diff --git a/beat/editor/test/test_utils.py b/beat/editor/test/test_utils.py
index 6bc756189d9a96df7adbe88cf1a78d4cac2e4b81..256c23f2aafbb365d79bb0a4645809a9dfef8875 100644
--- a/beat/editor/test/test_utils.py
+++ b/beat/editor/test/test_utils.py
@@ -25,11 +25,12 @@
 #                                                                             #
 ###############################################################################
 
-# test the utils.py file
-# (mostly python file generation via jinja2 templates)
+"""
+Test the utils.py file
+"""
+
 import os
 
-import nose.tools
 import pkg_resources
 from .. import utils
 
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ def test_generate_empty_database():
     database = utils.generate_database()
     with open(os.path.join(DATA_PATH, "empty_database.py")) as db_file:
         empty_db = db_file.read()
-        nose.tools.eq_(database, empty_db)
+        assert database == empty_db
 
 
 def test_generate_empty_algorithm():
@@ -52,11 +53,11 @@ def test_generate_empty_algorithm():
     algorithm = utils.generate_algorithm(alg["contents"])
     with open(os.path.join(DATA_PATH, "empty_algorithm.py")) as db_file:
         empty_alg = db_file.read()
-        nose.tools.eq_(algorithm, empty_alg)
+        assert algorithm == empty_alg
 
 
 def test_generate_empty_library():
     library = utils.generate_library()
     with open(os.path.join(DATA_PATH, "empty_library.py")) as db_file:
         empty_lib = db_file.read()
-        nose.tools.eq_(library, empty_lib)
+        assert library == empty_lib