diff --git a/ipa-client/ipaclient/ipachangeconf.py b/ipa-client/ipaclient/ipachangeconf.py
index 58679f3de..a1ebb4f63 100644
--- a/ipa-client/ipaclient/ipachangeconf.py
+++ b/ipa-client/ipaclient/ipachangeconf.py
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ class IPAChangeConf:
                     break
 
             if 'delim' not in o:
-                raise SyntaxError, 'Syntax Error: Unknown line format'
+                raise SyntaxError('Syntax Error: Unknown line format')
 
         o.update({'name':parts[0].strip(), 'type':'option', 'value':parts[1].rstrip()})
         return o
diff --git a/ipalib/aci.py b/ipalib/aci.py
index 186b2e80c..687ac6357 100755
--- a/ipalib/aci.py
+++ b/ipalib/aci.py
@@ -135,15 +135,15 @@ class ACI:
     def _parse_acistr(self, acistr):
         vstart = acistr.find('version 3.0')
         if vstart < 0:
-            raise SyntaxError, "malformed ACI, unable to find version %s" % acistr
+            raise SyntaxError("malformed ACI, unable to find version %s" % acistr)
         acimatch = ACIPat.match(acistr[vstart-1:])
         if not acimatch or len(acimatch.groups()) < 2:
-            raise SyntaxError, "malformed ACI, match for version and bind rule failed %s" % acistr
+            raise SyntaxError("malformed ACI, match for version and bind rule failed %s" % acistr)
         self._parse_target(acistr[:vstart-1])
         self.name = acimatch.group(1)
         bindperms = PermPat.match(acimatch.group(2))
         if not bindperms or len(bindperms.groups()) < 3:
-            raise SyntaxError, "malformed ACI, permissions match failed %s" % acistr
+            raise SyntaxError("malformed ACI, permissions match failed %s" % acistr)
         self.action = bindperms.group(1)
         self.permissions = bindperms.group(2).replace(' ','').split(',')
         self.set_bindrule(bindperms.group(3))
@@ -155,20 +155,20 @@ class ACI:
            returns True if valid
         """
         if not type(self.permissions) in (tuple, list):
-            raise SyntaxError, "permissions must be a list"
+            raise SyntaxError("permissions must be a list")
         for p in self.permissions:
             if not p.lower() in PERMISSIONS:
-                raise SyntaxError, "invalid permission: '%s'" % p
+                raise SyntaxError("invalid permission: '%s'" % p)
         if not self.name:
-            raise SyntaxError, "name must be set"
+            raise SyntaxError("name must be set")
         if not isinstance(self.name, six.string_types):
-            raise SyntaxError, "name must be a string"
+            raise SyntaxError("name must be a string")
         if not isinstance(self.target, dict) or len(self.target) == 0:
-            raise SyntaxError, "target must be a non-empty dictionary"
+            raise SyntaxError("target must be a non-empty dictionary")
         if not isinstance(self.bindrule, dict):
-            raise SyntaxError, "bindrule must be a dictionary"
+            raise SyntaxError("bindrule must be a dictionary")
         if not self.bindrule.get('operator') or not self.bindrule.get('keyword') or not self.bindrule.get('expression'):
-            raise SyntaxError, "bindrule is missing a component"
+            raise SyntaxError("bindrule is missing a component")
         return True
 
     def set_target_filter(self, filter, operator="="):
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ class ACI:
 
         match = BindPat.match(bindrule)
         if not match or len(match.groups()) < 3:
-            raise SyntaxError, "malformed bind rule"
+            raise SyntaxError("malformed bind rule")
         self.set_bindrule_keyword(match.group(1))
         self.set_bindrule_operator(match.group(2))
         self.set_bindrule_expression(match.group(3).replace('"',''))
diff --git a/ipaserver/install/ldapupdate.py b/ipaserver/install/ldapupdate.py
index 0444327aa..4457edc4c 100644
--- a/ipaserver/install/ldapupdate.py
+++ b/ipaserver/install/ldapupdate.py
@@ -369,19 +369,19 @@ class LDAPUpdate:
             items = logical_line.split(':', 2)
 
             if len(items) == 0:
-                raise BadSyntax, "Bad formatting on line %s:%d: %s" % (data_source_name, lcount, logical_line)
+                raise BadSyntax("Bad formatting on line %s:%d: %s" % (data_source_name, lcount, logical_line))
 
             action = items[0].strip().lower()
 
             if action not in self.action_keywords:
-                raise BadSyntax, "Unknown update action '%s', data source=%s" % (action, data_source_name)
+                raise BadSyntax("Unknown update action '%s', data source=%s" % (action, data_source_name))
 
             if action == 'deleteentry':
                 new_value = None
                 disposition = "deleteentry"
             else:
                 if len(items) != 3:
-                    raise BadSyntax, "Bad formatting on line %s:%d: %s" % (data_source_name, lcount, logical_line)
+                    raise BadSyntax("Bad formatting on line %s:%d: %s" % (data_source_name, lcount, logical_line))
 
                 attr = items[1].strip()
                 # do not strip here, we need detect '::' due to base64 encoded
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ class LDAPUpdate:
             else:
                 # Process items belonging to dn
                 if dn is None:
-                    raise BadSyntax, "dn is not defined in the update, data source=%s" % (data_source_name)
+                    raise BadSyntax("dn is not defined in the update, data source=%s" % (data_source_name))
 
                 # If continuation line, append to existing logical line & continue,
                 # otherwise flush the previous item.
@@ -736,7 +736,7 @@ class LDAPUpdate:
             e = self._get_entry(new_entry.dn)
             if len(e) > 1:
                 # we should only ever get back one entry
-                raise BadSyntax, "More than 1 entry returned on a dn search!? %s" % new_entry.dn
+                raise BadSyntax("More than 1 entry returned on a dn search!? %s" % new_entry.dn)
             entry = e[0]
             found = True
             self.debug("Updating existing entry: %s", entry.dn)