diff --git a/tests/unittests/distros/test_sysconfig.py b/tests/unittests/distros/test_sysconfig.py
index 6df2c2bcfa6..815577a8cdd 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/distros/test_sysconfig.py
+++ b/tests/unittests/distros/test_sysconfig.py
@@ -3,20 +3,12 @@
 import re
 
 from cloudinit.distros.parsers.sys_conf import SysConf
-from tests.unittests.helpers import TestCase
 
 # Lots of good examples @
 # http://content.hccfl.edu/pollock/AUnix1/SysconfigFilesDesc.txt
 
 
-class TestSysConfHelper(TestCase):
-    # This function was added in 2.7, make it work for 2.6
-    def assertRegMatches(self, text, regexp):
-        regexp = re.compile(regexp)
-        self.assertTrue(
-            regexp.search(text),
-            msg="%s must match %s!" % (text, regexp.pattern),
-        )
+class TestSysConfHelper:
 
     def test_parse_no_change(self):
         contents = """# A comment
@@ -31,57 +23,55 @@ def test_parse_no_change(self):
 ETHTOOL_OPTS="-K ${DEVICE} tso on; -G ${DEVICE} rx 256 tx 256"
 USEMD5=no"""
         conf = SysConf(contents.splitlines())
-        self.assertEqual(conf["HOSTNAME"], "blahblah")
-        self.assertEqual(conf["SHORTDATE"], "$(date +%y:%m:%d:%H:%M)")
+        assert conf["HOSTNAME"] == "blahblah"
+        assert conf["SHORTDATE"] == "$(date +%y:%m:%d:%H:%M)"
         # Should be unquoted
-        self.assertEqual(
-            conf["ETHTOOL_OPTS"],
-            "-K ${DEVICE} tso on; -G ${DEVICE} rx 256 tx 256",
+        assert (
+            conf["ETHTOOL_OPTS"]
+            == "-K ${DEVICE} tso on; -G ${DEVICE} rx 256 tx 256"
         )
-        self.assertEqual(contents, str(conf))
+        assert contents == str(conf)
 
     def test_parse_shell_vars(self):
         contents = "USESMBAUTH=$XYZ"
         conf = SysConf(contents.splitlines())
-        self.assertEqual(contents, str(conf))
+        assert contents == str(conf)
         conf = SysConf("")
         conf["B"] = "${ZZ}d apples"
         # Should be quoted
-        self.assertEqual('B="${ZZ}d apples"', str(conf))
+        assert 'B="${ZZ}d apples"' == str(conf)
         conf = SysConf("")
         conf["B"] = "$? d apples"
-        self.assertEqual('B="$? d apples"', str(conf))
+        assert 'B="$? d apples"' == str(conf)
         contents = 'IPMI_WATCHDOG_OPTIONS="timeout=60"'
         conf = SysConf(contents.splitlines())
-        self.assertEqual("IPMI_WATCHDOG_OPTIONS=timeout=60", str(conf))
+        assert "IPMI_WATCHDOG_OPTIONS=timeout=60" == str(conf)
 
     def test_parse_adjust(self):
         contents = 'IPV6TO4_ROUTING="eth0-:0004::1/64 eth1-:0005::1/64"'
         conf = SysConf(contents.splitlines())
         # Should be unquoted
-        self.assertEqual(
-            "eth0-:0004::1/64 eth1-:0005::1/64", conf["IPV6TO4_ROUTING"]
-        )
+        assert "eth0-:0004::1/64 eth1-:0005::1/64" == conf["IPV6TO4_ROUTING"]
         conf["IPV6TO4_ROUTING"] = "blah \tblah"
         contents2 = str(conf).strip()
         # Should be requoted due to whitespace
-        self.assertRegex(contents2, r"IPV6TO4_ROUTING='blah\s+blah'")
+        assert re.search(r"IPV6TO4_ROUTING='blah\s+blah'", contents2)
 
     def test_parse_no_adjust_shell(self):
         conf = SysConf("".splitlines())
         conf["B"] = " $(time)"
         contents = str(conf)
-        self.assertEqual("B= $(time)", contents)
+        assert "B= $(time)" == contents
 
     def test_parse_empty(self):
         contents = ""
         conf = SysConf(contents.splitlines())
-        self.assertEqual("", str(conf).strip())
+        assert "" == str(conf).strip()
 
     def test_parse_add_new(self):
         contents = "BLAH=b"
         conf = SysConf(contents.splitlines())
         conf["Z"] = "d"
         contents = str(conf)
-        self.assertIn("Z=d", contents)
-        self.assertIn("BLAH=b", contents)
+        assert "Z=d" in contents
+        assert "BLAH=b" in contents