diff --git a/lua/kitty-scrollback/backport.lua b/lua/kitty-scrollback/backport.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..05e4524c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua/kitty-scrollback/backport.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+local ksb_health = require('kitty-scrollback.health')
+
+local M = {}
+
+local function backport_version()
+  if type(vim.version().__tostring) ~= 'function' then
+    -- NOTE: copied __tostring from
+    -- https://github.com/neovim/neovim/blob/879617c9bbbacb0d0f778ff6dd53cc7c95794abe/runtime/lua/vim/version.lua
+
+    local Version = {}
+    function Version:__tostring()
+      local ret = table.concat({ self.major, self.minor, self.patch }, '.')
+      if self.prerelease then
+        ret = ret .. '-' .. self.prerelease
+      end
+      if self.build and self.build ~= vim.NIL then
+        ret = ret .. '+' .. self.build
+      end
+      return ret
+    end
+
+    setmetatable(vim.version, {
+      --- Returns the current Nvim version.
+      __call = function()
+        local version = vim.fn.api_info().version
+        -- Workaround: vim.fn.api_info().version reports "prerelease" as a boolean.
+        version.prerelease = version.prerelease and 'dev' or nil
+        return setmetatable(version, Version)
+      end,
+    })
+  end
+end
+
+local function backport_health()
+  vim.health.start = vim.health.start or vim.health.report_start
+  vim.health.info = vim.health.info or vim.health.report_info
+  vim.health.ok = vim.health.ok or vim.health.report_ok
+  vim.health.warn = vim.health.warn or vim.health.report_warn
+  vim.health.error = vim.health.error or vim.health.report_error
+end
+
+M.setup = function()
+  if ksb_health.check_nvim_version('nvim-0.10', true) then
+    return
+  end
+  backport_version()
+  backport_health()
+end
+
+return M
diff --git a/lua/kitty-scrollback/health.lua b/lua/kitty-scrollback/health.lua
index b191b769..b3159f8a 100644
--- a/lua/kitty-scrollback/health.lua
+++ b/lua/kitty-scrollback/health.lua
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-local ksb_util = require('kitty-scrollback.util')
 ---@mod kitty-scrollback.health
 local M = {}
 
@@ -13,13 +12,8 @@ M.setup = function(private, options)
   opts = options ---@diagnostic disable-line: unused-local
 end
 
-local start_health = vim.health.start or vim.health.report_start
-local ok_health = vim.health.ok or vim.health.report_ok
-local warn_health = vim.health.warn or vim.health.report_warn
-local error_health = vim.health.error or vim.health.report_error
-
 local function check_kitty_remote_control()
-  start_health('kitty-scrollback: Kitty remote control')
+  vim.health.start('kitty-scrollback: Kitty remote control')
   local cmd = {
     'kitty',
     '@',
@@ -31,7 +25,7 @@ local function check_kitty_remote_control()
   local ok = result.code == 0
   local code_msg = '`kitty @ ls` exited with code *' .. result.code .. '*'
   if ok then
-    ok_health(code_msg)
+    vim.health.ok(code_msg)
     return true
   else
     local stderr = result.stderr:gsub('\n', '') or ''
@@ -59,15 +53,15 @@ local function check_kitty_remote_control()
     else
       table.insert(advice, 'ERROR Failed to read `allow_remote_control` and `listen_on`')
     end
-    error_health(code_msg .. '\n      `' .. stderr .. '` ', advice)
+    vim.health.error(code_msg .. '\n      `' .. stderr .. '` ', advice)
   end
   return false
 end
 
 local function check_has_kitty_data()
-  start_health('kitty-scrollback: Kitty data')
+  vim.health.start('kitty-scrollback: Kitty data')
   if type(p) == 'table' and next(p.kitty_data) then
-    ok_health('Kitty data available\n>lua\n' .. vim.inspect(p.kitty_data) .. '\n')
+    vim.health.ok('Kitty data available\n>lua\n' .. vim.inspect(p.kitty_data) .. '\n')
     return true
   else
     local kitty_scrollback_kitten =
@@ -75,7 +69,7 @@ local function check_has_kitty_data()
     local checkhealth_command = '`kitty @ kitten '
       .. kitty_scrollback_kitten
       .. ' --config ksb_builtin_checkhealth`'
-    warn_health('No Kitty data available unable to perform a complete healthcheck', {
+    vim.health.warn('No Kitty data available unable to perform a complete healthcheck', {
       'Add the config options `checkhealth = true` to your *config* or execute the command `:KittyScrollbackCheckHealth` '
         .. 'to run `checkhealth` within the context of a Kitten',
       checkhealth_command,
@@ -88,12 +82,12 @@ local function check_clipboard()
   local function is_blank(s)
     return s:find('^%s*$') ~= nil
   end
-  start_health('kitty-scrollback: clipboard')
+  vim.health.start('kitty-scrollback: clipboard')
   local clipboard_tool = vim.fn['provider#clipboard#Executable']() -- copied from health.lua
   if vim.fn.has('clipboard') > 0 and not is_blank(clipboard_tool) then
-    ok_health('Clipboard tool found: *' .. clipboard_tool .. '*')
+    vim.health.ok('Clipboard tool found: *' .. clipboard_tool .. '*')
   else
-    warn_health(
+    vim.health.warn(
       'Neovim does not have a clipboard provider.\n        Some functionality will not work when there is no clipboard '
         .. 'provider, such as copying Kitty scrollback buffer text to the system clipboard.',
       'See `:help` |provider-clipboard| for more information on enabling system clipboard integration.'
@@ -102,16 +96,16 @@ local function check_clipboard()
 end
 
