diff --git a/bids/layout/tests/test_path_building.py b/bids/layout/tests/test_path_building.py
index 27c2042e..410119bc 100644
--- a/bids/layout/tests/test_path_building.py
+++ b/bids/layout/tests/test_path_building.py
@@ -158,4 +158,4 @@ def test_path_building_on_examples_with_derivatives_meg_ds_folder(dataset, scope
     for bf in files:
         entities = bf.get_entities()
         path = layout.build_path(entities)
-        assert(path==bf.path)
+        assert path == bf.path
diff --git a/bids/layout/tests/test_validation.py b/bids/layout/tests/test_validation.py
index c65947f4..54d32ddb 100644
--- a/bids/layout/tests/test_validation.py
+++ b/bids/layout/tests/test_validation.py
@@ -893,5 +893,5 @@ def test_layout_with_validation():
     assert len(layout1.files) < len(layout2.files)
     # Not a valid BIDS file
     badfile = join(data_dir, 'test.bval')
-    assert(badfile not in layout1.files)
-    assert(badfile in layout2.files)
+    assert badfile not in layout1.files
+    assert badfile in layout2.files