diff --git a/OpenSSL/test/test_crypto.py b/OpenSSL/test/test_crypto.py
index 5cbc105..a86bfac 100644
--- a/OpenSSL/test/test_crypto.py
+++ b/OpenSSL/test/test_crypto.py
@@ -23,18 +23,7 @@
 from OpenSSL.crypto import CRL, Revoked, load_crl
 from OpenSSL.crypto import NetscapeSPKI, NetscapeSPKIType
 from OpenSSL.crypto import sign, verify
-from OpenSSL.test.util import TestCase
-
-
-try:
-    bytes
-except NameError:
-    def b(s):
-        return s
-    bytes = str
-else:
-    def b(s):
-        return s.encode("ascii")
+from OpenSSL.test.util import TestCase, bytes, b
 
 
 root_cert_pem = b("""-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
diff --git a/OpenSSL/test/test_ssl.py b/OpenSSL/test/test_ssl.py
index 6132c54..75af963 100644
--- a/OpenSSL/test/test_ssl.py
+++ b/OpenSSL/test/test_ssl.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 from OpenSSL.SSL import SSLv2_METHOD, SSLv3_METHOD, SSLv23_METHOD, TLSv1_METHOD
 from OpenSSL.SSL import OP_NO_SSLv2, OP_NO_SSLv3, OP_SINGLE_DH_USE
 from OpenSSL.SSL import VERIFY_PEER, VERIFY_FAIL_IF_NO_PEER_CERT, VERIFY_CLIENT_ONCE
-from OpenSSL.test.util import TestCase
+from OpenSSL.test.util import TestCase, bytes, b
 from OpenSSL.test.test_crypto import cleartextCertificatePEM, cleartextPrivateKeyPEM
 from OpenSSL.test.test_crypto import client_cert_pem, client_key_pem, server_cert_pem, server_key_pem, root_cert_pem
 try:
@@ -57,10 +57,10 @@
     # Let's pass some unencrypted data to make sure our socket connection is
     # fine.  Just one byte, so we don't have to worry about buffers getting
     # filled up or fragmentation.
-    server.send("x")
-    assert client.recv(1024) == "x"
-    client.send("y")
-    assert server.recv(1024) == "y"
+    server.send(b("x"))
+    assert client.recv(1024) == b("x")
+    client.send(b("y"))
+    assert server.recv(1024) == b("y")
 
     # Most of our callers want non-blocking sockets, make it easy for them.
     server.setblocking(False)
diff --git a/OpenSSL/test/util.py b/OpenSSL/test/util.py
index bbe8492..61246a6 100644
--- a/OpenSSL/test/util.py
+++ b/OpenSSL/test/util.py
@@ -16,6 +16,17 @@
 from OpenSSL.crypto import Error, _exception_from_error_queue
 
 
+try:
+    bytes = bytes
+except NameError:
+    def b(s):
+        return s
+    bytes = str
+else:
+    def b(s):
+        return s.encode("ascii")
+
+
 class TestCase(TestCase):
     """
     L{TestCase} adds useful testing functionality beyond what is available