diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 51cb61825..e346a23d8 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [tox]
-minversion = 2.0
+minversion = 3.18
 skipsdist = True
 envlist = pep8,py
 
@@ -12,12 +12,16 @@ deps =
     -r{toxinidir}/requirements.txt
     -r{toxinidir}/test-requirements.txt
 commands = stestr run --slowest {posargs}
+allowlist_externals =
+    stestr
 
 [testenv:venv]
 commands = {posargs}
 
 [testenv:pep8]
-commands = ./run-flake8
+commands = bash run-flake8
+allowlist_externals =
+    bash
 
 [flake8]
 ignore = E125,H803
@@ -28,3 +32,5 @@ show-source = true
 deps = -c{env:TOX_CONSTRAINTS_FILE:https://releases.openstack.org/constraints/upper/master}
        -r{toxinidir}/doc/requirements.txt
 commands = bash -c tools/releasenotes_tox.sh
+allowlist_externals =
+    bash