diff --git a/test/test_network.py b/test/test_network.py
index 26b67120..b646cfd1 100644
--- a/test/test_network.py
+++ b/test/test_network.py
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ def periodicity():
         # so allow a single failure.
         bus = self.network.bus
         msg = bus.recv(TIMEOUT)
-        if msg:
+        if msg is not None:
             self.assertIsNone(bus.recv(TIMEOUT))
 
 
diff --git a/test/test_nmt.py b/test/test_nmt.py
index ca40ab59..059e1982 100644
--- a/test/test_nmt.py
+++ b/test/test_nmt.py
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ def test_nmt_master_node_guarding(self):
         # A message may have been in flight when we stopped the timer,
         # so allow a single failure.
         msg = self.bus.recv(self.TIMEOUT)
-        if msg:
+        if msg is not None:
             self.assertIsNone(self.bus.recv(self.TIMEOUT))