 local function check_kitty_shell_integration()
-  start_health('kitty-scrollback: Kitty shell integration')
+  vim.health.start('kitty-scrollback: Kitty shell integration')
   if not next(p or {}) then
-    error_health('No Kitty data')
+    vim.health.error('No Kitty data')
     return
   end
   -- use last_cmd_output because it is valid and requires shell integration
   if M.is_valid_extent_keyword('last_cmd_output') then
-    ok_health('Kitty shell integration is enabled')
+    vim.health.ok('Kitty shell integration is enabled')
   else
-    warn_health(
+    vim.health.warn(
       'Kitty shell integration is disabled and/or `no-prompt-mark` is set.\n        Some functionality will not work when Kitty shell '
         .. 'integration is disabled or `no-prompt-mark` is set, such as capturing the last command output.',
       table.concat(M.advice().kitty_shell_integration, '\n')
@@ -120,10 +114,10 @@ local function check_kitty_shell_integration()
 end
 
 local function check_sed()
-  start_health('kitty-scrollback: sed')
+  vim.health.start('kitty-scrollback: sed')
   local sed_path = vim.fn.exepath('sed')
   if not sed_path or sed_path == '' then
-    error_health('*sed* : command not found\n')
+    vim.health.error('*sed* : command not found\n')
     return
   end
 
@@ -149,7 +143,7 @@ local function check_sed()
   end
   ok = ok and result.code == 0 and result.stdout == 'expected'
   if ok then
-    ok_health(
+    vim.health.ok(
       '`'
         .. table.concat(cmd, ' ')
         .. '` exited with code *'
@@ -166,7 +160,7 @@ local function check_sed()
     if result_err ~= '' then
       result_err = '      `' .. result_err .. '`'
     end
-    error_health(
+    vim.health.error(
       '`'
         .. table.concat(cmd, ' ')
         .. '` exited with code *'
@@ -183,20 +177,24 @@ local function check_sed()
   end
 end
 
-M.check_nvim_version = function(check_only)
-  -- fallback to older health report calls if using < 0.10
+M.check_nvim_version = function(version, check_only)
   if not check_only then
-    start_health('kitty-scrollback: Neovim version 0.10+')
+    vim.health.start('kitty-scrollback: Neovim version 0.10+')
   end
-  local nvim_version = 'NVIM ' .. ksb_util.nvim_version_tostring()
-  if vim.fn.has('nvim-0.10') > 0 then
+  local nvim_version = 'NVIM ' .. tostring(vim.version())
+  if vim.fn.has(version) > 0 then
     if not check_only then
-      ok_health(nvim_version)
+      vim.health.ok(nvim_version)
+      if vim.fn.has('nvim-0.10') <= 0 then
+        vim.health.info(
+          'If you are using a version of nvim that is less than 0.10, then formatting on this checkhealth may be malformed'
+        )
+      end
     end
     return true
   else
     if not check_only then
-      error_health(nvim_version, M.advice().nvim_version)
+      vim.health.error(nvim_version, M.advice().nvim_version)
     end
   end
   return false
@@ -204,25 +202,25 @@ end
 
 M.check_kitty_version = function(check_only)
   if not check_only then
-    start_health('kitty-scrollback: Kitty version 0.29+')
+    vim.health.start('kitty-scrollback: Kitty version 0.29+')
   end
   local kitty_version = p.kitty_data.kitty_version
   local kitty_version_str = 'kitty ' .. table.concat(kitty_version, '.')
   if vim.version.cmp(kitty_version, { 0, 29, 0 }) >= 0 then
     if not check_only then
-      ok_health(kitty_version_str)
+      vim.health.ok(kitty_version_str)
     end
     return true
   else
     if not check_only then
-      error_health(kitty_version_str, M.advice().kitty_version)
+      vim.health.error(kitty_version_str, M.advice().kitty_version)
     end
   end
   return false
 end
 
 local function check_kitty_debug_config()
-  start_health('kitty-scrollback: Kitty debug config')
+  vim.health.start('kitty-scrollback: Kitty debug config')
   local kitty_debug_config_kitten =
     vim.api.nvim_get_runtime_file('python/kitty_debug_config.py', false)[1]
   local debug_config_log = vim.fn.stdpath('data') .. '/kitty-scrollback.nvim/debug_config.log'
@@ -230,13 +228,13 @@ local function check_kitty_debug_config()
     vim.system({ 'kitty', '@', 'kitten', kitty_debug_config_kitten, debug_config_log }):wait()
   if result.code == 0 then
     if vim.fn.filereadable(debug_config_log) then
-      ok_health(table.concat(vim.fn.readfile(debug_config_log), '\n   '))
+      vim.health.ok(table.concat(vim.fn.readfile(debug_config_log), '\n   '))
     else
-      error_health('cannot read ' .. debug_config_log)
+      vim.health.error('cannot read ' .. debug_config_log)
     end
   else
     local stderr = result.stderr:gsub('\n', '') or ''
-    error_health(stderr)
+    vim.health.error(stderr)
   end
 end
 
