diff --git a/src/calibre/devices/libusb/libusb.c b/src/calibre/devices/libusb/libusb.c
index b084842e20..219034cc17 100644
--- a/src/calibre/devices/libusb/libusb.c
+++ b/src/calibre/devices/libusb/libusb.c
@@ -125,9 +125,6 @@ static PyMethodDef libusb_methods[] = {
     {NULL, NULL, 0, NULL}
 };
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
-#define INITMODULE PyModule_Create(&libusb_module)
 static struct PyModuleDef libusb_module = {
     /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
     /* m_name     */ "libusb",
@@ -140,40 +137,32 @@ static struct PyModuleDef libusb_module = {
     /* m_free     */ 0,
 };
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_libusb(void) {
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-#define INITMODULE Py_InitModule3("libusb", libusb_methods, libusb_doc)
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initlibusb(void) {
-#endif
-
     PyObject *m;
 
     // We deliberately use the default context. This is the context used by
     // libmtp and we want to ensure that the busnum/devnum numbers are the same
     // here and for libmtp.
     if(libusb_init(NULL) != 0) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     Error = PyErr_NewException("libusb.Error", NULL, NULL);
     if (Error == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     cache = PyDict_New();
     if (cache == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
-    m = INITMODULE;
+    m = PyModule_Create(&libusb_module);
     if (m == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     PyModule_AddObject(m, "Error", Error);
     PyModule_AddObject(m, "cache", cache);
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return m;
-#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/calibre/devices/mtp/unix/libmtp.c b/src/calibre/devices/mtp/unix/libmtp.c
index 6456ec4afd..16bebea987 100644
--- a/src/calibre/devices/mtp/unix/libmtp.c
+++ b/src/calibre/devices/mtp/unix/libmtp.c
@@ -86,11 +86,7 @@ static uint16_t data_to_python(void *params, void *priv, uint32_t sendlen, unsig
     cb = (ProgressCallback *)priv;
     *putlen = sendlen;
     PyEval_RestoreThread(cb->state);
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     res = PyObject_CallMethod(cb->extra, "write", "y#", data, (Py_ssize_t)sendlen);
-#else
-    res = PyObject_CallMethod(cb->extra, "write", "s#", data, (Py_ssize_t)sendlen);
-#endif
     if (res == NULL) {
         ret = LIBMTP_HANDLER_RETURN_ERROR;
         *putlen = 0;
@@ -717,9 +713,6 @@ static PyMethodDef libmtp_methods[] = {
 };
 
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
-#define INITMODULE PyModule_Create(&libmtp_module)
 static struct PyModuleDef libmtp_module = {
     /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
     /* m_name     */ "libmtp",
@@ -732,25 +725,19 @@ static struct PyModuleDef libmtp_module = {
     /* m_free     */ 0,
 };
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_libmtp(void) {
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-#define INITMODULE Py_InitModule3("libmtp", libmtp_methods, libmtp_doc);
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initlibmtp(void) {
-#endif
-
     DeviceType.tp_new = PyType_GenericNew;
     if (PyType_Ready(&DeviceType) < 0) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
-    PyObject *m = INITMODULE;
+    PyObject *m = PyModule_Create(&libmtp_module);
     if (m == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     MTPError = PyErr_NewException("libmtp.MTPError", NULL, NULL);
     if (MTPError == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
     PyModule_AddObject(m, "MTPError", MTPError);
 
@@ -782,7 +769,5 @@ CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initlibmtp(void) {
     PyModule_AddIntMacro(m, LIBMTP_DEBUG_DATA);
     PyModule_AddIntMacro(m, LIBMTP_DEBUG_ALL);
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return m;
-#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/calibre/devices/mtp/windows/content_enumeration.cpp b/src/calibre/devices/mtp/windows/content_enumeration.cpp
index 9afff2461d..a8f2ab5c0d 100644
--- a/src/calibre/devices/mtp/windows/content_enumeration.cpp
+++ b/src/calibre/devices/mtp/windows/content_enumeration.cpp
@@ -554,11 +554,7 @@ PyObject* wpd::get_file(IPortableDevice *device, const wchar_t *object_id, PyObj
             PyErr_SetString(PyExc_IOError, "Read access is denied to this object"); break;
         } else if (SUCCEEDED(hr)) {
             if (bytes_read > 0) {
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
                 res = PyObject_CallMethod(dest, "write", "y#", buf, bytes_read);
-#else
-                res = PyObject_CallMethod(dest, "write", "s#", buf, bytes_read);
-#endif
                 if (res == NULL) break;
                 Py_DECREF(res); res = NULL;
                 if (callback != NULL) Py_XDECREF(PyObject_CallFunction(callback, "kK", total_read, filesize));
diff --git a/src/calibre/devices/mtp/windows/device_enumeration.cpp b/src/calibre/devices/mtp/windows/device_enumeration.cpp
index f0030d0576..c206c87333 100644
--- a/src/calibre/devices/mtp/windows/device_enumeration.cpp
+++ b/src/calibre/devices/mtp/windows/device_enumeration.cpp
@@ -302,11 +302,7 @@ PyObject* get_device_information(IPortableDevice *device, IPortableDevicePropert
             default:
                 type = "unknown";
         }
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
         t = PyUnicode_FromString(type);
-#else
-        t = PyString_FromString(type);
-#endif
         if (t != NULL) {
             PyDict_SetItemString(ans, "type", t); Py_DECREF(t);
         }
diff --git a/src/calibre/devices/mtp/windows/wpd.cpp b/src/calibre/devices/mtp/windows/wpd.cpp
index f395341885..77297c1c8f 100644
--- a/src/calibre/devices/mtp/windows/wpd.cpp
+++ b/src/calibre/devices/mtp/windows/wpd.cpp
@@ -183,9 +183,6 @@ static PyMethodDef wpd_methods[] = {
     {NULL, NULL, 0, NULL}
 };
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
-#define INITMODULE PyModule_Create(&wpd_module)
 static struct PyModuleDef wpd_module = {
     /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
     /* m_name     */ "wpd",
@@ -197,46 +194,39 @@ static struct PyModuleDef wpd_module = {
     /* m_clear    */ 0,
     /* m_free     */ 0,
 };
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_wpd(void) {
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-#define INITMODULE Py_InitModule3("wpd", wpd_methods, wpd_doc)
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initwpd(void) {
-#endif
 
+CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_wpd(void) {
     PyObject *m;
 
     wpd::DeviceType.tp_new = PyType_GenericNew;
     if (PyType_Ready(&wpd::DeviceType) < 0)
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
 
-    m = INITMODULE;
+    m = PyModule_Create(&wpd_module);
     if (m == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     WPDError = PyErr_NewException("wpd.WPDError", NULL, NULL);
     if (WPDError == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
     PyModule_AddObject(m, "WPDError", WPDError);
 
     NoWPD = PyErr_NewException("wpd.NoWPD", NULL, NULL);
     if (NoWPD == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
     PyModule_AddObject(m, "NoWPD", NoWPD);
 
     WPDFileBusy = PyErr_NewException("wpd.WPDFileBusy", NULL, NULL);
     if (WPDFileBusy == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
     PyModule_AddObject(m, "WPDFileBusy", WPDFileBusy);
 
     Py_INCREF(&DeviceType);
     PyModule_AddObject(m, "Device", (PyObject *)&DeviceType);
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return m;
-#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/calibre/devices/usbobserver/usbobserver.c b/src/calibre/devices/usbobserver/usbobserver.c
index 395e511456..16bad28463 100644
--- a/src/calibre/devices/usbobserver/usbobserver.c
+++ b/src/calibre/devices/usbobserver/usbobserver.c
@@ -461,9 +461,6 @@ static PyMethodDef usbobserver_methods[] = {
     {NULL, NULL, 0, NULL}
 };
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
-#define INITMODULE PyModule_Create(&usbobserver_module)
 static struct PyModuleDef usbobserver_module = {
     /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
     /* m_name     */ "usbobserver",
@@ -476,16 +473,8 @@ static struct PyModuleDef usbobserver_module = {
     /* m_free     */ 0,
 };
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_usbobserver(void) {
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-#define INITMODULE Py_InitModule3("usbobserver", usbobserver_methods, usbobserver_doc)
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initusbobserver(void) {
-#endif
-
     PyObject *m = NULL;
-    m = INITMODULE;
+    m = PyModule_Create(&usbobserver_module);
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return m;
-#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/compression/palmdoc.c b/src/calibre/ebooks/compression/palmdoc.c
index e415f37bbf..a661b401a5 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/compression/palmdoc.c
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/compression/palmdoc.c
@@ -42,20 +42,12 @@ typedef struct {
 
 #define CHAR(x) (( (x) > 127 ) ? (x)-256 : (x))
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-    #define BUFFER_FMT "y#"
-    #define BYTES_FMT "y#"
-#else
-    #define BUFFER_FMT "t#"
-    #define BYTES_FMT "s#"
-#endif
-
 static PyObject *
 cpalmdoc_decompress(PyObject *self, PyObject *args) {
     const char *_input = NULL; Py_ssize_t input_len = 0;
     Byte *input; char *output; Byte c; PyObject *ans;
     Py_ssize_t i = 0, o = 0, j = 0, di, n;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, BUFFER_FMT, &_input, &input_len))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "y#", &_input, &input_len))
 		return NULL;
     input = (Byte *) PyMem_Malloc(sizeof(Byte)*input_len);
     if (input == NULL) return PyErr_NoMemory();
@@ -84,7 +76,7 @@ cpalmdoc_decompress(PyObject *self, PyObject *args) {
                 output[o] = output[o - di];
         }
     }
-    ans = Py_BuildValue(BYTES_FMT, output, o);
+    ans = Py_BuildValue("y#", output, o);
     if (output != NULL) PyMem_Free(output);
     if (input != NULL) PyMem_Free(input);
     return ans;
@@ -170,7 +162,7 @@ cpalmdoc_compress(PyObject *self, PyObject *args) {
     char *output; PyObject *ans;
     Py_ssize_t j = 0;
     buffer b;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, BUFFER_FMT, &_input, &input_len))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "y#", &_input, &input_len))
 		return NULL;
     b.data = (Byte *)PyMem_Malloc(sizeof(Byte)*input_len);
     if (b.data == NULL) return PyErr_NoMemory();
@@ -184,7 +176,7 @@ cpalmdoc_compress(PyObject *self, PyObject *args) {
     if (output == NULL) return PyErr_NoMemory();
     j = cpalmdoc_do_compress(&b, output);
     if ( j == 0) return PyErr_NoMemory();
-    ans = Py_BuildValue(BYTES_FMT, output, j);
+    ans = Py_BuildValue("y#", output, j);
     PyMem_Free(output);
     PyMem_Free(b.data);
     return ans;
@@ -205,9 +197,6 @@ static PyMethodDef cPalmdoc_methods[] = {
     {NULL, NULL, 0, NULL}
 };
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
-#define INITMODULE PyModule_Create(&cPalmdoc_module)
 static struct PyModuleDef cPalmdoc_module = {
     /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
     /* m_name     */ "cPalmdoc",
@@ -220,19 +209,10 @@ static struct PyModuleDef cPalmdoc_module = {
     /* m_free     */ 0,
 };
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_cPalmdoc(void) {
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-#define INITMODULE Py_InitModule3("cPalmdoc", cPalmdoc_methods, cPalmdoc_doc)
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initcPalmdoc(void) {
-#endif
-
-    PyObject *m;
-    m = INITMODULE;
+    PyObject *m = PyModule_Create(&cPalmdoc_module);
     if (m == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return m;
-#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/djvu/bzzdecoder.c b/src/calibre/ebooks/djvu/bzzdecoder.c
index f249d617e3..a9e2c75427 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/djvu/bzzdecoder.c
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/djvu/bzzdecoder.c
@@ -632,12 +632,7 @@ bzz_decompress(PyObject *self, PyObject *args) {
     size_t buflen = 0, blocksize = MAXBLOCK * 1024;
     PyObject *ans = NULL;
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define BYTES_FMT "y#"
-#else
-#define BYTES_FMT "s#"
-#endif
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, BYTES_FMT, &(state.raw), &input_len))
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "y#", &(state.raw), &input_len))
 		return NULL;
     state.end = state.raw + input_len - 1;
 
@@ -681,7 +676,7 @@ end:
         for (i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
             buflen <<= 8; buflen += (uint8_t)buf[i];
         }
-        ans = Py_BuildValue(BYTES_FMT, buf + 3, MIN(buflen, pos - buf));
+        ans = Py_BuildValue("y#", buf + 3, MIN(buflen, pos - buf));
     }
     if (buf != NULL) free(buf);
     if (PyErr_Occurred()) return NULL;
@@ -699,9 +694,7 @@ static PyMethodDef bzzdec_methods[] = {
     {NULL, NULL, 0, NULL}
 };
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
-#define INITMODULE PyModule_Create(&bzzdec_module)
+#define INITMODULE
 static struct PyModuleDef bzzdec_module = {
     /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
     /* m_name     */ "bzzdec",
@@ -714,17 +707,9 @@ static struct PyModuleDef bzzdec_module = {
     /* m_free     */ 0,
 };
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_bzzdec(void) {
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-#define INITMODULE Py_InitModule3("bzzdec", bzzdec_methods, bzzdec_doc)
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initbzzdec(void) {
-#endif
-
-    PyObject *m = INITMODULE;
+    PyObject *m = PyModule_Create(&bzzdec_module);
     if (m == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return m;
-#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/tweak_book/diff/_patiencediff_c.c b/src/calibre/gui2/tweak_book/diff/_patiencediff_c.c
index bba529fa94..6d951e98fa 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/tweak_book/diff/_patiencediff_c.c
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/tweak_book/diff/_patiencediff_c.c
@@ -1255,8 +1255,6 @@ static PyMethodDef _patiencediff_c_methods[] = {
     {NULL, NULL, 0, NULL}
 };
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
 static struct PyModuleDef _patiencediff_c_module = {
         /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
         /* m_name     */ "_patiencediff_c",
@@ -1271,29 +1269,16 @@ static struct PyModuleDef _patiencediff_c_module = {
 
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit__patiencediff_c(void) {
     if (PyType_Ready(&PatienceSequenceMatcherType) < 0)
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
 
     PyObject *mod = PyModule_Create(&_patiencediff_c_module);
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC init_patiencediff_c(void) {
-    if (PyType_Ready(&PatienceSequenceMatcherType) < 0)
-        INITERROR;
-
-    PyObject *mod = Py_InitModule3("_patiencediff_c", _patiencediff_c_methods,
-        "C implementation of PatienceSequenceMatcher");
-#endif
-
-    if (mod == NULL) INITERROR;
+    if (mod == NULL) return NULL;
 
     Py_INCREF(&PatienceSequenceMatcherType);
     PyModule_AddObject(mod, "PatienceSequenceMatcher_c",
                        (PyObject *)&PatienceSequenceMatcherType);
 
