diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_events.py b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_events.py
index ea822c98e9..158dd4b7dc 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_events.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_events.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class TestUserProfileEvents(UserSettingsEventTestMixin, TestCase):
         # Verify that we remove the temporary `_changed_fields` property from
         # the model after we're done emitting events.
         with self.assertRaises(AttributeError):
-            getattr(self.profile, '_changed_fields')
+            self.profile._changed_fields    # pylint: disable=pointless-statement, protected-access
 
     def test_change_many_fields(self):
         """
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_ecommerce.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_ecommerce.py
index e7e1f1fd8a..bcbbea44ac 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_ecommerce.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_ecommerce.py
@@ -196,8 +196,8 @@ class TestECommerceDashboardViews(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
 
         data['code'] = 'Vs23Ws4j'
         response = self.client.post(add_coupon_url, data)
-        self.assertTrue("The code ({code}) that you have tried to define is already in use as a registration code"
-                        .format(code=data['code']) in response.content)
+        msg = "The code ({code}) that you have tried to define is already in use as a registration code"
+        self.assertIn(msg.format(code=data['code']), response.content)
 
     def test_delete_coupon(self):
         """