diff --git a/tests/commands/test_base.py b/tests/commands/test_base.py
index e400fe4..2f7baff 100644
--- a/tests/commands/test_base.py
+++ b/tests/commands/test_base.py
@@ -118,8 +118,6 @@ class TestCommandArgumentParser(TestCase):
         kw = {
             'prog': 'wutta',
             'add_help': False,
-            # nb. this flag requires python 3.9
-            'exit_on_error': False,
         }
 
         # nb. examples below assume a command line like:
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index b701f97..a086a02 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -8,25 +8,20 @@ envlist = py36, py37, py38, py39, py310, py311
 requires = virtualenv<20.22.0
 
 [testenv]
-commands =
-        pip install -U pip
-        pip install -U setuptools wheel
-        pip install -U --upgrade-strategy eager wuttjamaican[db,docs,tests]
-        pytest {posargs}
+extras = db,docs,tests
+commands = pytest {posargs}
+
+[testenv:py37]
+# nb. newer coverage is causing segfault for this one, so must avoid that
+deps = coverage<7.2.4
 
 [testenv:coverage]
 basepython = python3.11
-commands =
-        pip install -U pip
-        pip install -U setuptools wheel
-        pip install -U --upgrade-strategy eager wuttjamaican[db,tests]
-        pytest --cov=wuttjamaican --cov-report=html --cov-fail-under=100
+extras = db,tests
+commands = pytest --cov=wuttjamaican --cov-report=html --cov-fail-under=100
 
 [testenv:docs]
 basepython = python3.11
+extras = db,docs
 changedir = docs
-commands =
-        pip install -U pip
-        pip install -U setuptools wheel
-        pip install -U --upgrade-strategy eager wuttjamaican[db,docs]
-        sphinx-build -b html -d {envtmpdir}/doctrees -W -T . {envtmpdir}/docs
+commands = sphinx-build -b html -d {envtmpdir}/doctrees -W -T . {envtmpdir}/docs