diff --git a/Lib/bsddb/dbshelve.py b/Lib/bsddb/dbshelve.py
index fb0b762..1706ca8 100644
--- a/Lib/bsddb/dbshelve.py
+++ b/Lib/bsddb/dbshelve.py
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@
 
 
     def keys(self, txn=None):
-        if txn != None:
+        if txn is not None:
             return self.db.keys(txn)
         else:
             return self.db.keys()
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@
 
 
     def items(self, txn=None):
-        if txn != None:
+        if txn is not None:
             items = self.db.items(txn)
         else:
             items = self.db.items()
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@
         return newitems
 
     def values(self, txn=None):
-        if txn != None:
+        if txn is not None:
             values = self.db.values(txn)
         else:
             values = self.db.values()
diff --git a/Lib/bsddb/dbtables.py b/Lib/bsddb/dbtables.py
index b728570..02ddcdc 100644
--- a/Lib/bsddb/dbtables.py
+++ b/Lib/bsddb/dbtables.py
@@ -179,14 +179,14 @@
 
                 def set_range(self, search) :
                     v = self._dbcursor.set_range(bytes(search, "iso8859-1"))
-                    if v != None :
+                    if v is not None :
                         v = (v[0].decode("iso8859-1"),
                                 v[1].decode("iso8859-1"))
                     return v
 
                 def __next__(self) :
                     v = getattr(self._dbcursor, "next")()
-                    if v != None :
+                    if v is not None :
                         v = (v[0].decode("iso8859-1"),
                                 v[1].decode("iso8859-1"))
                     return v
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@
 
                 def put(self, key, value, flags=0, txn=None) :
                     key = bytes(key, "iso8859-1")
-                    if value != None :
+                    if value is not None :
                         value = bytes(value, "iso8859-1")
                     return self._db.put(key, value, flags=flags, txn=txn)
 
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@
                 def get(self, key, txn=None, flags=0) :
                     key = bytes(key, "iso8859-1")
                     v = self._db.get(key, txn=txn, flags=flags)
-                    if v != None :
+                    if v is not None :
                         v = v.decode("iso8859-1")
                     return v
 
@@ -540,7 +540,7 @@
                              # error
                             dataitem = None
                         dataitem = mappings[column](dataitem)
-                        if dataitem != None:
+                        if dataitem is not None:
                             self.db.put(
                                 _data_key(table, column, rowid),
                                 dataitem, txn=txn)
diff --git a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_all.py b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_all.py
index a8b32ef..39231c6 100644
--- a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_all.py
+++ b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_all.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
             return getattr(self._dbcursor, v)
 
         def _fix(self, v) :
-            if v == None : return None
+            if v is None : return None
             key, value = v
             if isinstance(key, bytes) :
                 key = key.decode(charset)
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@
         def pget(self, key=None, data=None, flags=0) :
             # Incorrect because key can be a bare number,
             # but enough to pass testsuite
-            if isinstance(key, int) and (data==None) and (flags==0) :
+            if isinstance(key, int) and (data is None) and (flags == 0) :
                 flags = key
                 key = None
             if isinstance(key, str) :
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@
             if isinstance(data, str) :
                 data = bytes(data, charset)
             v=self._dbcursor.pget(key=key, data=data, flags=flags)
-            if v != None :
+            if v is not None :
                 v1, v2, v3 = v
                 if isinstance(v1, bytes) :
                     v1 = v1.decode(charset)
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@
 
         def join_item(self) :
             v = self._dbcursor.join_item()
-            if v != None :
+            if v is not None :
                 v = v.decode(charset)
             return v
 
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@
                 args =(k, d, f)
 
             v = self._dbcursor.get(*args, **kwargs)
-            if v != None :
+            if v is not None :
                 k, v = v
                 if isinstance(k, bytes) :
                     k = k.decode(charset)
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@
             if isinstance(k, str) :
                 k = bytes(k, charset)
             v = self._db[k]
-            if v != None :
+            if v is not None :
                 v = v.decode(charset)
             return v
 