-
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return mod;
-#endif
 }
 
-/* vim: sw=4 et */
\ No newline at end of file
+/* vim: sw=4 et */
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/tweak_book/editor/syntax/html.c b/src/calibre/gui2/tweak_book/editor/syntax/html.c
index c2ca6883f4..b43dd764cf 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/tweak_book/editor/syntax/html.c
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/tweak_book/editor/syntax/html.c
@@ -482,8 +482,6 @@ static PyMethodDef html_methods[] = {
     {NULL, NULL, 0, NULL}
 };
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
 static struct PyModuleDef html_module = {
     /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
     /* m_name     */ "html_syntax_highlighter",
@@ -498,28 +496,21 @@ static struct PyModuleDef html_module = {
 
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_html_syntax_highlighter(void) {
     PyObject *temp, *mod = PyModule_Create(&html_module);
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC inithtml_syntax_highlighter(void) {
-    PyObject *temp, *mod = Py_InitModule3("html_syntax_highlighter", html_methods,
-        "Speedups for the html syntax highlighter");
-#endif
-
-    if (mod == NULL) INITERROR;
+    if (mod == NULL) return NULL;
 
     if (PyType_Ready(&html_TagType) < 0)
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     if (PyType_Ready(&html_StateType) < 0)
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
 
     temp = Py_BuildValue("ssssssss", "b", "strong", "h1", "h2", "h3", "h4", "h5", "h6", "h7");
-    if (temp == NULL) INITERROR;
+    if (temp == NULL) return NULL;
     bold_tags = PyFrozenSet_New(temp);
     Py_DECREF(temp);
     temp = NULL;
 
     temp = Py_BuildValue("ss", "i", "em");
-    if (temp == NULL) INITERROR;
+    if (temp == NULL) return NULL;
     italic_tags = PyFrozenSet_New(temp);
     Py_DECREF(temp);
     temp = NULL;
@@ -530,7 +521,7 @@ CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC inithtml_syntax_highlighter(void) {
         Py_XDECREF(bold_tags);
         Py_XDECREF(italic_tags);
         Py_XDECREF(zero);
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     Py_INCREF(&html_TagType);
@@ -540,8 +531,5 @@ CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC inithtml_syntax_highlighter(void) {
     PyModule_AddObject(mod, "bold_tags", bold_tags);
     PyModule_AddObject(mod, "italic_tags", italic_tags);
 
-
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return mod;
-#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/calibre/library/sqlite_custom.c b/src/calibre/library/sqlite_custom.c
index 6a20ef1128..114374103b 100644
--- a/src/calibre/library/sqlite_custom.c
+++ b/src/calibre/library/sqlite_custom.c
@@ -273,9 +273,6 @@ static PyMethodDef sqlite_custom_methods[] = {
     {NULL, NULL, 0, NULL}
 };
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
-#define INITMODULE PyModule_Create(&sqlite_custom_module)
 static struct PyModuleDef sqlite_custom_module = {
     /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
     /* m_name     */ "sqlite_custom",
@@ -288,18 +285,10 @@ static struct PyModuleDef sqlite_custom_module = {
     /* m_free     */ 0,
 };
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_sqlite_custom(void) {
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-#define INITMODULE Py_InitModule3("sqlite_custom", sqlite_custom_methods, sqlite_custom_doc)
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initsqlite_custom(void) {
-#endif
-
     PyObject *m;
-    m = INITMODULE;
+    m = PyModule_Create(&sqlite_custom_module);
     if (m == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return m;
-#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/calibre/srv/html_as_json.cpp b/src/calibre/srv/html_as_json.cpp
index 34c3c2fd55..9408ef3633 100644
--- a/src/calibre/srv/html_as_json.cpp
+++ b/src/calibre/srv/html_as_json.cpp
@@ -102,23 +102,17 @@ namespaces_are_equal(const char *a, const char *b, size_t len) {
 }
 
 class StringOrNone {
-	PyObject *temp, *orig;
+	PyObject *orig;
 	const char *data;
 public:
-	StringOrNone(PyObject *x) : temp(0), orig(x), data(0) {
+	StringOrNone(PyObject *x) : orig(x), data(0) {
 		if (x && x != Py_None) {
 			if (PyUnicode_Check(x)) {
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION > 2
 				this->data = PyUnicode_AsUTF8(x);
-#else
-				this->temp = PyUnicode_AsUTF8String(x);
-				if (this->temp) this->data = PyBytes_AS_STRING(this->temp);
-#endif
 			} else if (PyBytes_Check(x)) { this->data = PyBytes_AS_STRING(x); }
 		}
 	}
 	~StringOrNone() {
-		Py_CLEAR(this->temp);
 		Py_CLEAR(this->orig);
 	}
 	void incref() { Py_XINCREF(this->orig); }
@@ -437,10 +431,7 @@ static PyMethodDef methods[] = {
     {NULL}  /* Sentinel */
 };
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
-#define INITMODULE PyModule_Create(&module)
-static struct PyModuleDef module = {
+static struct PyModuleDef hmod = {
     /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
     /* m_name     */ "html_as_json",
     /* m_doc      */ doc,
@@ -452,21 +443,10 @@ static struct PyModuleDef module = {
     /* m_free     */ 0,
 };
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_html_as_json(void) {
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-#define INITMODULE Py_InitModule3("html_as_json", methods, doc)
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC inithtml_as_json(void) {
-#endif
-
-    PyObject* m;
-
-    m = INITMODULE;
+    PyObject* m = PyModule_Create(&hmod);
     if (m == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
-
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return m;
-#endif
 }
 // }}}
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/certgen.c b/src/calibre/utils/certgen.c
index 5c5abdd58d..bb6f494b1e 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/certgen.c
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/certgen.c
@@ -379,8 +379,6 @@ static PyMethodDef certgen_methods[] = {
 };
 
