diff --git a/test/sample_data.py b/test/sample_data.py
index d79d4c8..6af235b 100644
--- a/test/sample_data.py
+++ b/test/sample_data.py
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 # -*- encoding: utf-8 -*-
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
 from datetime import datetime
 
-TEST_CITY_1 = u'B€rkeley'
-TEST_CITY_2 = u'G€lway'
+
+TEST_CITY_1 = 'B€rkeley'
+TEST_CITY_2 = 'G€lway'
 
 TEST_DATA = [
     {
diff --git a/test/test_dataset.py b/test/test_dataset.py
index b2be9da..b95482b 100644
--- a/test/test_dataset.py
+++ b/test/test_dataset.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
 import os
 import unittest
 from datetime import datetime
@@ -118,7 +120,7 @@ class DatabaseTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             with self.db as tx:
                 tx['weather'].insert({'date': datetime(2011, 1, 1),
                                       'temperature': 1,
-                                      'place': u'tmp_place'})
+                                      'place': 'tmp_place'})
                 raise ValueError()
         assert len(self.db['weather']) == init_length
 
@@ -130,7 +132,7 @@ class DatabaseTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             return
         with self.assertRaises(SQLAlchemyError):
             tbl = self.db['weather']
-            tbl.insert({'date': True, 'temperature': 'wrong_value', 'place': u'tmp_place'})
+            tbl.insert({'date': True, 'temperature': 'wrong_value', 'place': 'tmp_place'})
 
     def test_load_table(self):
         tbl = self.db.load_table('weather')