diff --git a/tests/integration/cli/test_custom_module.py b/tests/integration/cli/test_custom_module.py
index f603a372907..53f3d726914 100644
--- a/tests/integration/cli/test_custom_module.py
+++ b/tests/integration/cli/test_custom_module.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ pytestmark = [
         # backports.ssl-match-hostname which is not installed on the system.
     ),
     pytest.mark.skipif(
-        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.8"
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
     ),
 ]
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/ssh/test_state.py b/tests/integration/ssh/test_state.py
index 21896cff29c..36449460699 100644
--- a/tests/integration/ssh/test_state.py
+++ b/tests/integration/ssh/test_state.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import time
 import pytest
 from saltfactories.utils.tempfiles import temp_file
 
-from tests.pytests.integration.ssh.test_slsutil import check_system_python_version
+from tests.pytests.integration.ssh import check_system_python_version
 from tests.support.case import SSHCase
 from tests.support.runtests import RUNTIME_VARS
 
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ pytestmark = [
         # backports.ssl-match-hostname which is not installed on the system.
     ),
     pytest.mark.skipif(
-        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.8"
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
     ),
 ]
 
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/netapi/test_ssh_client.py b/tests/pytests/integration/netapi/test_ssh_client.py
index 09bd51dc989..a7a6f333e76 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/netapi/test_ssh_client.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/netapi/test_ssh_client.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import pytest
 
 import salt.netapi
 from salt.exceptions import EauthAuthenticationError, SaltInvocationError
+from tests.pytests.integration.ssh import check_system_python_version
 from tests.support.helpers import SaveRequestsPostHandler, Webserver
 from tests.support.mock import patch
 
@@ -19,6 +20,9 @@ pytestmark = [
         # backports.ssl-match-hostname which is not installed on the system.
     ),
     pytest.mark.timeout_unless_on_windows(120),
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
+    ),
 ]
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/pillar/test_httpclient_in_pillar.py b/tests/pytests/integration/pillar/test_httpclient_in_pillar.py
index 666e51de52c..f5d39697a5f 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/pillar/test_httpclient_in_pillar.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/pillar/test_httpclient_in_pillar.py
@@ -1,3 +1,14 @@
+import pytest
+
+from tests.pytests.integration.ssh import check_system_python_version
+
+pytestmark = [
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
+    ),
+]
+
+
 def test_pillar_using_http_query(salt_master, salt_minion, salt_cli, tmp_path):
     pillar_top = """
     base:
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/__init__.py b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/__init__.py
index e69de29bb2d..199aa1c116b 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/__init__.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+import subprocess
+
+import packaging
+
+
+def check_system_python_version():
+    """
+    Validate the system python version is greater than 3.9
+    """
+    try:
+        ret = subprocess.run(
+            ["/usr/bin/python3", "--version"], capture_output=True, check=True
+        )
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        return None
+    ver = ret.stdout.decode().split(" ", 1)[-1]
+    return packaging.version.Version(ver) >= packaging.version.Version("3.9")
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_parallel.py b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_parallel.py
index 8ff9d7db139..dc1f56472e0 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_parallel.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_parallel.py
@@ -4,9 +4,14 @@ Verify salt-ssh states support ``parallel``.
 
 import pytest
 
+from tests.pytests.integration.ssh import check_system_python_version
+
 pytestmark = [
     pytest.mark.skip_on_windows(reason="salt-ssh not available on Windows"),
     pytest.mark.slow_test,
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
+    ),
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_pillar_override.py b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_pillar_override.py
index c7f49b2b816..475467d60e2 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_pillar_override.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_pillar_override.py
@@ -9,11 +9,15 @@ import json
 import pytest
 
 import salt.utils.dictupdate
+from tests.pytests.integration.ssh import check_system_python_version
 
 pytestmark = [
     pytest.mark.skip_on_windows(reason="salt-ssh not available on Windows"),
     pytest.mark.usefixtures("pillar_tree_nested"),
     pytest.mark.slow_test,
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
+    ),
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_retcode_pillar_render_exception.py b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_retcode_pillar_render_exception.py
index 92cd56dbb39..1ad8bd4a53b 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_retcode_pillar_render_exception.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_retcode_pillar_render_exception.py
@@ -5,10 +5,14 @@ Verify salt-ssh fails with a retcode > 0 when a pillar rendering fails.
 import pytest
 
