diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 3c6373433..ef1c2391e 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ deps =
 commands = stestr run {posargs}
 whitelist_externals =
     bash
-    tox
 
 [testenv:bindep]
 deps = bindep
@@ -44,8 +43,9 @@ commands = bash -c "{toxinidir}/scripts/bindep-install"
 [testenv:pep8]
 skip_install = true
 deps =
+    {[testenv:linters]deps}
 commands =
-    tox -e linters -- flake8
+    {[testenv:linters]commands}
 
 [testenv:venv]
 basepython = python3