diff --git a/lbmpy_tests/test_lbstep.py b/lbmpy_tests/test_lbstep.py
index e4903446cab66c615b4a64030bf23016838fa146..7d6d395c37a68786cb80eb236e1df8c4e2d799e2 100644
--- a/lbmpy_tests/test_lbstep.py
+++ b/lbmpy_tests/test_lbstep.py
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ def test_advanced_initialization():
     shear_flow_scenario = create_fully_periodic_flow(initial_velocity=init_vel, relaxation_rate=1.95)
     with pytest.raises(ValueError) as e:
         shear_flow_scenario.run_iterative_initialization(max_steps=20000, check_residuum_after=500)
-    assert 'did not converge' in str(e)
+    assert 'did not converge' in str(e.value)
 
     shear_flow_scenario = create_fully_periodic_flow(initial_velocity=init_vel, relaxation_rate=1.6)
     shear_flow_scenario.run_iterative_initialization(max_steps=20000, check_residuum_after=500)
diff --git a/lbmpy_tests/test_relaxation_rate.py b/lbmpy_tests/test_relaxation_rate.py
index 1d8fb6a08c686c8164f43396240dc496e8a03334..39ce0825efe9a79de536a342dcb2fe78520da329 100644
--- a/lbmpy_tests/test_relaxation_rate.py
+++ b/lbmpy_tests/test_relaxation_rate.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ def test_relaxation_rate():
                               relaxation_rates=[1 + i / 10 for i in range(19)])
     with pytest.raises(ValueError) as e:
         get_shear_relaxation_rate(method)
-    assert 'Shear moments are relaxed with different relaxation' in str(e)
+    assert 'Shear moments are relaxed with different relaxation' in str(e.value)
 
     method = create_lb_method(stencil="D2Q9", method='mrt_raw',
                               relaxation_rates=[1 + i / 10 for i in range(9)])
diff --git a/lbmpy_tests/test_stencils.py b/lbmpy_tests/test_stencils.py
index 253c321bed02851d6191442fed7afced6a6efe7c..eb07afc57ebacfabc367bfdf011195ef545ed834 100644
--- a/lbmpy_tests/test_stencils.py
+++ b/lbmpy_tests/test_stencils.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def test_free_functions():
 
     with pytest.raises(ValueError) as e:
         get_stencil("name_that_does_not_exist")
-    assert "No such stencil" in str(e)
+    assert "No such stencil" in str(e.value)
 
 
 def test_visualize():