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@
             else :
                 v=self._db.get(key, txn=txn, flags=flags,
                         dlen=dlen, doff=doff)
-            if (v != None) and isinstance(v, bytes) :
+            if (v is not None) and isinstance(v, bytes) :
                 v = v.decode(charset)
             return v
 
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@
             if isinstance(key, str) :
                 key = bytes(key, charset)
             v=self._db.pget(key, txn=txn)
-            if v != None :
+            if v is not None :
                 v1, v2 = v
                 if isinstance(v1, bytes) :
                     v1 = v1.decode(charset)
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@
             if isinstance(value, str) :
                 value = bytes(value, charset)
             v=self._db.get_both(key, value, txn=txn, flags=flags)
-            if v != None :
+            if v is not None :
                 v = v.decode(charset)
             return v
 
diff --git a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_basics.py b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_basics.py
index 5d6ffe3..c5579de 100644
--- a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_basics.py
+++ b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_basics.py
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@
         else:
             if set_raises_error:
                 self.fail("expected exception")
-            if n != None:
+            if n is not None:
                 self.fail("expected None: %r" % (n,))
 
         rec = c.get_both('0404', self.makeData('0404'))
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@
         else:
             if get_raises_error:
                 self.fail("expected exception")
-            if n != None:
+            if n is not None:
                 self.fail("expected None: %r" % (n,))
 
         if self.d.get_type() == db.DB_BTREE:
diff --git a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_compare.py b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_compare.py
index d9637c1..045ee25 100644
--- a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_compare.py
+++ b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_compare.py
@@ -238,12 +238,7 @@
 
         self.startTest ()
         self.createDB (my_compare)
-        try:
-            self.db.set_bt_compare (my_compare)
-            self.assert_(0, "this set should fail")
-
-        except RuntimeError, msg:
-            pass
+        self.assertRaises (RuntimeError, self.db.set_bt_compare, my_compare)
 
 def test_suite ():
     res = unittest.TestSuite ()
diff --git a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_dbtables.py b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_dbtables.py
index e655100..935c9d5 100644
--- a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_dbtables.py
+++ b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_dbtables.py
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@
         self.tdb.Insert(tabname, {'Type': 'Unknown', 'Access': '0'})
 
         def set_type(type):
-            if type == None:
+            if type is None:
                 return 'MP3'
             return type
 
diff --git a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_recno.py b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_recno.py
index 5f3bf3a..0a10ec9 100644
--- a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_recno.py
+++ b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_recno.py
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@
 
         for x in letters:
             recno = d.append(x * 60)
-            self.assertEqual(type(recno), type(0))
-            self.assert_(recno >= 1)
+            self.assertIsInstance(recno, int)
+            self.assertGreaterEqual(recno, 1)
             if verbose:
                 print recno,
 
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
             if verbose:
                 print data
 
-            self.assertEqual(type(data), type(""))
+            self.assertIsInstance(data, str)
             self.assertEqual(data, d.get(recno))
 
         try:
@@ -91,21 +91,21 @@
         keys = d.keys()
         if verbose:
             print keys
-        self.assertEqual(type(keys), type([]))
-        self.assertEqual(type(keys[0]), type(123))
+        self.assertIsInstance(keys, list)
+        self.assertIsInstance(keys[0], int)
         self.assertEqual(len(keys), len(d))
 
         items = d.items()
         if verbose:
             pprint(items)
-        self.assertEqual(type(items), type([]))
-        self.assertEqual(type(items[0]), type(()))
+        self.assertIsInstance(items, list)
+        self.assertIsInstance(items[0], tuple)
         self.assertEqual(len(items[0]), 2)
-        self.assertEqual(type(items[0][0]), type(123))
-        self.assertEqual(type(items[0][1]), type(""))
+        self.assertIsInstance(items[0][0], int)
+        self.assertIsInstance(items[0][1], str)
         self.assertEqual(len(items), len(d))
 
