diff --git a/classes.py b/classes.py
index e97c07d..d7a45a3 100644
--- a/classes.py
+++ b/classes.py
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ class PyLinkNetworkCoreWithUtils(PyLinkNetworkCore):
         # C = Mode that changes a setting and only has a parameter when set.
         # D = Mode that changes a setting and never has a parameter.
 
-        if type(args) == str:
+        if isinstance(args, str):
             # If the modestring was given as a string, split it into a list.
             args = args.split()
 
@@ -692,9 +692,10 @@ class PyLinkNetworkCoreWithUtils(PyLinkNetworkCore):
              => {('-m', None), ('-r', None), ('-l', None), ('+o', 'person')})
             {('s', None), ('+o', 'whoever') => {('-s', None), ('-o', 'whoever')})
         """
-        origtype = type(modes)
+        origstring = isinstance(modes, str)
+        
         # If the query is a string, we have to parse it first.
-        if origtype == str:
+        if origstring:
             modes = self.parse_modes(target, modes.split(" "))
         # Get the current mode list first.
         if utils.isChannel(target):
@@ -750,7 +751,7 @@ class PyLinkNetworkCoreWithUtils(PyLinkNetworkCore):
             newmodes.append(mpair)
 
         log.debug('(%s) reverse_modes: new modes: %s', self.name, newmodes)
-        if origtype == str:
+        if origstring:
             # If the original query is a string, send it back as a string.
             return self.join_modes(newmodes)
         else:
@@ -1069,8 +1070,8 @@ class PyLinkNetworkCoreWithUtils(PyLinkNetworkCore):
         # conditions that would otherwise desync channel modes.
         with self._ts_lock:
             our_ts = self.channels[channel].ts
-            assert type(our_ts) == int, "Wrong type for our_ts (expected int, got %s)" % type(our_ts)
-            assert type(their_ts) == int, "Wrong type for their_ts (expected int, got %s)" % type(their_ts)
+            assert isinstance(our_ts, int), "Wrong type for our_ts (expected int, got %s)" % type(our_ts)
+            assert isinstance(their_ts, int), "Wrong type for their_ts (expected int, got %s)" % type(their_ts)
 
             # Check if we're the mode sender based on the UID / SID given.
             our_mode = self.is_internal_client(sender) or self.is_internal_server(sender)
diff --git a/conf.py b/conf.py
index de74cfe..e78aefd 100644
--- a/conf.py
+++ b/conf.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def _log(level, text, *args, logger=None, **kwargs):
 
 def validateConf(conf, logger=None):
     """Validates a parsed configuration dict."""
-    validate(type(conf) == dict,
+    validate(isinstance(conf, dict),
             "Invalid configuration given: should be type dict, not %s."
             % type(conf).__name__)
 
@@ -88,13 +88,13 @@ def validateConf(conf, logger=None):
         _log(logging.WARNING, "The 'login:user' and 'login:password' options are deprecated since PyLink 1.1. "
              "Please switch to the new 'login:accounts' format as outlined in the example config.", logger=logger)
 
-    old_login_valid = type(conf['login'].get('password')) == type(conf['login'].get('user')) == str
+    old_login_valid = isinstance(conf['login'].get('password'), str) and isinstance(conf['login'].get('user'), str)
     newlogins = conf['login'].get('accounts', {})
 
     validate(old_login_valid or newlogins, "No accounts were set, aborting!")
     for account, block in newlogins.items():
-        validate(type(account) == str, "Bad username format %s" % account)
-        validate(type(block.get('password')) == str, "Bad password %s for account %s" % (block.get('password'), account))
+        validate(isinstance(account, str), "Bad username format %s" % account)
+        validate(isinstance(block.get('password'), str), "Bad password %s for account %s" % (block.get('password'), account))
 
     validate(conf['login'].get('password') != "changeme", "You have not set the login details correctly!")
 
diff --git a/protocols/ircs2s_common.py b/protocols/ircs2s_common.py
index 679b5c6..f225385 100644
--- a/protocols/ircs2s_common.py
+++ b/protocols/ircs2s_common.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class IRCCommonProtocol(IRCNetwork):
                      % (k, self.name))
 
         port = self.serverdata['port']
-        conf.validate(type(port) == int and 0 < port < 65535,
+        conf.validate(isinstance(port, int) and 0 < port < 65535,
                  "Invalid port %r for network %s"
                  % (port, self.name))
 
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ class IRCCommonProtocol(IRCNetwork):
         Parses a string of capabilities in the 005 / RPL_ISUPPORT format.
         """
 
-        if type(args) == str:
+        if isinstance(args, str):
             args = args.split(' ')
 
         caps = {}
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index 2f64d8f..396291e 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -243,13 +243,13 @@ class ServiceBot():
         Joins the given service bot to the given channel(s).
         """
 
-        if type(irc) == str:
+        if isinstance(irc, str):
             netname = irc
         else:
             netname = irc.name
 
         # Ensure type safety: pluralize strings if only one channel was given, then convert to set.
-        if type(channels) == str:
+        if isinstance(channels, str):
             channels = [channels]
         channels = set(channels)