diff --git a/secop/datatypes.py b/secop/datatypes.py
index 7617da6..19a1b8f 100644
--- a/secop/datatypes.py
+++ b/secop/datatypes.py
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ class EnumType(DataType):
         return {'type': 'enum', 'members':dict((m.name, m.value) for m in self._enum.members)}
 
     def __repr__(self):
-        return u"EnumType(%r, %s)" % (self._enum.name, ', '.join('%s=%d' %(m.name, m.value) for m in self._enum.members))
+        return "EnumType(%r, %s)" % (self._enum.name, ', '.join('%s=%d' %(m.name, m.value) for m in self._enum.members))
 
     def export_value(self, value):
         """returns a python object fit for serialisation"""
@@ -843,7 +843,7 @@ class OrType(DataType):
                 return t(value)
             except Exception:
                 pass
-        raise BadValueError(u"Invalid Value, must conform to one of %s" % (', '.join((str(t) for t in self.types))))
+        raise BadValueError("Invalid Value, must conform to one of %s" % (', '.join((str(t) for t in self.types))))
 
 
 Int8   = IntRange(-(1 << 7),  (1 << 7) - 1)
diff --git a/secop/params.py b/secop/params.py
index 4f0e0a5..3670d08 100644
--- a/secop/params.py
+++ b/secop/params.py
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ class Override(CountedObj):
                 return type(obj)(ctr=self.ctr, **props)
             return type(obj)(**props)
         raise ProgrammingError(
-            u"Overrides can only be applied to Accessibles, %r is none!" %
+            "Overrides can only be applied to Accessibles, %r is none!" %
             obj)
 
 
diff --git a/secop/protocol/messages.py b/secop/protocol/messages.py
index ed42a06..561d859 100644
--- a/secop/protocol/messages.py
+++ b/secop/protocol/messages.py
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ REQUEST2REPLY = {
 
 
 
-HelpMessage = u"""Try one of the following:
+HelpMessage = """Try one of the following:
             '%s' to query protocol version
             '%s' to read the description
             '%s <module>[:<parameter>]' to request reading a value
diff --git a/test/test_datatypes.py b/test/test_datatypes.py
index 0fd9c2a..5002fd5 100644
--- a/test/test_datatypes.py
+++ b/test/test_datatypes.py
@@ -306,8 +306,8 @@ def test_BoolType():
     with pytest.raises(ValueError):
         dt.import_value('av')
 
-    assert dt.format_value(0) == u"False"
-    assert dt.format_value(True) == u"True"
+    assert dt.format_value(0) == "False"
+    assert dt.format_value(True) == "True"
 
 
 def test_ArrayOf():
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ def test_TupleOf():
     assert dt.export_value([1, True]) == [1, True]
     assert dt.import_value([1, True]) == [1, True]
 
-    assert dt.format_value([3,0]) == u"(3, False)"
+    assert dt.format_value([3,0]) == "(3, False)"
 
 
 def test_StructOf():
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ def test_StructOf():
     assert dt.import_value({'an_int': 13, 'a_string': 'WFEC'}) == {
         'a_string': 'WFEC', 'an_int': 13}
 
-    assert dt.format_value({'an_int':2, 'a_string':'Z'}) == u"{a_string='Z', an_int=2}"
+    assert dt.format_value({'an_int':2, 'a_string':'Z'}) == "{a_string='Z', an_int=2}"
 
 
 def test_Command():