diff --git a/beat/backend/python/algorithm.py b/beat/backend/python/algorithm.py
index af0fc272cf8480e3c0cfbb5a7b61fb2ffed96d2c..d5584dbd68300ae492585295f064914e17ef1c22 100644
--- a/beat/backend/python/algorithm.py
+++ b/beat/backend/python/algorithm.py
@@ -42,8 +42,6 @@ import six
 import numpy
 import simplejson
 
-from inspect import signature
-
 from . import dataformat
 from . import library
 from . import loader
@@ -257,15 +255,13 @@ class Runner(object):
             elif self.algorithm.type == Algorithm.AUTONOMOUS:
                 run_args = [self.obj, 'process', self.exc, data_loaders, outputs_to_use]
 
-                sig = signature(self.obj.process)
-                params = sig.parameters
-
+                has_loop_arg = utils.has_argument(self.obj.process, 'loop_channel')
                 if loop_channel is not None:
-                    if 'loop_channel' in params:
+                    if has_loop_arg:
                         run_args.append(loop_channel)
                     else:
                         raise exc("Algorithm '%s' is not a valid loop enabled algorithm" % self.name)
-                elif 'loop_channel' in params:
+                elif has_loop_arg:
                     raise exc("Algorithm '%s' is a loop enabled algorithm but no loop_channel given" % self.name)
 
                 return loader.run(*run_args)
diff --git a/beat/backend/python/utils.py b/beat/backend/python/utils.py
index eacb837b51295afcf325f7efe57510701bbee78e..c18963b03d34eda38d187c9b07266a6cae2eb29f 100644
--- a/beat/backend/python/utils.py
+++ b/beat/backend/python/utils.py
@@ -360,3 +360,18 @@ class NumpyJSONEncoder(simplejson.JSONEncoder):
             if obj.name == 'str': return 'string'
             return obj.name
         return simplejson.JSONEncoder.default(self, obj)
+
+
+# ----------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def has_argument(method, argument):
+    try:
+        from inspect import signature
+        sig = signature(method)
+        params = sig.parameters
+    except ImportError:
+        from inspect import getargspec
+        params = getargspec(method).args
+
+    return argument in params