diff --git a/Lib/bsddb/dbutils.py b/Lib/bsddb/dbutils.py
index 8d2e7ef..02a686f 100644
--- a/Lib/bsddb/dbutils.py
+++ b/Lib/bsddb/dbutils.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
     """
     sleeptime = _deadlock_MinSleepTime
     max_retries = _kwargs.get('max_retries', -1)
-    if _kwargs.has_key('max_retries'):
+    if 'max_retries' in _kwargs:
         del _kwargs['max_retries']
     while True:
         try: