diff --git a/lang/python/tests/support.py b/lang/python/tests/support.py
index 680300c1..fabd8180 100644
--- a/lang/python/tests/support.py
+++ b/lang/python/tests/support.py
@@ -1,122 +1,127 @@
 # Copyright (C) 2016 g10 Code GmbH
 #
 # This file is part of GPGME.
 #
 # GPGME is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
 # under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
 # the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
 # (at your option) any later version.
 #
 # GPGME is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
 # ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY
 # or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU Lesser General
 # Public License for more details.
 #
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
 # License along with this program; if not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 from __future__ import absolute_import, print_function, unicode_literals
 del absolute_import, print_function, unicode_literals
 
 import contextlib
 import shutil
 import sys
 import os
 import re
 import tempfile
 import time
 import gpg
 
 def assert_gpg_version(version=(2, 1, 0)):
     with gpg.Context() as c:
         clean_version = re.match(r'\d+\.\d+\.\d+', c.engine_info.version).group(0)
         if tuple(map(int, clean_version.split('.'))) < version:
             print("GnuPG too old: have {0}, need {1}.".format(
-                c.engine_info.version, '.'.join(version)))
+                c.engine_info.version, '.'.join(map(str, version))))
             sys.exit(77)
 
+# Skip the Python tests for GnuPG < 2.1.12.  Prior versions do not
+# understand the command line flags that we assume exist.  C.f. issue
+# 3008.
+assert_gpg_version((2, 1, 12))
+
 # known keys
 alpha = "A0FF4590BB6122EDEF6E3C542D727CC768697734"
 bob = "D695676BDCEDCC2CDD6152BCFE180B1DA9E3B0B2"
 encrypt_only = "F52770D5C4DB41408D918C9F920572769B9FE19C"
 sign_only = "7CCA20CCDE5394CEE71C9F0BFED153F12F18F45D"
 no_such_key = "A" * 40
 
 def make_filename(name):
     return os.path.join(os.environ['top_srcdir'], 'tests', 'gpg', name)
 
 def in_srcdir(name):
     return os.path.join(os.environ['srcdir'], name)
 
 verbose = int(os.environ.get('verbose', 0)) > 1
 def print_data(data):
     if verbose:
         try:
             # See if it is a file-like object.
             data.seek(0, os.SEEK_SET)
             data = data.read()
         except:
             # Hope for the best.
             pass
 
         if hasattr(sys.stdout, "buffer"):
             sys.stdout.buffer.write(data)
         else:
             sys.stdout.write(data)
 
 def mark_key_trusted(ctx, key):
     class Editor(object):
         def __init__(self):
             self.steps = ["trust", "save"]
         def edit(self, status, args, out):
             if args == "keyedit.prompt":
                 result = self.steps.pop(0)
             elif args == "edit_ownertrust.value":
                 result = "5"
             elif args == "edit_ownertrust.set_ultimate.okay":
                 result = "Y"
             elif args == "keyedit.save.okay":
                 result = "Y"
             else:
                 result = None
             return result
     with gpg.Data() as sink:
         ctx.op_edit(key, Editor().edit, sink, sink)
 
 
 # Python3.2 and up has tempfile.TemporaryDirectory, but we cannot use
 # that, because there shutil.rmtree is used without
 # ignore_errors=True, and that races against gpg-agent deleting its
 # sockets.
 class TemporaryDirectory(object):
     def __enter__(self):
         self.path = tempfile.mkdtemp()
         return self.path
     def __exit__(self, *args):
         shutil.rmtree(self.path, ignore_errors=True)
 
 @contextlib.contextmanager
 def EphemeralContext():
     with TemporaryDirectory() as tmp:
         home = os.environ['GNUPGHOME']
         shutil.copy(os.path.join(home, "gpg.conf"), tmp)
         shutil.copy(os.path.join(home, "gpg-agent.conf"), tmp)
 
         with gpg.Context(home_dir=tmp) as ctx:
             yield ctx
 
             # Ask the agent to quit.
             agent_socket = os.path.join(tmp, "S.gpg-agent")
             ctx.protocol = gpg.constants.protocol.ASSUAN
             ctx.set_engine_info(ctx.protocol, file_name=agent_socket)
             try:
                 ctx.assuan_transact(["KILLAGENT"])
             except gpg.errors.GPGMEError as e:
                 if e.getcode() == gpg.errors.ASS_CONNECT_FAILED:
                     pass # the agent was not running
                 else:
                     raise
 
             # Block until it is really gone.
             while os.path.exists(agent_socket):
                 time.sleep(.01)