diff --git a/.github/workflows/CI.yml b/.github/workflows/CI.yml
index 413c14b..9288929 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/CI.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/CI.yml
@@ -27,9 +27,6 @@ jobs:
           - master
           - stable-4.13
           - stable-4.12
-          - stable-4.11
-          - stable-4.10
-          - stable-4.9
 
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
diff --git a/PackageInfo.g b/PackageInfo.g
index 2006b90..c9eadb2 100644
--- a/PackageInfo.g
+++ b/PackageInfo.g
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ PackageDoc := rec(
 ),
 
 Dependencies := rec(
-  GAP := ">= 4.9",
+  GAP := ">= 4.12",
   NeededOtherPackages := [
     [ "GAPDoc", ">= 1.5" ],
     [ "polycyclic", ">= 2.11" ],
@@ -86,11 +86,12 @@ Dependencies := rec(
 ),
 
 AvailabilityTest := function()
-  local path, file;
-  # the file below must exist for this package to work
-  path := DirectoriesPackagePrograms("DeepThought");
-  file := Filename(path, "DeepThought.so");
-  return file <> fail;
+  if not IsKernelExtensionAvailable("DeepThought") then
+    LogPackageLoadingMessage(PACKAGE_WARNING,
+                            ["the kernel module is not compiled, ",
+                             "the package cannot be loaded."]);
+    return fail;
+  fi;
 end,
 
 TestFile := "tst/testall.g",
diff --git a/init.g b/init.g
index edc5d2d..ee86d82 100644
--- a/init.g
+++ b/init.g
@@ -3,11 +3,10 @@
 #
 # Reading the declaration part of the package.
 #
-_PATH_SO:=Filename(DirectoriesPackagePrograms("DeepThought"), "DeepThought.so");
-if _PATH_SO <> fail then
-    LoadDynamicModule(_PATH_SO);
+
+if not LoadKernelExtension("DeepThought") then
+  Error("failed to load the DeepThought package kernel extension");
 fi;
-Unbind(_PATH_SO);
 
 ReadPackage( "DeepThought", "gap/DTObj.gd");
 ReadPackage( "DeepThought", "gap/DeepThought.gd");