diff --git a/oslo_messaging/_drivers/amqp1_driver/controller.py b/oslo_messaging/_drivers/amqp1_driver/controller.py
index 62975071b..5451cabf0 100644
--- a/oslo_messaging/_drivers/amqp1_driver/controller.py
+++ b/oslo_messaging/_drivers/amqp1_driver/controller.py
@@ -1022,9 +1022,9 @@ class Controller(pyngus.ConnectionEventHandler):
     def _do_connect(self):
         """Establish connection and reply subscription on processor thread."""
         host = self.hosts.current
-        conn_props = {'properties': {u'process': self._command,
-                                     u'pid': self._pid,
-                                     u'node': self._node}}
+        conn_props = {'properties': {'process': self._command,
+                                     'pid': self._pid,
+                                     'node': self._node}}
         # only set hostname in the AMQP 1.0 Open performative if the message
         # bus can interpret it as the virtual host.  We leave it unspecified
         # since apparently noone can agree on how it should be used otherwise!
diff --git a/oslo_messaging/rpc/server.py b/oslo_messaging/rpc/server.py
index 03517c350..78557e290 100644
--- a/oslo_messaging/rpc/server.py
+++ b/oslo_messaging/rpc/server.py
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ class RPCServer(msg_server.MessageHandlingServer):
             # by another exception raised by a log handler during
             # LOG.debug(). So keep a copy and delete it later.
             failure = e.exc_info
-            LOG.debug(u'Expected exception during message handling (%s)', e)
+            LOG.debug('Expected exception during message handling (%s)', e)
         except rpc_dispatcher.NoSuchMethod as e:
             failure = sys.exc_info()
             if e.method.endswith('_ignore_errors'):
diff --git a/oslo_messaging/tests/test_exception_serialization.py b/oslo_messaging/tests/test_exception_serialization.py
index 93b63c51e..f4ca495f0 100644
--- a/oslo_messaging/tests/test_exception_serialization.py
+++ b/oslo_messaging/tests/test_exception_serialization.py
@@ -198,9 +198,9 @@ class DeserializeRemoteExceptionTestCase(test_utils.BaseTestCase):
               args=[],
               kwargs={},
               str=("Remote error: NovaStyleException test\n"
-                   "[%r]." % u'traceback\ntraceback\n'),
+                   "[%r]." % 'traceback\ntraceback\n'),
               msg=("Remote error: NovaStyleException test\n"
-                   "[%r]." % u'traceback\ntraceback\n'),
+                   "[%r]." % 'traceback\ntraceback\n'),
               remote_name='RemoteError',
               remote_args=(),
               remote_kwargs={'exc_type': 'NovaStyleException',
@@ -214,9 +214,9 @@ class DeserializeRemoteExceptionTestCase(test_utils.BaseTestCase):
               args=[],
               kwargs={},
               str=("Remote error: Exception test\n"
-                   "[%r]." % u'traceback\ntraceback\n'),
+                   "[%r]." % 'traceback\ntraceback\n'),
               msg=("Remote error: Exception test\n"
-                   "[%r]." % u'traceback\ntraceback\n'),
+                   "[%r]." % 'traceback\ntraceback\n'),
               remote_name='RemoteError',
               remote_args=(),
               remote_kwargs={'exc_type': 'Exception',
@@ -230,9 +230,9 @@ class DeserializeRemoteExceptionTestCase(test_utils.BaseTestCase):
               args=[],
               kwargs={},
               str=("Remote error: FarcicalError test\n"
-                   "[%r]." % u'traceback\ntraceback\n'),
+                   "[%r]." % 'traceback\ntraceback\n'),
               msg=("Remote error: FarcicalError test\n"
-                   "[%r]." % u'traceback\ntraceback\n'),
+                   "[%r]." % 'traceback\ntraceback\n'),
               remote_name='RemoteError',
               remote_args=(),
               remote_kwargs={'exc_type': 'FarcicalError',
@@ -246,9 +246,9 @@ class DeserializeRemoteExceptionTestCase(test_utils.BaseTestCase):
               args=[],
               kwargs={'foobar': 'blaa'},
               str=("Remote error: Exception test\n"
-                   "[%r]." % u'traceback\ntraceback\n'),
+                   "[%r]." % 'traceback\ntraceback\n'),
               msg=("Remote error: Exception test\n"
-                   "[%r]." % u'traceback\ntraceback\n'),
+                   "[%r]." % 'traceback\ntraceback\n'),
               remote_name='RemoteError',
               remote_args=(),
               remote_kwargs={'exc_type': 'Exception',
@@ -262,9 +262,9 @@ class DeserializeRemoteExceptionTestCase(test_utils.BaseTestCase):
               args=[],
               kwargs={},
               str=("Remote error: SystemExit test\n"
-                   "[%r]." % u'traceback\ntraceback\n'),
+                   "[%r]." % 'traceback\ntraceback\n'),
               msg=("Remote error: SystemExit test\n"
-                   "[%r]." % u'traceback\ntraceback\n'),
+                   "[%r]." % 'traceback\ntraceback\n'),
               remote_name='RemoteError',
               remote_args=(),
               remote_kwargs={'exc_type': 'SystemExit',
diff --git a/releasenotes/source/conf.py b/releasenotes/source/conf.py
index f84717078..6d444a36d 100644
--- a/releasenotes/source/conf.py
+++ b/releasenotes/source/conf.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 
 # -- Project information --------------------------------------------------
 # General information about the project.
-copyright = u'2016, oslo.messaging Developers'
+copyright = '2016, oslo.messaging Developers'
 
 # Release notes do not need a version in the title, they span
 # multiple versions.