 from salt.defaults.exitcodes import EX_AGGREGATE
+from tests.pytests.integration.ssh import check_system_python_version
 
 pytestmark = [
     pytest.mark.skip_on_windows(reason="salt-ssh not available on Windows"),
     pytest.mark.slow_test,
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
+    ),
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_retcode_render_exception.py b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_retcode_render_exception.py
index 5291e107b91..5a89a62dea3 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_retcode_render_exception.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_retcode_render_exception.py
@@ -5,10 +5,14 @@ Verify salt-ssh fails with a retcode > 0 when a state rendering fails.
 import pytest
 
 from salt.defaults.exitcodes import EX_AGGREGATE
+from tests.pytests.integration.ssh import check_system_python_version
 
 pytestmark = [
     pytest.mark.skip_on_windows(reason="salt-ssh not available on Windows"),
     pytest.mark.slow_test,
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
+    ),
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_retcode_render_module_exception.py b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_retcode_render_module_exception.py
index 7125485a69b..f71f5e0664c 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_retcode_render_module_exception.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_retcode_render_module_exception.py
@@ -6,10 +6,14 @@ when a state rendering fails because an execution module throws an exception.
 import pytest
 
 from salt.defaults.exitcodes import EX_AGGREGATE
+from tests.pytests.integration.ssh import check_system_python_version
 
 pytestmark = [
     pytest.mark.skip_on_windows(reason="salt-ssh not available on Windows"),
     pytest.mark.slow_test,
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
+    ),
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_retcode_run_fail.py b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_retcode_run_fail.py
index cb784ffb306..756f387d43d 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_retcode_run_fail.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/state/test_retcode_run_fail.py
@@ -5,10 +5,14 @@ Verify salt-ssh passes on a failing retcode from state execution.
 import pytest
 
 from salt.defaults.exitcodes import EX_AGGREGATE
+from tests.pytests.integration.ssh import check_system_python_version
 
 pytestmark = [
     pytest.mark.skip_on_windows(reason="salt-ssh not available on Windows"),
     pytest.mark.slow_test,
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
+    ),
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_cp.py b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_cp.py
index 8fddb7bd73d..9fca42fbfb7 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_cp.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_cp.py
@@ -6,11 +6,15 @@ from pathlib import Path
 import pytest
 from saltfactories.utils import random_string
 
+from tests.pytests.integration.ssh import check_system_python_version
 from tests.support.runtests import RUNTIME_VARS
 
 pytestmark = [
     pytest.mark.slow_test,
     pytest.mark.skip_on_windows(reason="salt-ssh not available on Windows"),
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
+    ),
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_deploy.py b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_deploy.py
index 37bdd416758..1d61d05b731 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_deploy.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_deploy.py
@@ -10,10 +10,14 @@ import pytest
 import salt.utils.files
 import salt.utils.yaml
 from salt.defaults.exitcodes import EX_AGGREGATE
+from tests.pytests.integration.ssh import check_system_python_version
 
 pytestmark = [
     pytest.mark.slow_test,
     pytest.mark.skip_on_windows(reason="salt-ssh not available on Windows"),
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
+    ),
 ]
 
 
@@ -163,28 +167,6 @@ def test_thin_dir(salt_ssh_cli):
     assert thin_dir.joinpath("running_data").exists()
 
