diff --git a/PackageInfo.g b/PackageInfo.g
index e7312fc..17b90ef 100644
--- a/PackageInfo.g
+++ b/PackageInfo.g
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ Dependencies := rec(
 ),
 
 AvailabilityTest := function()
-   if Filename(DirectoriesPackagePrograms("json"), "json.so") = fail then
+   if IsKernelExtensionAvailable("json") = false then
      LogPackageLoadingMessage( PACKAGE_WARNING,
              [ "kernel functions for json are not available." ] );
      return false;
diff --git a/init.g b/init.g
index 73c3ed8..5f2ccdc 100644
--- a/init.g
+++ b/init.g
@@ -3,10 +3,9 @@
 #
 # Reading the declaration part of the package.
 #
-_PATH_SO:=Filename(DirectoriesPackagePrograms("json"), "json.so");
-if _PATH_SO <> fail then
-    LoadDynamicModule(_PATH_SO);
+
+if LoadKernelExtension("json", "json") = false then
+    Error("failed to load json kernel extension");
 fi;
-Unbind(_PATH_SO);
 
 ReadPackage( "json", "gap/json.gd");