diff --git a/src/wutta_continuum/testing.py b/src/wutta_continuum/testing.py
index 7a1d43f..c9229d3 100644
--- a/src/wutta_continuum/testing.py
+++ b/src/wutta_continuum/testing.py
@@ -69,13 +69,13 @@ class VersionTestCase(DataTestCase):
         continuum.versioning_manager.transaction_cls = continuum.TransactionFactory()
         self.teardown_db()
 
-    def make_config(self, files=None, **kwargs):
+    def make_config(self, **kwargs):
         """
         Make and customize the config object.
 
         We override this to explicitly enable the versioning feature.
         """
-        config = super().make_config(files=files, **kwargs)
+        config = super().make_config(**kwargs)
         config.setdefault("wutta_continuum.enable_versioning", "true")
 
         # nb. must purge model classes from sys.modules, so they will
diff --git a/src/wutta_continuum/util.py b/src/wutta_continuum/util.py
index 18e381b..d213e2c 100644
--- a/src/wutta_continuum/util.py
+++ b/src/wutta_continuum/util.py
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ def model_transaction_query(instance, session=None, model_class=None, joins=None
         query = query.outerjoin(*join_args)
 
         # we'll collect "filter conditions" for use below...
-        conditions = [vercls.uuid != None]  # pylint: disable=singleton-comparison
+        conditions = [vercls.uuid != None]
 
         # add join/filter for each requested by caller
         for child_class, foreign_attr, primary_attr in joins:
@@ -138,9 +138,7 @@ def model_transaction_query(instance, session=None, model_class=None, joins=None
             )
 
             # and add the filter condition for use below...
-            conditions.append(
-                foreign_attr != None  # pylint: disable=singleton-comparison
-            )
+            conditions.append(foreign_attr != None)
 
         # at this point we have *outer* joined on *all* version tables
         # involved, but that means basically "all transactions" will