diff --git a/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/SplitBrainSpec.scala b/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/SplitBrainSpec.scala
index 0c98b178a3..57223465fe 100644
--- a/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/SplitBrainSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/SplitBrainSpec.scala
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ case class SplitBrainMultiNodeConfig(failureDetectorPuppet: Boolean) extends Mul
           failure-detector.threshold = 4
         }""")).
     withFallback(MultiNodeClusterSpec.clusterConfig(failureDetectorPuppet)))
+
+  testTransport(on = true)
 }
 
 class SplitBrainWithFailureDetectorPuppetMultiJvmNode1 extends SplitBrainSpec(failureDetectorPuppet = true)
diff --git a/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/UnreachableNodeRejoinsClusterSpec.scala b/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/UnreachableNodeRejoinsClusterSpec.scala
index c95462c7d4..999f318679 100644
--- a/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/UnreachableNodeRejoinsClusterSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/UnreachableNodeRejoinsClusterSpec.scala
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ case class UnreachableNodeRejoinsClusterMultiNodeConfig(failureDetectorPuppet: B
   val fourth = role("fourth")
 
   commonConfig(debugConfig(on = false).withFallback(MultiNodeClusterSpec.clusterConfig))
+
+  testTransport(on = true)
 }
 
 class UnreachableNodeRejoinsClusterWithFailureDetectorPuppetMultiJvmNode1 extends UnreachableNodeRejoinsClusterSpec(failureDetectorPuppet = true)
diff --git a/akka-contrib/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/contrib/pattern/ReliableProxySpec.scala b/akka-contrib/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/contrib/pattern/ReliableProxySpec.scala
index 03fef8da54..870028a3f2 100644
--- a/akka-contrib/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/contrib/pattern/ReliableProxySpec.scala
+++ b/akka-contrib/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/contrib/pattern/ReliableProxySpec.scala
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ import akka.testkit.TestProbe
 object ReliableProxySpec extends MultiNodeConfig {
   val local = role("local")
   val remote = role("remote")
+
+  testTransport(on = true)
 }
 
 class ReliableProxyMultiJvmNode1 extends ReliableProxySpec
diff --git a/akka-docs/rst/dev/multi-node-testing.rst b/akka-docs/rst/dev/multi-node-testing.rst
index eca5139a9a..b098317054 100644
--- a/akka-docs/rst/dev/multi-node-testing.rst
+++ b/akka-docs/rst/dev/multi-node-testing.rst
@@ -207,6 +207,9 @@ surprising ways.
 
   * Don't issue a shutdown of the first node. The first node is the controller and if it shuts down your test will break.
 
+  * To be able to use ``blackhole``, ``passThrough``, and ``throttle`` you must activate the ``TestConductorTranport`` 
+    by specifying ``testTransport(on = true)`` in your MultiNodeConfig.
+
   * Throttling, shutdown and other failure injections can only be done from the first node, which again is the controller.
 
   * Don't ask for the address of a node using ``node(address)`` after the node has been shut down. Grab the address before
diff --git a/akka-remote-tests/src/main/scala/akka/remote/testconductor/Conductor.scala b/akka-remote-tests/src/main/scala/akka/remote/testconductor/Conductor.scala
index 7aaa6d72b3..4646e78a0a 100644
--- a/akka-remote-tests/src/main/scala/akka/remote/testconductor/Conductor.scala
+++ b/akka-remote-tests/src/main/scala/akka/remote/testconductor/Conductor.scala
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import akka.util.{ Timeout }
 import scala.concurrent.util.{ Deadline, Duration }
 import scala.reflect.classTag
 import scala.concurrent.util.FiniteDuration
+import akka.ConfigurationException
 
 sealed trait Direction {
   def includes(other: Direction): Boolean
@@ -114,6 +115,10 @@ trait Conductor { this: TestConductorExt ⇒
    * determining how much to send, leading to the correct output rate, but with
    * increased latency.
    *
+   * ====Note====
+   * To use this feature you must activate the `TestConductorTranport`
+   * by specifying `testTransport(on = true)` in your MultiNodeConfig.
+   *
    * @param node is the symbolic name of the node which is to be affected
    * @param target is the symbolic name of the other node to which connectivity shall be throttled
    * @param direction can be either `Direction.Send`, `Direction.Receive` or `Direction.Both`
@@ -121,6 +126,7 @@ trait Conductor { this: TestConductorExt ⇒
    */
   def throttle(node: RoleName, target: RoleName, direction: Direction, rateMBit: Double): Future[Done] = {
     import Settings.QueryTimeout
+    requireTestConductorTranport()
     controller ? Throttle(node, target, direction, rateMBit.toFloat) mapTo classTag[Done]
   }
 
@@ -130,25 +136,40 @@ trait Conductor { this: TestConductorExt ⇒
    * submitting them to the Socket or right after receiving them from the
    * Socket.
    *
+   * ====Note====
+   * To use this feature you must activate the `TestConductorTranport`
+   * by specifying `testTransport(on = true)` in your MultiNodeConfig.
+   *
    * @param node is the symbolic name of the node which is to be affected
    * @param target is the symbolic name of the other node to which connectivity shall be impeded
    * @param direction can be either `Direction.Send`, `Direction.Receive` or `Direction.Both`
    */
   def blackhole(node: RoleName, target: RoleName, direction: Direction): Future[Done] = {
     import Settings.QueryTimeout
+    requireTestConductorTranport()
     controller ? Throttle(node, target, direction, 0f) mapTo classTag[Done]
   }
 
+  private def requireTestConductorTranport(): Unit =
+    if (!transport.isInstanceOf[TestConductorTransport])
+      throw new ConfigurationException("To use this feature you must activate the TestConductorTranport by " +
+        "specifying `testTransport(on = true)` in your MultiNodeConfig.")
+
   /**
    * Switch the Netty pipeline of the remote support into pass through mode for
    * sending and/or receiving.
    *
+   * ====Note====
+   * To use this feature you must activate the `TestConductorTranport`
+   * by specifying `testTransport(on = true)` in your MultiNodeConfig.
+   *
    * @param node is the symbolic name of the node which is to be affected
    * @param target is the symbolic name of the other node to which connectivity shall be impeded
    * @param direction can be either `Direction.Send`, `Direction.Receive` or `Direction.Both`
    */
   def passThrough(node: RoleName, target: RoleName, direction: Direction): Future[Done] = {
     import Settings.QueryTimeout
+    requireTestConductorTranport()
     controller ? Throttle(node, target, direction, -1f) mapTo classTag[Done]
   }
 
diff --git a/akka-remote-tests/src/main/scala/akka/remote/testconductor/Extension.scala b/akka-remote-tests/src/main/scala/akka/remote/testconductor/Extension.scala
index 4469ce308a..1945c89a1f 100644
--- a/akka-remote-tests/src/main/scala/akka/remote/testconductor/Extension.scala
+++ b/akka-remote-tests/src/main/scala/akka/remote/testconductor/Extension.scala
@@ -29,8 +29,14 @@ object TestConductor extends ExtensionKey[TestConductorExt] {
  * [[akka.actor.Extension]]. Please follow the aforementioned links for
  * more information.
  *
- * <b>This extension requires the `akka.actor.provider`
- * to be a [[akka.remote.RemoteActorRefProvider]].</b>
+ * ====Note====
+ * This extension requires the `akka.actor.provider`
+ * to be a [[akka.remote.RemoteActorRefProvider]].
+ *
+ * To use ``blackhole``, ``passThrough``, and ``throttle`` you must activate the
+ * `TestConductorTranport` by specifying `testTransport(on = true)` in your
+ * MultiNodeConfig.
+ *
  */
 class TestConductorExt(val system: ExtendedActorSystem) extends Extension with Conductor with Player {
 
diff --git a/akka-remote-tests/src/main/scala/akka/remote/testkit/MultiNodeSpec.scala b/akka-remote-tests/src/main/scala/akka/remote/testkit/MultiNodeSpec.scala
index a842a547a1..5081cde959 100644
--- a/akka-remote-tests/src/main/scala/akka/remote/testkit/MultiNodeSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-remote-tests/src/main/scala/akka/remote/testkit/MultiNodeSpec.scala
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import scala.concurrent.util.Duration
 import scala.concurrent.util.duration._
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeoutException
 import akka.remote.testconductor.RoleName
+import akka.remote.testconductor.TestConductorTransport
 import akka.actor.RootActorPath
 import akka.event.{ Logging, LoggingAdapter }
 
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ abstract class MultiNodeConfig {
   private var _roles = Vector[RoleName]()
   private var _deployments = Map[RoleName, Seq[String]]()
   private var _allDeploy = Vector[String]()
+  private var _testTransport = false
 
   /**
    * Register a common base config for all test participants, if so desired.
@@ -81,13 +83,24 @@ abstract class MultiNodeConfig {
 
   def deployOnAll(deployment: String): Unit = _allDeploy :+= deployment
 
+  /**
+   * To be able to use `blackhole`, `passThrough`, and `throttle` you must
+   * activate the TestConductorTranport by specifying
+   * `testTransport(on = true)` in your MultiNodeConfig.
+   */
+  def testTransport(on: Boolean): Unit = _testTransport = on
+
   private[testkit] lazy val myself: RoleName = {
     require(_roles.size > MultiNodeSpec.selfIndex, "not enough roles declared for this test")
     _roles(MultiNodeSpec.selfIndex)
   }
 
   private[testkit] def config: Config = {
-    val configs = (_nodeConf get myself).toList ::: _commonConf.toList ::: MultiNodeSpec.nodeConfig :: MultiNodeSpec.baseConfig :: Nil
+    val transportConfig =
+      if (_testTransport) ConfigFactory.parseString("akka.remote.transport=" + classOf[TestConductorTransport].getName)
+      else ConfigFactory.empty
+
+    val configs = (_nodeConf get myself).toList ::: _commonConf.toList ::: transportConfig :: MultiNodeSpec.nodeConfig :: MultiNodeSpec.baseConfig :: Nil
     configs reduce (_ withFallback _)
   }
 
@@ -175,7 +188,6 @@ object MultiNodeSpec {
 
   private[testkit] val nodeConfig = mapToConfig(Map(
     "akka.actor.provider" -> "akka.remote.RemoteActorRefProvider",
-    "akka.remote.transport" -> "akka.remote.testconductor.TestConductorTransport",
     "akka.remote.netty.hostname" -> selfName,
     "akka.remote.netty.port" -> selfPort))
 
diff --git a/akka-remote-tests/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/remote/testconductor/TestConductorSpec.scala b/akka-remote-tests/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/remote/testconductor/TestConductorSpec.scala
index 3a49490e1a..97f5827b1b 100644
--- a/akka-remote-tests/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/remote/testconductor/TestConductorSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-remote-tests/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/remote/testconductor/TestConductorSpec.scala
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ object TestConductorMultiJvmSpec extends MultiNodeConfig {
 
   val master = role("master")
   val slave = role("slave")
+
+  testTransport(on = true)
 }
 
 class TestConductorMultiJvmNode1 extends TestConductorSpec