diff --git a/.github/workflows/CI.yml b/.github/workflows/CI.yml
index be99130..c342e5a 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
         os: [ubuntu-latest]
         include:
           - gap-branch: master
diff --git a/PackageInfo.g b/PackageInfo.g
index 0b3861b..d70cb3b 100644
--- a/PackageInfo.g
+++ b/PackageInfo.g
@@ -104,18 +104,17 @@ PackageDoc := rec(
 ),
 
 Dependencies := rec(
-  GAP := ">= 4.9",
+  GAP := ">= 4.12",
   NeededOtherPackages := [ [ "GAPDoc", ">= 1.5" ] ],
   SuggestedOtherPackages := [ ],
   ExternalConditions := [ ],
 ),
 
 AvailabilityTest := function()
-  local dir, str;
-  dir := DirectoriesPackagePrograms("curlInterface");
-  if Filename(dir, "curl.so") = fail then
-    str := "kernel extension not compiled, package cannot be loaded";
-    LogPackageLoadingMessage(PACKAGE_WARNING, str);
+  if not IsKernelExtensionAvailable("curlinterface", "curl") 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 29511f7..dcd20aa 100644
--- a/init.g
+++ b/init.g
@@ -3,11 +3,10 @@
 #
 # Reading the declaration part of the package.
 #
-_PATH_SO:=Filename(DirectoriesPackagePrograms("curlInterface"), "curl.so");
-if _PATH_SO <> fail then
-    LoadDynamicModule(_PATH_SO);
+
+if not LoadKernelExtension("curlInterface", "curl") then
+  Error("failed to load the curlInterface package kernel extension");
 fi;
-Unbind(_PATH_SO);
 
 # work around a bug in some PackageManager versions, see
 # <https://github.com/gap-packages/PackageManager/pull/100>.