diff --git a/cuda_core/cuda/core/experimental/_program.py b/cuda_core/cuda/core/experimental/_program.py
index b1fb0d90f..1bb48afc9 100644
--- a/cuda_core/cuda/core/experimental/_program.py
+++ b/cuda_core/cuda/core/experimental/_program.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 import weakref
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from typing import List, Optional, Tuple, Union
+from warnings import warn
 
 from cuda.core.experimental._device import Device
 from cuda.core.experimental._linker import Linker, LinkerOptions
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@
 from cuda.core.experimental._utils import (
     _handle_boolean_option,
     check_or_create_options,
+    driver,
     handle_return,
     is_nested_sequence,
     is_sequence,
@@ -378,6 +380,7 @@ def __init__(self, code, code_type, options: ProgramOptions = None):
                 raise TypeError("c++ Program expects code argument to be a string")
             # TODO: support pre-loaded headers & include names
             # TODO: allow tuples once NVIDIA/cuda-python#72 is resolved
+
             self._mnff.handle = handle_return(nvrtc.nvrtcCreateProgram(code.encode(), b"", 0, [], []))
             self._backend = "nvrtc"
             self._linker = None
@@ -414,6 +417,11 @@ def close(self):
             self._linker.close()
         self._mnff.close()
 
+    def _can_load_generated_ptx(self):
+        driver_ver = handle_return(driver.cuDriverGetVersion())
+        nvrtc_major, nvrtc_minor = handle_return(nvrtc.nvrtcVersion())
+        return nvrtc_major * 1000 + nvrtc_minor * 10 <= driver_ver
+
     def compile(self, target_type, name_expressions=(), logs=None):
         """Compile the program with a specific compilation type.
 
@@ -440,6 +448,13 @@ def compile(self, target_type, name_expressions=(), logs=None):
             raise NotImplementedError
 
         if self._backend == "nvrtc":
+            if target_type == "ptx" and not self._can_load_generated_ptx():
+                warn(
+                    "The CUDA driver version is older than the backend version. "
+                    "The generated ptx will not be loadable by the current driver.",
+                    stacklevel=1,
+                    category=RuntimeWarning,
+                )
             if name_expressions:
                 for n in name_expressions:
                     handle_return(
diff --git a/cuda_core/tests/conftest.py b/cuda_core/tests/conftest.py
index dc50585ab..44510ea15 100644
--- a/cuda_core/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/cuda_core/tests/conftest.py
@@ -11,10 +11,9 @@
 import sys
 
 try:
-    from cuda.bindings import driver, nvrtc
+    from cuda.bindings import driver
 except ImportError:
     from cuda import cuda as driver
-    from cuda import nvrtc
 import pytest
 
 from cuda.core.experimental import Device, _device
@@ -66,9 +65,3 @@ def clean_up_cffi_files():
             os.remove(f)
         except FileNotFoundError:
             pass  # noqa: SIM105
-
-
-def can_load_generated_ptx():
-    _, driver_ver = driver.cuDriverGetVersion()
-    _, nvrtc_major, nvrtc_minor = nvrtc.nvrtcVersion()
-    return nvrtc_major * 1000 + nvrtc_minor * 10 <= driver_ver
diff --git a/cuda_core/tests/test_module.py b/cuda_core/tests/test_module.py
index f859142c9..355a0c49a 100644
--- a/cuda_core/tests/test_module.py
+++ b/cuda_core/tests/test_module.py
@@ -7,8 +7,9 @@
 # is strictly prohibited.
 
 
+import warnings
+
 import pytest
-from conftest import can_load_generated_ptx
 
 from cuda.core.experimental import ObjectCode, Program, ProgramOptions, system
 
@@ -40,10 +41,15 @@ def get_saxpy_kernel(init_cuda):
     return mod.get_kernel("saxpy<float>"), mod
 
 
-@pytest.mark.xfail(not can_load_generated_ptx(), reason="PTX version too new")
 def test_get_kernel(init_cuda):
     kernel = """extern "C" __global__ void ABC() { }"""
-    object_code = Program(kernel, "c++", options=ProgramOptions(relocatable_device_code=True)).compile("ptx")
+
+    with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
+        warnings.simplefilter("always")
+        object_code = Program(kernel, "c++", options=ProgramOptions(relocatable_device_code=True)).compile("ptx")
+        if any("The CUDA driver version is older than the backend version" in str(warning.message) for warning in w):
+            pytest.skip("PTX version too new for current driver")
+
     assert object_code._handle is None
     kernel = object_code.get_kernel("ABC")
     assert object_code._handle is not None
diff --git a/cuda_core/tests/test_program.py b/cuda_core/tests/test_program.py
index d9c5cbde1..8d2ecd1ab 100644
--- a/cuda_core/tests/test_program.py
+++ b/cuda_core/tests/test_program.py
@@ -6,8 +6,9 @@
 # this software and related documentation outside the terms of the EULA
 # is strictly prohibited.
 
+import warnings
+
 import pytest
-from conftest import can_load_generated_ptx
 
 from cuda.core.experimental import _linker
 from cuda.core.experimental._module import Kernel, ObjectCode
@@ -100,13 +101,17 @@ def test_program_init_invalid_code_format():
         Program(code, "c++")
 
 
-# TODO: incorporate this check in Program
 # This is tested against the current device's arch
-@pytest.mark.xfail(not can_load_generated_ptx(), reason="PTX version too new")
 def test_program_compile_valid_target_type(init_cuda):
     code = 'extern "C" __global__ void my_kernel() {}'
     program = Program(code, "c++")
-    ptx_object_code = program.compile("ptx")
+
+    with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
+        warnings.simplefilter("always")
+        ptx_object_code = program.compile("ptx")
+        if any("The CUDA driver version is older than the backend version" in str(warning.message) for warning in w):
+            pytest.skip("PTX version too new for current driver")
+
     program = Program(ptx_object_code._module.decode(), "ptx")
     cubin_object_code = program.compile("cubin")
     ptx_kernel = ptx_object_code.get_kernel("my_kernel")