diff --git a/src/testdir/test_channel.vim b/src/testdir/test_channel.vim
index 46bd364..94ad81c 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_channel.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_channel.vim
@@ -8,8 +8,9 @@
 " This test requires the Python command to run the test server.
 " This most likely only works on Unix and Windows.
 if has('unix')
-  " We also need the pkill command to make sure the server can be stopped.
-  if !executable('python') || !executable('pkill')
+  " We also need the job feature or the pkill command to make sure the server
+  " can be stopped.
+  if !(executable('python') && (has('job') || executable('pkill')))
     finish
   endif
 elseif has('win32')
@@ -27,7 +28,9 @@
   " The Python program writes the port number in Xportnr.
   call delete("Xportnr")
 
-  if has('win32')
+  if has('job')
+    let s:job = job_start("python test_channel.py")
+  elseif has('win32')
     silent !start cmd /c start "test_channel" py test_channel.py
   else
     silent !python test_channel.py&
@@ -62,7 +65,9 @@
 endfunc
 
 func s:kill_server()
-  if has('win32')
+  if has('job')
+    call job_stop(s:job)
+  elseif has('win32')
     call system('taskkill /IM py.exe /T /F /FI "WINDOWTITLE eq test_channel"')
   else
     call system("pkill -f test_channel.py")