diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_annotatable_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_annotatable_module.py
index 2b454ff45b..ae65eb66d6 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_annotatable_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_annotatable_module.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class AnnotatableModuleTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
         actual_attr = self.annotatable._get_annotation_data_attr(0, el)
 
-        self.assertTrue(type(actual_attr) is dict)
+        self.assertIsInstance(actual_attr, dict)
         self.assertDictEqual(expected_attr, actual_attr)
 
     def test_annotation_class_attr_default(self):
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class AnnotatableModuleTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         expected_attr = { 'class': { 'value': 'annotatable-span highlight' } }
         actual_attr = self.annotatable._get_annotation_class_attr(0, el)
 
-        self.assertTrue(type(actual_attr) is dict)
+        self.assertIsInstance(actual_attr, dict)
         self.assertDictEqual(expected_attr, actual_attr)
 
     def test_annotation_class_attr_with_valid_highlight(self):
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ class AnnotatableModuleTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             }
             actual_attr = self.annotatable._get_annotation_class_attr(0, el)
 
-            self.assertTrue(type(actual_attr) is dict)
+            self.assertIsInstance(actual_attr, dict)
             self.assertDictEqual(expected_attr, actual_attr)
 
     def test_annotation_class_attr_with_invalid_highlight(self):
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ class AnnotatableModuleTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             }
             actual_attr = self.annotatable._get_annotation_class_attr(0, el)
 
-            self.assertTrue(type(actual_attr) is dict)
+            self.assertIsInstance(actual_attr, dict)
             self.assertDictEqual(expected_attr, actual_attr)
 
     def test_render_annotation(self):
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/bulk_email/tests/test_err_handling.py b/lms/djangoapps/bulk_email/tests/test_err_handling.py
index abdbf4dc3b..99d91eab3f 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/bulk_email/tests/test_err_handling.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/bulk_email/tests/test_err_handling.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ class TestEmailErrors(ModuleStoreTestCase):
         self.assertTrue(retry.called)
         (_, kwargs) = retry.call_args
         exc = kwargs['exc']
-        self.assertTrue(type(exc) == SMTPDataError)
+        self.assertIsInstance(exc, SMTPDataError)
 
     @patch('bulk_email.tasks.get_connection', autospec=True)
     @patch('bulk_email.tasks.course_email_result')
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ class TestEmailErrors(ModuleStoreTestCase):
         self.assertTrue(retry.called)
         (_, kwargs) = retry.call_args
         exc = kwargs['exc']
-        self.assertTrue(type(exc) == SMTPServerDisconnected)
+        self.assertIsInstance(exc, SMTPServerDisconnected)
 
     @patch('bulk_email.tasks.get_connection', autospec=True)
     @patch('bulk_email.tasks.course_email.retry')
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ class TestEmailErrors(ModuleStoreTestCase):
         self.assertTrue(retry.called)
         (_, kwargs) = retry.call_args
         exc = kwargs['exc']
-        self.assertTrue(type(exc) == SMTPConnectError)
+        self.assertIsInstance(exc, SMTPConnectError)
 
     @patch('bulk_email.tasks.course_email_result')
     @patch('bulk_email.tasks.course_email.retry')