 
-def test_relenv_dir(salt_ssh_cli):
-    """
-    test to make sure thin_dir is created
-    and salt-call file is included
-    """
-    ret = salt_ssh_cli.run("--relenv", "config.get", "thin_dir")
-    assert ret.returncode == 0
-    thin_dir = pathlib.Path(ret.data)
-    assert thin_dir.is_dir()
-    assert thin_dir
-    assert thin_dir.joinpath("salt-call").exists()
-
-
-def test_relenv_ping(salt_ssh_cli):
-    """
-    Test a simple ping
-    """
-    ret = salt_ssh_cli.run("--relenv", "test.ping")
-    assert ret.returncode == 0
-    assert ret.data is True
-
-
 def test_wipe(salt_ssh_cli):
     """
     Ensure --wipe is respected by the state module wrapper
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_deploy_relenv.py b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_deploy_relenv.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6db9ac051de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_deploy_relenv.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+"""
+salt-ssh testing
+"""
+
+import pathlib
+
+import pytest
+
+pytestmark = [
+    pytest.mark.slow_test,
+    pytest.mark.skip_on_windows(reason="salt-ssh not available on Windows"),
+]
+
+
+def test_relenv_dir(salt_ssh_cli):
+    """
+    test to make sure thin_dir is created
+    and salt-call file is included
+    """
+    ret = salt_ssh_cli.run("--relenv", "config.get", "thin_dir")
+    assert ret.returncode == 0
+    thin_dir = pathlib.Path(ret.data)
+    assert thin_dir.is_dir()
+    assert thin_dir
+    assert thin_dir.joinpath("salt-call").exists()
+
+
+def test_relenv_ping(salt_ssh_cli):
+    """
+    Test a simple ping
+    """
+    ret = salt_ssh_cli.run("--relenv", "test.ping")
+    assert ret.returncode == 0
+    assert ret.data is True
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_grains.py b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_grains.py
index acb319bc551..47877d68b2d 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_grains.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_grains.py
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
 import pytest
 
 import salt.utils.platform
+from tests.pytests.integration.ssh import check_system_python_version
 
 pytestmark = [
     pytest.mark.slow_test,
     pytest.mark.skip_on_windows(reason="salt-ssh not available on Windows"),
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
+    ),
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_jinja_filters.py b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_jinja_filters.py
index 7b55384a2f4..46d7d8fbe76 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_jinja_filters.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_jinja_filters.py
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 import pytest
 from saltfactories.utils.functional import StateResult
 
+from tests.pytests.integration.ssh import check_system_python_version
+
 pytestmark = [
     pytest.mark.slow_test,
     pytest.mark.skip_on_windows(reason="salt-ssh not available on Windows"),
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
+    ),
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_jinja_mods.py b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_jinja_mods.py
index f0bd7c508f4..7caef9f7775 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_jinja_mods.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_jinja_mods.py
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
 import pytest
 from saltfactories.utils.functional import StateResult
 
+from tests.pytests.integration.ssh import check_system_python_version
+
 pytestmark = [
     pytest.mark.skip_on_windows(reason="salt-ssh not available on Windows"),
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
+    ),
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_master.py b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_master.py
index 8b566756c55..fcc86976726 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_master.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_master.py
@@ -10,10 +10,14 @@ from saltfactories.utils.functional import StateResult
 
 import salt.utils.platform
 import salt.utils.versions
+from tests.pytests.integration.ssh import check_system_python_version
 
 pytestmark = [
     pytest.mark.slow_test,
     pytest.mark.skip_on_windows(reason="salt-ssh not available on Windows"),
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
+    ),
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_mine.py b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_mine.py
index 19e57c5ecbb..28bc7677fd6 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_mine.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_mine.py
@@ -2,9 +2,14 @@ import shutil
 
 import pytest
 
+from tests.pytests.integration.ssh import check_system_python_version
+
 pytestmark = [
     pytest.mark.slow_test,
     pytest.mark.skip_on_windows(reason="salt-ssh not available on Windows"),
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
+    ),
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_pillar.py b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_pillar.py
index 42c6ad33e1a..0d71be5d4f5 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_pillar.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_pillar.py
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
 import pytest
 
+from tests.pytests.integration.ssh import check_system_python_version
+
 pytestmark = [
     pytest.mark.skip_on_windows(reason="salt-ssh not available on Windows"),
     pytest.mark.slow_test,
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
+    ),
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_pillar_compilation.py b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_pillar_compilation.py
index d864edeab6d..9c60d4399b2 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_pillar_compilation.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_pillar_compilation.py
@@ -7,8 +7,15 @@ import textwrap
 import pytest
 from pytestshellutils.utils.processes import ProcessResult
 
+from tests.pytests.integration.ssh import check_system_python_version
+
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+pytestmark = [
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
+    ),
+]
 
 # The following fixtures are copied from pytests/functional/pillar/test_gpg.py
 
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_pre_flight.py b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_pre_flight.py
index 7dc56f37535..716e948aec1 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_pre_flight.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_pre_flight.py
@@ -18,9 +18,13 @@ import yaml
 from saltfactories.utils import random_string
 
 import salt.utils.files
+from tests.pytests.integration.ssh import check_system_python_version
 
 pytestmark = [
     pytest.mark.skip_on_windows(reason="Salt-ssh not available on Windows"),
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
+    ),
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_publish.py b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_publish.py
index 4ecfaeb349a..42070fd3776 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_publish.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_publish.py
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
 import pytest
 
