fallback to 
-            fn = (py.std.inspect.getsourcefile(obj) or
-                  py.std.inspect.getfile(obj))
-            fspath = fn and py.path.local(fn) or None
-            if fspath:
-                try:
-                    _, lineno = findsource(obj)
-                except IOError:
-                    lineno = None
-            else:
-                lineno = None
-        else:
-            fspath = code.path
-            lineno = code.firstlineno 
-        self._fslineno = fspath, lineno
-        return fspath, lineno
 
-    def metainfo(self):
-        fspath, lineno = self.getfslineno()
+        self._fslineno = py.code.getfslineno(obj)
+        return self._fslineno
+
+    def reportinfo(self):
+        fspath, lineno = self._getfslineno()
         modpath = self.getmodpath()
         return fspath, lineno, modpath 
 
@@ -229,7 +212,7 @@ class Class(PyCollectorMixin, py.test.collect.Collector):
             teardown_class(self.obj) 
 
     def _getsortvalue(self):  
-        return self.getfslineno()
+        return self._getfslineno()
 
 class Instance(PyCollectorMixin, py.test.collect.Collector): 
     def _getobj(self): 
@@ -254,7 +237,7 @@ class FunctionMixin(PyobjMixin):
     """
 
     def _getsortvalue(self):  
-        return self.getfslineno()
+        return self._getfslineno()
 
     def setup(self): 
         """ perform setup for this test function. """
diff --git a/py/test/runner.py b/py/test/runner.py
index 384dc644b..9c3c5fa83 100644
--- a/py/test/runner.py
+++ b/py/test/runner.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ def forked_run_report(item, pdb=None):
         return report_process_crash(item, result)
 
 def report_process_crash(item, result):
-    path, lineno = item.getfslineno()
+    path, lineno = item._getfslineno()
     longrepr = [
         ("X", "CRASHED"), 
         ("%s:%s: CRASHED with signal %d" %(path, lineno, result.signal)),
diff --git a/py/test/testing/test_pycollect.py b/py/test/testing/test_pycollect.py
index 4a7d3e6e0..807a750c7 100644
--- a/py/test/testing/test_pycollect.py
+++ b/py/test/testing/test_pycollect.py
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ class TestGenerator:
 class TestFunction:
     def test_getmodulecollector(self, testdir):
         item = testdir.getitem("def test_func(): pass")
-        modcol = item.getmodulecollector()
+        modcol = item._getparent(py.test.collect.Module)
         assert isinstance(modcol, py.test.collect.Module)
         assert hasattr(modcol.obj, 'test_func')
         
@@ -346,28 +346,28 @@ class TestConftestCustomization:
         assert colitems[0].name == "check_method"
 
 
-class TestMetaInfo:
+class TestReportinfo:
         
-    def test_func_metainfo(self, testdir):
+    def test_func_reportinfo(self, testdir):
         item = testdir.getitem("def test_func(): pass")
-        fspath, lineno, modpath = item.metainfo()
+        fspath, lineno, modpath = item.reportinfo()
         assert fspath == item.fspath 
         assert lineno == 0
         assert modpath == "test_func"
 
-    def test_class_metainfo(self, testdir):
+    def test_class_reportinfo(self, testdir):
         modcol = testdir.getmodulecol("""
             # lineno 0
             class TestClass:
                 def test_hello(self): pass
         """)
         classcol = modcol.collect_by_name("TestClass")
-        fspath, lineno, msg = classcol.metainfo()
+        fspath, lineno, msg = classcol.reportinfo()
         assert fspath == modcol.fspath 
         assert lineno == 1
         assert msg == "TestClass"
 
-    def test_generator_metainfo(self, testdir):
+    def test_generator_reportinfo(self, testdir):
         modcol = testdir.getmodulecol("""
             # lineno 0
             def test_gen(): 
@@ -376,13 +376,13 @@ class TestMetaInfo:
                 yield check, 3
         """)
         gencol = modcol.collect_by_name("test_gen")
-        fspath, lineno, modpath = gencol.metainfo()
+        fspath, lineno, modpath = gencol.reportinfo()
         assert fspath == modcol.fspath
         assert lineno == 1
         assert modpath == "test_gen"
 
         genitem = gencol.collect()[0]
-        fspath, lineno, modpath = genitem.metainfo()
+        fspath, lineno, modpath = genitem.reportinfo()
         assert fspath == modcol.fspath
         assert lineno == 2
         assert modpath == "test_gen[0]"