diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index f7cb93b1..8539ec2c 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -15,13 +15,14 @@
 from __future__ import print_function
 import sys
 
-import ez_setup
-ez_setup.use_setuptools()
-
 if __name__ == '__main__' and sys.argv[1] == "gevent_nosetests":
+    print("Running gevent tests")
     from gevent.monkey import patch_all
     patch_all()
 
+import ez_setup
+ez_setup.use_setuptools()
+
 from setuptools import setup
 from distutils.command.build_ext import build_ext
 from distutils.core import Extension
diff --git a/tests/unit/io/test_asyncorereactor.py b/tests/unit/io/test_asyncorereactor.py
index 5ab59670..6acb1ef8 100644
--- a/tests/unit/io/test_asyncorereactor.py
+++ b/tests/unit/io/test_asyncorereactor.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 # WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
+import sys
 import six
 
 try:
@@ -42,6 +43,8 @@ class AsyncoreConnectionTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):
+        if 'gevent.monkey' in sys.modules:
+            raise unittest.SkipTest("gevent monkey-patching detected")
         AsyncoreConnection.initialize_reactor()
         cls.socket_patcher = patch('socket.socket', spec=socket.socket)
         cls.mock_socket = cls.socket_patcher.start()
diff --git a/tests/unit/io/test_libevreactor.py b/tests/unit/io/test_libevreactor.py
index 3b677ab5..78e08f27 100644
--- a/tests/unit/io/test_libevreactor.py
+++ b/tests/unit/io/test_libevreactor.py
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 # WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
-
 try:
     import unittest2 as unittest
 except ImportError:
@@ -19,6 +18,7 @@ except ImportError:
 
 import errno
 import os
+import sys
 
 import six
 from six import BytesIO
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ except ImportError:
 class LibevConnectionTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
+        if 'gevent.monkey' in sys.modules:
+            raise unittest.SkipTest("gevent monkey-patching detected")
         if LibevConnection is None:
             raise unittest.SkipTest('libev does not appear to be installed correctly')
         LibevConnection.initialize_reactor()