-        self.assert_(d.has_key(25))
+        self.assertTrue(d.has_key(25))
 
         del d[25]
         self.assertFalse(d.has_key(25))
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@
             if get_returns_none:
                 self.fail("unexpected DBKeyEmptyError exception")
             else:
-                self.assertEqual(val[0], db.DB_KEYEMPTY)
+                self.assertEqual(val.args[0], db.DB_KEYEMPTY)
                 if verbose: print val
         else:
             if not get_returns_none:
diff --git a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_replication.py b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_replication.py
index b3775c7..1817e60 100644
--- a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_replication.py
+++ b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_replication.py
@@ -188,11 +188,11 @@
         import time
         timeout=time.time()+10
         v=None
-        while (time.time()<timeout) and (v==None) :
+        while (time.time()<timeout) and (v is None) :
             txn=self.dbenvClient.txn_begin()
             v=self.dbClient.get("ABC", txn=txn)
             txn.commit()
-            if v==None :
+            if v is None :
                 time.sleep(0.02)
         self.assertTrue(time.time()<timeout)
         self.assertEquals("123", v)
@@ -201,11 +201,11 @@
         self.dbMaster.delete("ABC", txn=txn)
         txn.commit()
         timeout=time.time()+10
-        while (time.time()<timeout) and (v!=None) :
+        while (time.time()<timeout) and (v is not None) :
             txn=self.dbenvClient.txn_begin()
             v=self.dbClient.get("ABC", txn=txn)
             txn.commit()
-            if v==None :
+            if v is None :
                 time.sleep(0.02)
         self.assertTrue(time.time()<timeout)
         self.assertEquals(None, v)
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@
         def thread_do(env, q, envid, election_status, must_be_master) :
             while True :
                 v=q.get()
-                if v == None : return
+                if v is None : return
                 env.rep_process_message(v[0], v[1], envid)
 
         self.thread_do = thread_do
@@ -351,11 +351,11 @@
         import time
         timeout=time.time()+10
         v=None
-        while (time.time()<timeout) and (v==None) :
+        while (time.time()<timeout) and (v is None) :
             txn=self.dbenvClient.txn_begin()
             v=self.dbClient.get("ABC", txn=txn)
             txn.commit()
-            if v==None :
+            if v is None :
                 time.sleep(0.02)
         self.assertTrue(time.time()<timeout)
         self.assertEquals("123", v)
@@ -364,11 +364,11 @@
         self.dbMaster.delete("ABC", txn=txn)
         txn.commit()
         timeout=time.time()+10
-        while (time.time()<timeout) and (v!=None) :
+        while (time.time()<timeout) and (v is not None) :
             txn=self.dbenvClient.txn_begin()
             v=self.dbClient.get("ABC", txn=txn)
             txn.commit()
-            if v==None :
+            if v is None :
                 time.sleep(0.02)
         self.assertTrue(time.time()<timeout)
         self.assertEquals(None, v)
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@
             def thread_do(env, q, envid, election_status, must_be_master) :
                 while True :
                     v=q.get()
-                    if v == None : return
+                    if v is None : return
                     r = env.rep_process_message(v[0],v[1],envid)
                     if must_be_master and self.confirmed_master :
                         self.dbenvMaster.rep_start(flags = db.DB_REP_MASTER)
diff --git a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_thread.py b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_thread.py
index d22d1df..28a2555 100644
--- a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_thread.py
+++ b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_thread.py
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@
                 readers.pop().start()
             except (db.DBLockDeadlockError, db.DBLockNotGrantedError), val:
                 if verbose:
-                    print "%s: Aborting transaction (%s)" % (name, val[1])
+                    print "%s: Aborting transaction (%s)" % (name, val.args[1])
                 txn.abort()
 
         if verbose:
@@ -455,7 +455,7 @@
                 finished = True
             except (db.DBLockDeadlockError, db.DBLockNotGrantedError), val:
                 if verbose:
-                    print "%s: Aborting transaction (%s)" % (name, val[1])
+                    print "%s: Aborting transaction (%s)" % (name, val.args[1])
                 c.close()
                 txn.abort()
 
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_bsddb3.py b/Lib/test/test_bsddb3.py
index b9726f1..099145b 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_bsddb3.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_bsddb3.py
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@
 import tempfile
 import time
 import unittest
-from test.test_support import (requires, verbose, run_unittest, unlink, rmtree,
-    import_module)
+from test.test_support import requires, run_unittest, import_module
 
 # Skip test if _bsddb module was not built.
 import_module('_bsddb')