diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 7eadadbb..d3d29915 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -33,9 +33,8 @@ install_command = python -Im pip install --no-compile {opts} {packages}
 set_env =
     COVERAGE_PROCESS_START={toxinidir}/pyproject.toml
     PYTHONWARNINGS=d
-commands =
-    python -c 'f = open("{env_site_packages_dir}/cov.pth", "w"); f.write("import coverage; coverage.process_startup()"); f.close()'
-    coverage run -m pytest {posargs:-n auto}
+commands_pre = python -c 'import pathlib; pathlib.Path("{env_site_packages_dir}/cov.pth").write_text("import coverage; coverage.process_startup()")'
+commands = coverage run -m pytest {posargs:-n auto}
 
 
 [testenv:coverage-report]