diff --git a/testing/acceptance_test.py b/testing/acceptance_test.py
index 71db04b..eae584d 100644
--- a/testing/acceptance_test.py
+++ b/testing/acceptance_test.py
@@ -117,3 +117,29 @@ class TestDistribution:
         s = result.stdout.str()
         assert "2.4" in s
         assert "2.5" in s
+
+    def test_data_exchange(self, testdir):
+        c1 = testdir.makeconftest("""
+                # This hook only called on master.
+                def pytest_testnodeready(node):
+                    node.slavedata['data'] = 42
+
+                # This hook take action on slave only.
+                def pytest_sessionstart(session):
+                    if session.__class__.__name__ == 'SlaveNode':
+                        assert session.slavedata['data'] == 42
+                        session.slavereport['result'] = 7
+
+                # This hook only called on master.
+                def pytest_testnodedown(node, error):
+                    result = node.slavereport['result']
+                    assert result == 7
+        """)
+
+        p1 = testdir.makepyfile("def test_func(): pass")
+        result = testdir.runpytest(p1, '-d', '--tx=popen')
+        result.stdout.fnmatch_lines([
+            "*popen*Python*",
+            "*1 passed*"
+        ])
+        assert result.ret == 0
diff --git a/testing/test_txnode.py b/testing/test_txnode.py
index f5c043b..0358804 100644
--- a/testing/test_txnode.py
+++ b/testing/test_txnode.py
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@ class MySetup:
         self.gateway = execnet.makegateway(self.xspec)
         self.id += 1
         self.gateway.id = str(self.id)
-        self.node = TXNode(self.gateway, self.config, putevent=self.queue.put)
+        self.nodemanager = None
+        self.node = TXNode(self.nodemanager, self.gateway, self.config, putevent=self.queue.put)
         assert not self.node.channel.isclosed()
         return self.node 
 
diff --git a/xdist/nodemanage.py b/xdist/nodemanage.py
index 44e4d84..7cbb394 100644
--- a/xdist/nodemanage.py
+++ b/xdist/nodemanage.py
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class NodeManager(object):
         self.rsync_roots()
         self.trace("setting up nodes")
         for gateway in self.gwmanager.group:
-            node = TXNode(gateway, self.config, putevent)
+            node = TXNode(self, gateway, self.config, putevent)
             gateway.node = node  # to keep node alive 
             self.trace("started node %r" % node)
 
diff --git a/xdist/txnode.py b/xdist/txnode.py
index a00a8d4..a407b54 100644
--- a/xdist/txnode.py
+++ b/xdist/txnode.py
@@ -13,13 +13,17 @@ class TXNode(object):
     """
     ENDMARK = -1
 
-    def __init__(self, gateway, config, putevent):
+    def __init__(self, nodemanager, gateway, config, putevent):
+        self.nodemanager = nodemanager
         self.config = config 
         self.putevent = putevent 
         self.gateway = gateway
         self.channel = install_slave(gateway, config)
         self.channel.setcallback(self.callback, endmarker=self.ENDMARK)
         self._down = False
+        self.slavedatasent = False
+        self.slavedata = {}
+        self.slavereport = {}
 
     def __repr__(self):
         id = self.gateway.id
@@ -52,6 +56,7 @@ class TXNode(object):
                 self.notify("pytest_testnodeready", node=self)
             elif eventname == "slavefinished":
                 self._down = True
+                self.slavereport = kwargs['slavereport']
                 self.notify("pytest_testnodedown", error=None, node=self)
             elif eventname in ("pytest_runtest_logreport", 
                                "pytest__teardown_final_logerror"):
@@ -68,16 +73,24 @@ class TXNode(object):
             self.config.pluginmanager.notify_exception(excinfo)
 
     def send(self, item):
+        if not self.slavedatasent:
+            self.channel.send(self.slavedata)
+            self.slavedatasent = True
         assert item is not None
         self.channel.send(item)
 
     def sendlist(self, itemlist):
+        if not self.slavedatasent:
+            self.channel.send(self.slavedata)
+            self.slavedatasent = True
         self.channel.send(itemlist)
 
     def shutdown(self, kill=False):
         if kill:
             self.gateway.exit()
         else:
+            if not self.slavedatasent:
+                self.channel.send(None)
             self.channel.send(None)
 
 # setting up slave code 
@@ -106,6 +119,8 @@ def install_slave(gateway, config):
 class SlaveNode(object):
     def __init__(self, channel):
         self.channel = channel
+        self.slavedata = {}
+        self.slavereport = {}
 
     def __repr__(self):
         return "<%s channel=%s>" %(self.__class__.__name__, self.channel)
@@ -128,6 +143,7 @@ class SlaveNode(object):
         self.config.pluginmanager.register(self)
         self.runner = self.config.pluginmanager.getplugin("pytest_runner")
         self.sendevent("slaveready")
+        self.slavedata = channel.receive()
         try:
             self.config.hook.pytest_sessionstart(session=self)
             while 1:
@@ -149,7 +165,7 @@ class SlaveNode(object):
             self.sendevent("pytest_internalerror", excrepr=er)
             raise
         else:
-            self.sendevent("slavefinished")
+            self.sendevent("slavefinished", slavereport=self.slavereport)
 
     def run_single(self, item):
         call = self.runner.CallInfo(item._reraiseunpicklingproblem, when='setup')