diff --git a/test/_common.py b/test/_common.py
index 9f8b9f146..5b179ed7e 100644
--- a/test/_common.py
+++ b/test/_common.py
@@ -14,8 +14,7 @@
 # included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
 
 """Some common functionality for beets' test cases."""
-from __future__ import (division, absolute_import, print_function,
-                        unicode_literals)
+from __future__ import (division, absolute_import, print_function)
 
 import time
 import sys
@@ -102,11 +101,11 @@ def album(lib=None):
     _item_ident += 1
     i = beets.library.Album(
         artpath=None,
-        albumartist='some album artist',
-        albumartist_sort='some sort album artist',
-        albumartist_credit='some album artist credit',
-        album='the album',
-        genre='the genre',
+        albumartist=u'some album artist',
+        albumartist_sort=u'some sort album artist',
+        albumartist_credit=u'some album artist credit',
+        album=u'the album',
+        genre=u'the genre',
         year=2014,
         month=2,
         day=5,
@@ -170,11 +169,11 @@ class TestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def assertExists(self, path):
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(path),
-                        'file does not exist: {!r}'.format(path))
+                        u'file does not exist: {!r}'.format(path))
 
     def assertNotExists(self, path):
         self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(path),
-                         'file exists: {!r}'.format((path)))
+                         u'file exists: {!r}'.format((path)))
 
 
 class LibTestCase(TestCase):
@@ -226,9 +225,9 @@ class InputException(Exception):
         self.output = output
 
     def __str__(self):
-        msg = "Attempt to read with no input provided."
+        msg = u"Attempt to read with no input provided."
         if self.output is not None:
-            msg += " Output: %s" % self.output
+            msg += u" Output: %s" % self.output
         return msg
 
 
@@ -352,5 +351,5 @@ def slow_test(unused=None):
     def _id(obj):
         return obj
     if 'SKIP_SLOW_TESTS' in os.environ:
-        return unittest.skip('test is slow')
+        return unittest.skip(u'test is slow')
     return _id
diff --git a/test/helper.py b/test/helper.py
index e2bc42351..9721e7b4c 100644
--- a/test/helper.py
+++ b/test/helper.py
@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@ information or mock the environment.
 """
 
 
-from __future__ import (division, absolute_import, print_function,
-                        unicode_literals)
+from __future__ import (division, absolute_import, print_function)
 
 import sys
 import os
@@ -244,7 +243,7 @@ class TestHelper(object):
             track_no = 0
             album_item_count = item_count
             while album_item_count:
-                title = 'track {0}'.format(track_no)
+                title = u'track {0}'.format(track_no)
                 src = os.path.join(_common.RSRC, 'full.mp3')
                 dest = os.path.join(album_dir, '{0}.mp3'.format(title))
                 if os.path.exists(dest):
@@ -527,14 +526,14 @@ def generate_album_info(album_id, track_ids):
     """
     tracks = [generate_track_info(id) for id in track_ids]
     album = AlbumInfo(
-        album_id='album info',
-        album='album info',
-        artist='album info',
-        artist_id='album info',
+        album_id=u'album info',
+        album=u'album info',
+        artist=u'album info',
+        artist_id=u'album info',
         tracks=tracks,
     )
     for field in ALBUM_INFO_FIELDS:
-        setattr(album, field, 'album info')
+        setattr(album, field, u'album info')
 
     return album
 
@@ -553,11 +552,11 @@ def generate_track_info(track_id='track info', values={}):
     string fields are set to "track info".
     """
     track = TrackInfo(
-        title='track info',
+        title=u'track info',
         track_id=track_id,
     )
     for field in TRACK_INFO_FIELDS:
-        setattr(track, field, 'track info')
+        setattr(track, field, u'track info')
     for field, value in values.items():
         setattr(track, field, value)
     return track
diff --git a/test/testall.py b/test/testall.py
index fa556e364..e8e1d909d 100755
--- a/test/testall.py
+++ b/test/testall.py
@@ -15,8 +15,7 @@
 # The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be
 # included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
 
-from __future__ import (division, absolute_import, print_function,
-                        unicode_literals)
+from __future__ import (division, absolute_import, print_function)
 
 import os
 import re