diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py b/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
index a0b766b5d4ab..e9b969e520b0 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
@@ -1247,6 +1247,7 @@ def test(verbosity=1):
         import nose.plugins.builtin
         from .testing.noseclasses import KnownFailure
         from nose.plugins.manager import PluginManager
+        from nose.plugins import multiprocess
 
         # store the old values before overriding
         plugins = []
@@ -1256,6 +1257,11 @@ def test(verbosity=1):
         manager = PluginManager(plugins=plugins)
         config = nose.config.Config(verbosity=verbosity, plugins=manager)
 
+        # Nose doesn't automatically instantiate all of the plugins in the
+        # child processes, so we have to provide the multiprocess plugin with
+        # a list.
+        multiprocess._instantiate_plugins = [KnownFailure]
+
         success = nose.run( defaultTest=default_test_modules,
                             config=config,
                             )
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 5f1b561eb0d2..fd5a7a38941a 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -229,10 +229,4 @@
           # check for zip safety.
           zip_safe=False,
 
-          # Install our nose plugin so it will always be found
-          entry_points={
-              'nose.plugins.0.10': [
-                  'KnownFailure = matplotlib.testing.noseclasses:KnownFailure'
-                ]
-            },
          )
diff --git a/tests.py b/tests.py
index 344210e20b25..a78c9bb2b194 100755
--- a/tests.py
+++ b/tests.py
@@ -22,8 +22,16 @@
     while not os.path.exists(font_manager._fmcache):
         time.sleep(0.5)
 
+plugins = [KnownFailure]
+
+# Nose doesn't automatically instantiate all of the plugins in the
+# child processes, so we have to provide the multiprocess plugin with
+# a list.
+from nose.plugins import multiprocess
+multiprocess._instantiate_plugins = plugins
+
 def run():
-    nose.main(addplugins=[KnownFailure()],
+    nose.main(addplugins=[x() for x in plugins],
               defaultTest=default_test_modules)
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':