diff --git a/Lib/distutils/command/config.py b/Lib/distutils/command/config.py
index 74eed78..43a8dc8 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/command/config.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/command/config.py
@@ -202,11 +202,10 @@
         preprocesses an empty file -- which can be useful to determine the
         symbols the preprocessor and compiler set by default.
         """
-
         self._check_compiler()
-        (src, out) = self._preprocess(body, headers, include_dirs, lang)
+        src, out = self._preprocess(body, headers, include_dirs, lang)
 
-        if type(pattern) is StringType:
+        if isinstance(pattern, str):
             pattern = re.compile(pattern)
 
         file = open(out)
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_config_cmd.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_config_cmd.py
index 6fd1776..af16d4c 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_config_cmd.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_config_cmd.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 import unittest
 import os
 
-from distutils.command.config import dump_file
+from distutils.command.config import dump_file, config
 from distutils.tests import support
 from distutils import log
 
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
                      support.TempdirManager,
                      unittest.TestCase):
 
-    def _info(self, msg):
+    def _info(self, msg, *args):
         for line in msg.splitlines():
             self._logs.append(line)
 
@@ -35,6 +35,17 @@
         dump_file(this_file, 'I am the header')
         self.assertEquals(len(self._logs), numlines+1)
 
+    def test_search_cpp(self):
+        pkg_dir, dist = self.create_dist()
+        cmd = config(dist)
+
+        # simple pattern searches
+        match = cmd.search_cpp(pattern='xxx', body='// xxx')
+        self.assertEquals(match, 0)
+
+        match = cmd.search_cpp(pattern='command', body='// xxx')
+        self.assertEquals(match, 1)
+
 def test_suite():
     return unittest.makeSuite(ConfigTestCase)