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
 static struct PyModuleDef certgen_module = {
     /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
     /* m_name     */ "certgen",
@@ -395,20 +393,11 @@ static struct PyModuleDef certgen_module = {
 
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_certgen(void) {
     PyObject *mod = PyModule_Create(&certgen_module);
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initcertgen(void) {
-    PyObject *mod = Py_InitModule3("certgen", certgen_methods,
-        "OpenSSL bindings to easily create certificates/certificate authorities");
-#endif
-
-    if (mod == NULL) INITERROR;
+    if (mod == NULL) return NULL;
 
     OpenSSL_add_all_algorithms();
     ERR_load_crypto_strings();
     ERR_load_BIO_strings();
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return mod;
-#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/cocoa_wrapper.c b/src/calibre/utils/cocoa_wrapper.c
index 45927b781d..612911f06c 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/cocoa_wrapper.c
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/cocoa_wrapper.c
@@ -102,9 +102,6 @@ static PyMethodDef module_methods[] = {
 };
 
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
-#define INITMODULE PyModule_Create(&cocoa_module)
 static struct PyModuleDef cocoa_module = {
     /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
     /* m_name     */ "cocoa",
@@ -117,17 +114,9 @@ static struct PyModuleDef cocoa_module = {
     /* m_free     */ 0,
 };
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_cocoa(void) {
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-#define INITMODULE Py_InitModule3("cocoa", module_methods, "")
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initcocoa(void) {
-#endif
-
-    PyObject *m = INITMODULE;
+    PyObject *m = PyModule_Create(&cocoa_module);
     if (m == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return m;
-#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/fonts/freetype.cpp b/src/calibre/utils/fonts/freetype.cpp
index 11c7bcf839..7c8eca408a 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/fonts/freetype.cpp
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/fonts/freetype.cpp
@@ -58,11 +58,7 @@ Face_init(Face *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
     Py_ssize_t sz;
     PyObject *ft;
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "Oy#", &ft, &data, &sz)) return -1;
-#else
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "Os#", &ft, &data, &sz)) return -1;
-#endif
 
     Py_BEGIN_ALLOW_THREADS;
     error = FT_New_Memory_Face( ( (FreeType*)ft )->library,
@@ -296,9 +292,6 @@ static PyMethodDef freetype_methods[] = {
     {NULL, NULL, 0, NULL}
 };
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
-#define INITMODULE PyModule_Create(&freetype_module)
 static struct PyModuleDef freetype_module = {
     /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
     /* m_name     */ "freetype",
@@ -311,39 +304,31 @@ static struct PyModuleDef freetype_module = {
     /* m_free     */ 0,
 };
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_freetype(void) {
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-#define INITMODULE Py_InitModule3("freetype", freetype_methods, freetype_doc)
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initfreetype(void) {
-#endif
-
     PyObject *m;
 
     FreeTypeType.tp_new = PyType_GenericNew;
     if (PyType_Ready(&FreeTypeType) < 0) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     FaceType.tp_new = PyType_GenericNew;
     if (PyType_Ready(&FaceType) < 0) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
-    m = INITMODULE;
+    m = PyModule_Create(&freetype_module);
     if (m == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     FreeTypeError = PyErr_NewException((char*)"freetype.FreeTypeError", NULL, NULL);
     if (FreeTypeError == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
     PyModule_AddObject(m, "FreeTypeError", FreeTypeError);
 
     Py_INCREF(&FreeTypeType);
     PyModule_AddObject(m, "FreeType", (PyObject *)&FreeTypeType);
     PyModule_AddObject(m, "Face", (PyObject *)&FaceType);
- #if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return m;
-#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/fonts/winfonts.cpp b/src/calibre/utils/fonts/winfonts.cpp
index 8b2009d709..3f2103b8c1 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/fonts/winfonts.cpp
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/fonts/winfonts.cpp
@@ -165,11 +165,7 @@ static PyObject* add_font(PyObject *self, PyObject *args) {
     Py_ssize_t sz;
     DWORD num = 0;
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "y#", &data, &sz)) return NULL;
-#else
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s#", &data, &sz)) return NULL;
-#endif
 
     AddFontMemResourceEx(data, (DWORD)sz, NULL, &num);
 
@@ -240,9 +236,6 @@ static PyMethodDef winfonts_methods[] = {
 };
 
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
-#define INITMODULE PyModule_Create(&winfonts_module)
 static struct PyModuleDef winfonts_module = {
     /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
     /* m_name     */ "winfonts",
@@ -254,17 +247,12 @@ static struct PyModuleDef winfonts_module = {
     /* m_clear    */ 0,
     /* m_free     */ 0,
 };
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_winfonts(void) {
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-#define INITMODULE Py_InitModule3("winfonts", winfonts_methods, winfonts_doc)
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initwinfonts(void) {
-#endif
 
+CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_winfonts(void) {
     PyObject *m;
-    m = INITMODULE;
+    m = PyModule_Create(&winfonts_module);
     if (m == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     PyModule_AddIntMacro(m, FW_DONTCARE);
@@ -283,7 +271,5 @@ CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initwinfonts(void) {
     PyModule_AddIntMacro(m, FW_HEAVY);
     PyModule_AddIntMacro(m, FW_BLACK);
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return m;
-#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/hyphenation/hyphen.c b/src/calibre/utils/hyphenation/hyphen.c
index 153c6f8c99..0d4ecf7aa5 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/hyphenation/hyphen.c
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/hyphenation/hyphen.c
@@ -93,9 +93,6 @@ static PyMethodDef methods[] = {
     {NULL}  /* Sentinel */
 };
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
-#define INITMODULE PyModule_Create(&module)
 static struct PyModuleDef module = {
     /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
     /* m_name     */ "hyphen",
@@ -108,21 +105,12 @@ static struct PyModuleDef module = {
     /* m_free     */ 0,
 };
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_hyphen(void) {
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-#define INITMODULE Py_InitModule3("hyphen", methods, doc)
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC inithyphen(void) {
-#endif
 
-    PyObject* m;
-
-    m = INITMODULE;
+    PyObject* m = PyModule_Create(&module);
     if (m == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return m;
-#endif
 }
 // }}}
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/icu.c b/src/calibre/utils/icu.c
index 191056b9a1..2625c4def8 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/icu.c
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/icu.c
@@ -93,9 +93,6 @@ icu_Collator_get_strength(icu_Collator *self, void *closure) {
 static int
 icu_Collator_set_strength(icu_Collator *self, PyObject *val, void *closure) {
     if (PyLong_Check(val)) ucol_setStrength(self->collator, (int)PyLong_AsLong(val));
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION < 3
-    else if (PyInt_Check(val)) ucol_setStrength(self->collator, (int)PyInt_AS_LONG(val));
-#endif
     else {
         PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "Strength must be an integer.");
         return -1;
@@ -665,11 +662,7 @@ add_split_pos_callback(void *data, int32_t pos, int32_t sz) {
 	PyObject *t, *temp;
 	if (pos < 0) {
 		if (PyList_GET_SIZE(ans) > 0) {
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION < 3
-			t = PyInt_FromLong((long)sz);
-#else
 			t = PyLong_FromLong((long)sz);
-#endif
 			if (t == NULL) return 0;
 			temp = PyList_GET_ITEM(ans, PyList_GET_SIZE(ans) - 1);
 			Py_DECREF(PyTuple_GET_ITEM(temp, 1));
@@ -894,13 +887,6 @@ end:
 // set_default_encoding {{{
 static PyObject *
 icu_set_default_encoding(PyObject *self, PyObject *args) {
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION < 3
-    char *encoding;
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s:setdefaultencoding", &encoding))
-        return NULL;
-    if (PyUnicode_SetDefaultEncoding(encoding))
-        return NULL;
-#endif
     Py_INCREF(Py_None);
     return Py_None;
 
@@ -1029,11 +1015,7 @@ icu_ord_string(PyObject *self, PyObject *input) {
     ans = PyTuple_New(sz);
     if (ans == NULL) goto end;
     for (i = 0; i < sz; i++) {
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION < 3
-        temp = PyInt_FromLong((long)input_buf[i]);
-#else
         temp = PyLong_FromLong((long)input_buf[i]);
-#endif
         if (temp == NULL) { Py_DECREF(ans); ans = NULL; PyErr_NoMemory(); goto end; }
         PyTuple_SET_ITEM(ans, i, temp);
     }
@@ -1240,9 +1222,6 @@ static PyMethodDef icu_methods[] = {
     {NULL}  /* Sentinel */
 };
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
-#define INITMODULE PyModule_Create(&icu_module)
 static struct PyModuleDef icu_module = {
         /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
         /* m_name     */ "icu",
@@ -1256,12 +1235,6 @@ static struct PyModuleDef icu_module = {
 };
 
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_icu(void) {
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-#define INITMODULE Py_InitModule3("icu", icu_methods, "Wrapper for the ICU internationalization library")
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initicu(void) {
-#endif
-
     UVersionInfo ver, uver;
     UErrorCode status = U_ZERO_ERROR;
     char version[U_MAX_VERSION_STRING_LENGTH+1] = {0}, uversion[U_MAX_VERSION_STRING_LENGTH+5] = {0};
@@ -1269,7 +1242,7 @@ CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initicu(void) {
     u_init(&status);
     if (U_FAILURE(status)) {
         PyErr_Format(PyExc_RuntimeError, "u_init() failed with error: %s", u_errorName(status));
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
     u_getVersion(ver);
     u_versionToString(ver, version);
@@ -1277,13 +1250,13 @@ CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initicu(void) {
     u_versionToString(uver, uversion);
 
     if (PyType_Ready(&icu_CollatorType) < 0)
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     if (PyType_Ready(&icu_BreakIteratorType) < 0)
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
 
-    PyObject *mod = INITMODULE;
+    PyObject *mod = PyModule_Create(&icu_module);
 
