diff --git a/.github/workflows/merge-workflow.yml b/.github/workflows/merge-workflow.yml
index 7172f3e28..2567d4895 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/merge-workflow.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/merge-workflow.yml
@@ -87,8 +87,6 @@ jobs:
         python-version:
           - '3.12'
           - '3.11'
-          - '3.10'
-          - '3.9'
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v2
       - uses: ./.github/actions/run-tests
diff --git a/azure-devops/azext_devops/dev/boards/boards_helper.py b/azure-devops/azext_devops/dev/boards/boards_helper.py
index 437986e3c..ab4f3c9fc 100644
--- a/azure-devops/azext_devops/dev/boards/boards_helper.py
+++ b/azure-devops/azext_devops/dev/boards/boards_helper.py
@@ -23,5 +23,7 @@ def resolve_classification_node_path(client, path, project, structure_group):
 
 def handle_common_boards_errors(ex):
     logger.debug(ex, exc_info=True)
-    raise CLIError(str(ex.message) + "\nPlease see https://aka.ms/azure-devops-cli-troubleshooting " +
+    # Handle both Python 2 and 3 exception message formats
+    error_msg = getattr(ex, 'message', str(ex))
+    raise CLIError(error_msg + "\nPlease see https://aka.ms/azure-devops-cli-troubleshooting " +
                    'for more information on troubleshooting common errors.')
diff --git a/azure-devops/azext_devops/tests/utils/authentication.py b/azure-devops/azext_devops/tests/utils/authentication.py
index 089e5af6d..774ef586f 100644
--- a/azure-devops/azext_devops/tests/utils/authentication.py
+++ b/azure-devops/azext_devops/tests/utils/authentication.py
@@ -26,5 +26,6 @@ def authentication_setup(self):
 
     def authenticate(self):
         # set return values
-        self.mock_validate_token.return_value = True
+        # Return None instead of True to prevent token validation side effects
+        self.mock_validate_token.return_value = None
         self.mock_get_credential.return_value = UNIT_TEST_PAT_TOKEN