diff --git a/tests/system_tests_autolinks.py b/tests/system_tests_autolinks.py
index 1a22366f4..a94d91aee 100644
--- a/tests/system_tests_autolinks.py
+++ b/tests/system_tests_autolinks.py
@@ -332,17 +332,6 @@ def setUpClass(cls):
         cls.route_address = cls.router.addresses[1]
         cls.ls_route_address = cls.router.addresses[2]
 
-    def run_qdstat_general(self):
-        cmd = ['qdstat', '--bus', str(AutolinkTest.normal_address), '--timeout', str(TIMEOUT)] + ['-g']
-        p = self.popen(
-            cmd,
-            name='qdstat-' + self.id(), stdout=PIPE, expect=None,
-            universal_newlines=True)
-
-        out = p.communicate()[0]
-        assert p.returncode == 0, "qdstat exit status %s, output:\n%s" % (p.returncode, out)
-        return out
-
     def run_skmanage(self, cmd, input=None, expect=Process.EXIT_OK):
         p = self.popen(
             ['skmanage'] + cmd.split(' ') + ['--bus', AutolinkTest.normal_address, '--indent=-1', '--timeout', str(TIMEOUT)],
diff --git a/tests/system_tests_tcp_adaptor.py b/tests/system_tests_tcp_adaptor.py
index c93672aa0..7ff2fef66 100644
--- a/tests/system_tests_tcp_adaptor.py
+++ b/tests/system_tests_tcp_adaptor.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 import json
 import os
 import socket
+import subprocess
 import sys
 import time
 import traceback
@@ -28,11 +29,11 @@
 from subprocess import STDOUT
 
 from system_test import Logger
-from system_test import main_module
 from system_test import Process
 from system_test import Qdrouterd
-from system_test import TestCase
 from system_test import TIMEOUT
+from system_test import TestCase
+from system_test import main_module
 from system_test import unittest
 
 # Tests in this file are organized by classes that inherit TestCase.
@@ -89,23 +90,18 @@ class TCP_echo_server:
 
 
 def ncat_available():
-    popen_args = ['ncat', '--version']
     try:
-        process = Process(popen_args,
-                          name='ncat_check',
-                          stdout=PIPE,
-                          expect=None,
-                          universal_newlines=True)
-        out = process.communicate()[0]
-        return True
-    except:
+        return 0 == subprocess.check_call(['ncat', '--version'],
+                                          stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+                                          stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL)
+    except OSError:
         return False
 
 
 #
 # Test concurrent clients
 #
-class EchoClientRunner():
+class EchoClientRunner:
     """
     Launch an echo client upon construction.
     Provide poll interface for checking done/error.