-    if (mod == NULL) INITERROR;
+    if (mod == NULL) return NULL;
 
     Py_INCREF(&icu_CollatorType); Py_INCREF(&icu_BreakIteratorType);
     PyModule_AddObject(mod, "Collator", (PyObject *)&icu_CollatorType);
@@ -1325,8 +1298,6 @@ CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initicu(void) {
     ADDUCONST(UBRK_LINE);
     ADDUCONST(UBRK_SENTENCE);
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return mod;
-#endif
 }
 // }}}
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/lzx/lzxmodule.c b/src/calibre/utils/lzx/lzxmodule.c
index 3cb5d36919..2f437aeed0 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/lzx/lzxmodule.c
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/lzx/lzxmodule.c
@@ -157,11 +157,7 @@ decompress(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
     memory_file dest;
     PyObject *retval = NULL;
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "y#I", &inbuf, &inlen, &outlen)) {
-#else
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s#I", &inbuf, &inlen, &outlen)) {
-#endif
         return NULL;
     }
 
@@ -206,9 +202,6 @@ static PyMethodDef lzx_methods[] = {
     { NULL }
 };
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
-#define INITMODULE PyModule_Create(&lzx_module)
 static struct PyModuleDef lzx_module = {
     /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
     /* m_name     */ "lzx",
@@ -222,19 +215,13 @@ static struct PyModuleDef lzx_module = {
 };
 
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_lzx(void) {
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-#define INITMODULE Py_InitModule3("lzx", lzx_methods, lzx_doc);
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initlzx(void) {
-#endif
-
     if (PyType_Ready(&CompressorType) < 0) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
-    PyObject *m = INITMODULE;
+    PyObject *m = PyModule_Create(&lzx_module);
     if (m == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     LZXError = PyErr_NewException("lzx.LZXError", NULL, NULL);
@@ -244,7 +231,5 @@ CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initlzx(void) {
     Py_INCREF(&CompressorType);
     PyModule_AddObject(m, "Compressor", (PyObject *)&CompressorType);
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return m;
-#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/matcher.c b/src/calibre/utils/matcher.c
index 233d20bb86..d8c7d67d3d 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/matcher.c
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/matcher.c
@@ -501,8 +501,6 @@ static PyTypeObject MatcherType = { // {{{
     /* tp_new            */ PyType_GenericNew,
 }; // }}}
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
 static struct PyModuleDef matcher_module = {
     /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
     /* m_name     */ "matcher",
@@ -517,25 +515,17 @@ static struct PyModuleDef matcher_module = {
 
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_matcher(void) {
     PyObject *mod = PyModule_Create(&matcher_module);
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initmatcher(void) {
-    PyObject *mod = Py_InitModule3("matcher", NULL, "Find subsequence matches");
-#endif
-
-    if (mod == NULL) INITERROR;
+    if (mod == NULL) return NULL;
 
     if (PyType_Ready(&MatcherType) < 0) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     Py_INCREF(&MatcherType);
     if(PyModule_AddObject(mod, "Matcher", (PyObject *)&MatcherType) < 0) {
         Py_DECREF(&MatcherType);
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return mod;
-#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/msdes/msdesmodule.c b/src/calibre/utils/msdes/msdesmodule.c
index 8fa98d10e1..01fd995011 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/msdes/msdesmodule.c
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/msdes/msdesmodule.c
@@ -20,11 +20,7 @@ msdes_deskey(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
     unsigned int len = 0;
     short int edf = 0;
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "y#h", &key, &len, &edf)) {
-#else
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s#h", &key, &len, &edf)) {
-#endif
         return NULL;
     }
 
@@ -52,11 +48,7 @@ msdes_des(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
     unsigned int off = 0;
     PyObject *retval = NULL;
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "y#", &inbuf, &len)) {
-#else
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "s#", &inbuf, &len)) {
-#endif
         return NULL;
     }
 
@@ -85,9 +77,6 @@ static PyMethodDef msdes_methods[] = {
     { NULL, NULL }
 };
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
-#define INITMODULE PyModule_Create(&msdes_module)
 static struct PyModuleDef msdes_module = {
     /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
     /* m_name     */ "msdes",
@@ -99,30 +88,18 @@ static struct PyModuleDef msdes_module = {
     /* m_clear    */ 0,
     /* m_free     */ 0,
 };
+
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_msdes(void) {
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-#define INITMODULE Py_InitModule3("msdes", msdes_methods, msdes_doc)
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initmsdes(void) {
-#endif
-
-    PyObject *m;
-
-    m = INITMODULE;
+    PyObject *m = PyModule_Create(&msdes_module);
     if (m == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     MsDesError = PyErr_NewException("msdes.MsDesError", NULL, NULL);
     Py_INCREF(MsDesError);
     PyModule_AddObject(m, "MsDesError", MsDesError);
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     PyModule_AddObject(m, "EN0", PyLong_FromLong(EN0));
     PyModule_AddObject(m, "DE1", PyLong_FromLong(DE1));
 
     return m;
-#else
-    PyModule_AddObject(m, "EN0", PyInt_FromLong(EN0));
-    PyModule_AddObject(m, "DE1", PyInt_FromLong(DE1));
-#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/podofo/doc.cpp b/src/calibre/utils/podofo/doc.cpp
index f1e609022b..6ace6c9f26 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/podofo/doc.cpp
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/podofo/doc.cpp
@@ -33,18 +33,12 @@ PDFDoc_new(PyTypeObject *type, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 }
 // }}}
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-    #define BYTES_FMT "y#"
-#else
-    #define BYTES_FMT "s#"
-#endif
-
 // Loading/Opening of PDF files {{{
 static PyObject *
 PDFDoc_load(PDFDoc *self, PyObject *args) {
     char *buffer; Py_ssize_t size;
 
