diff --git a/tests/test_Config.py b/tests/test_Config.py
index 10f700747..57c410f82 100644
--- a/tests/test_Config.py
+++ b/tests/test_Config.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import sys
 import _setup_test_env  # noqa
 import unittest
+from nose.tools import assert_equal, assert_is_instance, assert_in, assert_greater, assert_true, assert_false
 from pprint import pprint
 from returnn.config import *
 from returnn.util import better_exchook
@@ -20,16 +21,16 @@ def test_old_format():
         )
     )
 
-    assert config.has("num_inputs") is True
-    assert config.has("hidden_type") is True
+    assert_true(config.has("num_inputs"))
+    assert_true(config.has("hidden_type"))
     assert config.int("num_inputs", -1) == 3
     assert config.value("hidden_type", "x") == "forward,lstm"
     assert config.value("hidden_type", "x", index=0) == "forward"
     assert config.value("hidden_type", "x", index=1) == "lstm"
-    assert config.list("hidden_type", ["x"]), ["forward" == "lstm"]
+    assert config.list("hidden_type", ["x"]) == ["forward", "lstm"]
 
-    assert config.is_typed("num_inputs") is False
-    assert config.is_typed("hidden_type") is False
+    assert_false(config.is_typed("num_inputs"))
+    assert_false(config.is_typed("hidden_type"))
 
 
 def test_json_format():
@@ -46,19 +47,19 @@ def test_json_format():
         )
     )
 
-    assert config.has("num_inputs") is True
-    assert config.has("hidden_type") is True
+    assert_true(config.has("num_inputs"))
+    assert_true(config.has("hidden_type"))
     assert config.int("num_inputs", -1) == 3
     assert config.value("hidden_type", "x") == "forward,lstm"
     assert config.value("hidden_type", "x", index=0) == "forward"
     assert config.value("hidden_type", "x", index=1) == "lstm"
-    assert config.list("hidden_type", ["x"]), ["forward" == "lstm"]
+    assert config.list("hidden_type", ["x"]) == ["forward", "lstm"]
 
-    assert config.is_typed("num_inputs") is True
-    assert config.is_typed("hidden_type") is True
-    assert isinstance(config.typed_value("num_inputs"), int)
-    assert isinstance(config.typed_value("hidden_type"), list)
-    assert config.typed_value("hidden_type"), ["forward" == "lstm"]
+    assert_true(config.is_typed("num_inputs"))
+    assert_true(config.is_typed("hidden_type"))
+    assert_is_instance(config.typed_value("num_inputs"), int)
+    assert_is_instance(config.typed_value("hidden_type"), list)
+    assert config.typed_value("hidden_type") == ["forward", "lstm"]
 
 
 def test_py_config():
@@ -73,19 +74,19 @@ def test_py_config():
         )
     )
 
-    assert config.has("num_inputs") is True
-    assert config.has("hidden_type") is True
+    assert_true(config.has("num_inputs"))
+    assert_true(config.has("hidden_type"))
     assert config.int("num_inputs", -1) == 3
     assert config.value("hidden_type", "x") == "forward,lstm"
     assert config.value("hidden_type", "x", index=0) == "forward"
     assert config.value("hidden_type", "x", index=1) == "lstm"
-    assert config.list("hidden_type", ["x"]), ["forward" == "lstm"]
+    assert config.list("hidden_type", ["x"]) == ["forward", "lstm"]
 
-    assert config.is_typed("num_inputs") is True
-    assert config.is_typed("hidden_type") is True
-    assert isinstance(config.typed_value("num_inputs"), int)
-    assert isinstance(config.typed_value("hidden_type"), list)
-    assert config.typed_value("hidden_type"), ["forward" == "lstm"]
+    assert_true(config.is_typed("num_inputs"))
+    assert_true(config.is_typed("hidden_type"))
+    assert_is_instance(config.typed_value("num_inputs"), int)
+    assert_is_instance(config.typed_value("hidden_type"), list)
+    assert config.typed_value("hidden_type") == ["forward", "lstm"]
 
 
 def test_rnn_init_config_py_global_var():