@@ -261,11 +259,11 @@ local function check_kitty_scrollback_nvim_version()
       version_found and '`' .. current_version:gsub('%s$', '`\n') ---@diagnostic disable-line: need-check-nil
       or 'ERROR failed to determine version\n'
     )
-  local health_fn = not version_found and warn_health
+  local health_fn = not version_found and vim.health.warn
     or function(msg)
-      ok_health('     ' .. msg)
+      vim.health.ok('     ' .. msg)
     end
-  start_health('kitty-scrollback: kitty-scrollback.nvim version')
+  vim.health.start('kitty-scrollback: kitty-scrollback.nvim version')
   health_fn([[  `|`\___/`|`       ]] .. header .. [[
          =) `^`Y`^` (=
           \  *^*  /       If you have any issues or questions using *kitty-scrollback.nvim* then     
@@ -283,7 +281,7 @@ end
 
 M.check = function()
   if
-    M.check_nvim_version() -- always check first to avoid undefined calls in versions < 0.10
+    M.check_nvim_version('nvim-0.10') -- always check first to avoid undefined calls in versions < 0.10
     and check_kitty_scrollback_nvim_version()
     and check_kitty_remote_control()
     and check_has_kitty_data()
diff --git a/lua/kitty-scrollback/launch.lua b/lua/kitty-scrollback/launch.lua
index 7508bb52..a69ced13 100644
--- a/lua/kitty-scrollback/launch.lua
+++ b/lua/kitty-scrollback/launch.lua
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ local ksb_util
 local ksb_autocmds
 ---@module 'kitty-scrollback.health'
 local ksb_health
+---@module 'kitty-scrollback.backport'
+local ksb_backport
 
 local M = {}
 
@@ -247,6 +249,7 @@ local function load_requires()
   ksb_util = require('kitty-scrollback.util')
   ksb_autocmds = require('kitty-scrollback.autocommands')
   ksb_health = require('kitty-scrollback.health')
+  ksb_backport = require('kitty-scrollback.backport')
 end
 
 ---Setup and configure kitty-scrollback.nvim
@@ -267,15 +270,16 @@ M.setup = function(kitty_data_str)
   local user_opts = config_fn and config_fn(p.kitty_data) or {}
   opts = vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', default_opts, user_opts)
 
+  ksb_backport.setup()
   ksb_health.setup(p, opts)
   if opts.checkhealth then
     vim.o.foldenable = false
     vim.cmd.checkhealth('kitty-scrollback')
     return
   end
-  if not ksb_health.check_nvim_version(true) then
+  if not ksb_health.check_nvim_version('nvim-0.10', true) then
     local prompt_msg = 'kitty-scrollback.nvim: Fatal error, on version NVIM '
-      .. ksb_util.nvim_version_tostring()
+      .. tostring(vim.version())
       .. '. '
       .. table.concat(ksb_health.advice().nvim_version)
     local response = vim.fn.confirm(prompt_msg, '&Quit\n&Continue')
@@ -386,8 +390,6 @@ M.launch = function()
     -- increase the number of columns temporary so that the width is used during the
     -- terminal command kitty @ get-text. this avoids hard wrapping lines to the
     -- current window size. Note: a larger min_cols appears to impact performance
-    -- do not worry about setting vim.o.columns back to original value that is taken
-    -- care of when we trigger kitty to send a SIGWINCH to the nvim process
     local min_cols = 300
     p.orig_columns = vim.o.columns
     if vim.o.columns < min_cols then
diff --git a/lua/kitty-scrollback/util.lua b/lua/kitty-scrollback/util.lua
index 62882e43..eeb1a381 100644
--- a/lua/kitty-scrollback/util.lua
+++ b/lua/kitty-scrollback/util.lua
@@ -76,19 +76,6 @@ M.remove_process_exited = function()
   return false
 end
 
--- nvim 0.10+ has tostring builtin but need this for previous versions during healthcheck
-M.nvim_version_tostring = function()
-  local nvim_ver = vim.version()
-  local ret = table.concat({ nvim_ver.major, nvim_ver.minor, nvim_ver.patch }, '.')
-  if nvim_ver.prerelease then
-    ret = ret .. '-' .. nvim_ver.prerelease
-  end
-  if nvim_ver.build and nvim_ver.build ~= vim.NIL then
-    ret = ret .. '+' .. nvim_ver.build
-  end
-  return ret
-end
-
 M.restore_and_redraw = function()
   if p.orig_columns then
     vim.o.columns = p.orig_columns