+from tests.pytests.integration.ssh import check_system_python_version
+
 pytestmark = [
     pytest.mark.slow_test,
     pytest.mark.skip_on_windows(reason="salt-ssh not available on Windows"),
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
+    ),
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_saltcheck.py b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_saltcheck.py
index a19fe9f1270..58755642a5c 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_saltcheck.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_saltcheck.py
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
 import pytest
 
+from tests.pytests.integration.ssh import check_system_python_version
+
 pytestmark = [
     pytest.mark.slow_test,
     pytest.mark.skip_on_windows(reason="salt-ssh not available on Windows"),
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
+    ),
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_saltext.py b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_saltext.py
index aeef606ab3b..daaa0a90ffc 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_saltext.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_saltext.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ from tests.support.pytest.helpers import FakeSaltExtension
 pytestmark = [
     pytest.mark.skip_unless_on_linux,
     pytest.mark.skipif(
-        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.8"
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
     ),
 ]
 
diff --git a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_slsutil.py b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_slsutil.py
index 10c9f985139..3bd1f7c5028 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_slsutil.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/integration/ssh/test_slsutil.py
@@ -1,25 +1,13 @@
 import json
-import subprocess
 
-import packaging
 import pytest
 
-
-def check_system_python_version():
-    try:
-        ret = subprocess.run(
-            ["/usr/bin/python3", "--version"], capture_output=True, check=True
-        )
-    except FileNotFoundError:
-        return None
-    ver = ret.stdout.decode().split(" ", 1)[-1]
-    return packaging.version.Version(ver) >= packaging.version.Version("3.8")
-
+from tests.pytests.integration.ssh import check_system_python_version
 
 pytestmark = [
     pytest.mark.skip_unless_on_linux,
     pytest.mark.skipif(
-        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.8"
+        not check_system_python_version(), reason="Needs system python >= 3.9"
     ),
 ]
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/utils/test_thin.py b/tests/unit/utils/test_thin.py
index cd617601e40..53b2148ee29 100644
--- a/tests/unit/utils/test_thin.py
+++ b/tests/unit/utils/test_thin.py
@@ -84,7 +84,6 @@ class SSHThinTestCase(TestCase):
         code_dir = pathlib.Path(RUNTIME_VARS.CODE_DIR).resolve()
         self.exp_ret = {
             "certifi": str(code_dir / "certifi"),
-            "distro": str(code_dir / "distro.py"),
             "idna": str(code_dir / "idna"),
             "jinja2": str(code_dir / "jinja2"),
             "msgpack": str(code_dir / "msgpack"),
@@ -479,7 +478,6 @@ class SSHThinTestCase(TestCase):
         :return:
         """
         base_tops = [
-            "distro",
             "salt",
             "jinja2",
             "yaml",
@@ -592,7 +590,6 @@ class SSHThinTestCase(TestCase):
         :return:
         """
         base_tops = [
-            "distro",
             "salt",
             "jinja2",
             "yaml",
@@ -715,7 +712,6 @@ class SSHThinTestCase(TestCase):
         :return:
         """
         base_tops = [
-            "distro",
             "salt",
             "jinja2",
             "yaml",
@@ -1184,7 +1180,6 @@ class SSHThinTestCase(TestCase):
             self._popen(
                 None,
                 side_effect=[
-                    (bts("distro.py"), bts("")),
                     (bts("jinja2/__init__.py"), bts("")),
                     (bts("yaml/__init__.py"), bts("")),
                     (bts("tornado/__init__.py"), bts("")),
@@ -1233,7 +1228,7 @@ class SSHThinTestCase(TestCase):
             self._popen(
                 None,
                 side_effect=[
-                    (bts("distro.py"), bts("")),
+                    # (bts("distro.py"), bts("")),
                     #    (bts("jinja2/__init__.py"), bts("")),
                     #    (bts("yaml/__init__.py"), bts("")),
                     (bts("tornado/__init__.py"), bts("")),