diff --git a/ethcheck/ethcheck.py b/ethcheck/ethcheck.py
index 5226869..91680b0 100644
--- a/ethcheck/ethcheck.py
+++ b/ethcheck/ethcheck.py
@@ -12,17 +12,21 @@
 from list_forks import list_forks
 import subprocess
 import ast
-import pkg_resources
+import importlib.util
 import argparse
 import generate_pytest
 
 def get_file_path(module_name):
-    mainnet_file = 'mainnet.py'
-    spec_file = 'spec.py'
-    resource_path = pkg_resources.resource_filename(module_name, mainnet_file)
+    # Locate the fork's spec source inside the installed eth2spec package without
+    # importing the fork body. importlib.util.find_spec replaces the removed
+    # pkg_resources.resource_filename (dropped from setuptools >= 81); it only
+    # needs the package directory, so it avoids pulling in the fork's heavy deps.
+    spec = importlib.util.find_spec(module_name)
+    pkg_dir = spec.submodule_search_locations[0]
+    resource_path = os.path.join(pkg_dir, 'mainnet.py')
     generate_pytest.module_name = 'mainnet'
     if not os.path.exists(resource_path):
-        resource_path = pkg_resources.resource_filename(module_name, spec_file)
+        resource_path = os.path.join(pkg_dir, 'spec.py')
         generate_pytest.module_name = 'spec'
     return resource_path
 
diff --git a/tests/test_verify_function.py b/tests/test_verify_function.py
index 7bd2be1..8ff021c 100644
--- a/tests/test_verify_function.py
+++ b/tests/test_verify_function.py
@@ -22,12 +22,17 @@ def __init__(self, stdout="", stderr=""):
         self.returncode = 0
 
 
-def fake_subprocess_run(esbmc_stdout="", esbmc_stderr="",
-                        esbmc_timeout=False, pytest_outcome="pass"):
+def fake_subprocess_run(esbmc_stdout="", esbmc_stderr="", esbmc_timeout=False,
+                        generates_testcase=False, pytest_outcome="pass"):
     """Build a stub for ``subprocess.run`` used inside ``verify_function``.
 
     The ESBMC call and the pytest confirmation call are told apart by argv
-    (``pytest`` is always invoked as ``['pytest', <file>]``).
+    (``pytest`` is always invoked as ``['pytest', <file>]``). When
+    ``generates_testcase`` is set, the ESBMC stub drops a ``testcase.xml`` in
+    the cwd, modelling ``--generate-testcase`` finding a trace. This mirrors
+    reality: ``verify_function`` removes any stale ``testcase.xml`` *before*
+    invoking ESBMC, so only the binary recreating it drives the confirmation
+    branch -- a pre-seeded file would be deleted on entry.
     """
     def _run(cmd, *_args, **_kwargs):
         if cmd and cmd[0] == "pytest":
@@ -37,6 +42,9 @@ def _run(cmd, *_args, **_kwargs):
         # ESBMC invocation.
         if esbmc_timeout:
             raise subprocess.TimeoutExpired(cmd, 10)
+        if generates_testcase:
+            with open("testcase.xml", "w", encoding="utf-8") as fh:
+                fh.write("<testcase/>")
         return FakeCompleted(stdout=esbmc_stdout, stderr=esbmc_stderr)
 
     return _run
@@ -93,40 +101,40 @@ def test_failed_without_testcase_prints_counterexample(run_in_tmp, monkeypatch,
 def test_failed_pytest_pass_prints_check_and_removes_testcase(run_in_tmp, monkeypatch, capsys):
     # ESBMC found a trace and emitted testcase.xml, but pytest does not confirm
     # the bug -> report ✓ and clean up testcase.xml so it can't mis-test later.
-    (run_in_tmp / "testcase.xml").write_text("<testcase/>")
     monkeypatch.setattr(ec, "generate_python_script", lambda *a, **k: None)
     esbmc = "[Counterexample]\nState 1\nVERIFICATION FAILED\n"
     monkeypatch.setattr(ec.subprocess, "run",
-                        fake_subprocess_run(esbmc_stdout=esbmc, pytest_outcome="pass"))
+                        fake_subprocess_run(esbmc_stdout=esbmc, generates_testcase=True,
+                                            pytest_outcome="pass"))
     ec.verify_function("notabug", COMMAND)
     out = capsys.readouterr().out
     assert "notabug ✓" in out
     assert not (run_in_tmp / "testcase.xml").exists()
 
 
-def test_failed_pytest_confirms_exits_3_and_removes_testcase(run_in_tmp, monkeypatch, capsys):
-    (run_in_tmp / "testcase.xml").write_text("<testcase/>")
+def test_failed_pytest_confirms_returns_failed_and_removes_testcase(run_in_tmp, monkeypatch, capsys):
+    # ESBMC trace + pytest reproduces it -> confirmed counterexample. verify_function
+    # reports ✗ and returns 'failed'; the process exit code (3) is the caller's job
+    # via exit_code_for, so a confirmed bug does not abort the batch mid-run.
     monkeypatch.setattr(ec, "generate_python_script", lambda *a, **k: None)
     esbmc = "[Counterexample]\nState 1\nVERIFICATION FAILED\n"
     monkeypatch.setattr(ec.subprocess, "run",
-                        fake_subprocess_run(esbmc_stdout=esbmc, pytest_outcome="fail"))
-    with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as exc:
-        ec.verify_function("realbug", COMMAND)
-    assert exc.value.code == 3
+                        fake_subprocess_run(esbmc_stdout=esbmc, generates_testcase=True,
+                                            pytest_outcome="fail"))
+    assert ec.verify_function("realbug", COMMAND) == "failed"
     assert "realbug ✗" in capsys.readouterr().out
-    # Cleanup must still run on the exit path (finally).
+    # Cleanup must still run on the failure path (finally).
     assert not (run_in_tmp / "testcase.xml").exists()
 
 
 def test_failed_testcase_generation_valueerror_removes_testcase(run_in_tmp, monkeypatch, capsys):
-    (run_in_tmp / "testcase.xml").write_text("<testcase/>")
-
     def _raise(*_a, **_k):
         raise ValueError("cannot build testcase")
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(ec, "generate_python_script", _raise)
     esbmc = "[Counterexample]\nState 1\nVERIFICATION FAILED\n"
-    monkeypatch.setattr(ec.subprocess, "run", fake_subprocess_run(esbmc_stdout=esbmc))
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ec.subprocess, "run",
+                        fake_subprocess_run(esbmc_stdout=esbmc, generates_testcase=True))
     ec.verify_function("ungen", COMMAND)
     out = capsys.readouterr().out
     assert "ungen ✗" in out