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, BYTES_FMT, &buffer, &size)) return NULL;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "y#", &buffer, &size)) return NULL;
 
 	try {
 #if PODOFO_VERSION <= 0x000905
@@ -360,7 +354,7 @@ PDFDoc_get_xmp_metadata(PDFDoc *self, PyObject *args) {
             if ((str = metadata->GetStream()) != NULL) {
                 str->GetFilteredCopy(&buf, &len);
                 if (buf != NULL) {
-                    ans = Py_BuildValue(BYTES_FMT, buf, len);
+                    ans = Py_BuildValue("y#", buf, len);
                     free(buf); buf = NULL;
                     if (ans == NULL) goto error;
                 }
@@ -388,7 +382,7 @@ PDFDoc_set_xmp_metadata(PDFDoc *self, PyObject *args) {
     TVecFilters compressed(1);
     compressed[0] = ePdfFilter_FlateDecode;
 
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, BYTES_FMT, &raw, &len)) return NULL;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "y#", &raw, &len)) return NULL;
     try {
         if ((metadata = self->doc->GetMetadata()) != NULL) {
             if ((str = metadata->GetStream()) == NULL) { PyErr_NoMemory(); goto error; }
@@ -550,11 +544,7 @@ PDFDoc_alter_links(PDFDoc *self, PyObject *args) {
 static PyObject *
 PDFDoc_pages_getter(PDFDoc *self, void *closure) {
     int pages = self->doc->GetPageCount();
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     PyObject *ans = PyLong_FromLong(static_cast<long>(pages));
-#else
-    PyObject *ans = PyInt_FromLong(static_cast<long>(pages));
-#endif
     if (ans != NULL) Py_INCREF(ans);
     return ans;
 }
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/podofo/fonts.cpp b/src/calibre/utils/podofo/fonts.cpp
index e5657fed6f..72cbe1444f 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/podofo/fonts.cpp
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/podofo/fonts.cpp
@@ -135,16 +135,6 @@ convert_w_array(const PdfArray &w) {
     return ans.release();
 }
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION > 2
-#define py_as_long_long PyLong_AsLongLong
-#else
-static inline long long
-py_as_long_long(PyObject *x) {
-    if (PyInt_Check(x)) return PyInt_AS_LONG(x);
-    return PyLong_AsLongLong(x);
-}
-#endif
-
 static void
 convert_w_array(PyObject *src, PdfArray &dest) {
     for (Py_ssize_t i = 0; i < PyList_GET_SIZE(src); i++) {
@@ -156,7 +146,7 @@ convert_w_array(PyObject *src, PdfArray &dest) {
             convert_w_array(item, sub);
             dest.push_back(sub);
         } else {
-            pdf_int64 val = py_as_long_long(item);
+            pdf_int64 val = PyLong_AsLongLong(item);
             if (val == -1 && PyErr_Occurred()) { PyErr_Print(); continue; }
             dest.push_back(PdfObject(val));
         }
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/podofo/output.cpp b/src/calibre/utils/podofo/output.cpp
index 106b4ae763..b464833b84 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/podofo/output.cpp
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/podofo/output.cpp
@@ -97,11 +97,7 @@ class OutputDevice : public PdfOutputDevice {
             char *buf = NULL;
             Py_ssize_t len = 0;
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
             if ((temp = PyLong_FromSize_t(lLen)) == NULL) throw pyerr();
-#else
-            if ((temp = PyInt_FromSize_t(lLen)) == NULL) throw pyerr();
-#endif
             ret = PyObject_CallFunctionObjArgs(read_func, temp, NULL);
             NUKE(temp);
             if (ret != NULL) {
@@ -122,11 +118,7 @@ class OutputDevice : public PdfOutputDevice {
 
         void Seek(size_t offset) {
             PyObject *ret, *temp;
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
             if ((temp = PyLong_FromSize_t(offset)) == NULL) throw pyerr();
-#else
-            if ((temp = PyInt_FromSize_t(offset)) == NULL) throw pyerr();
-#endif
             ret = PyObject_CallFunctionObjArgs(seek_func, temp, NULL);
             NUKE(temp);
             if (ret == NULL) {
@@ -152,11 +144,7 @@ class OutputDevice : public PdfOutputDevice {
                 PyErr_SetString(PyExc_Exception, "tell() method did not return a number");
                 throw pyerr();
             }
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
             ans = PyLong_AsUnsignedLongMask(ret);
-#else
-            ans = PyInt_AsUnsignedLongMask(ret);
-#endif
             Py_DECREF(ret);
             if (PyErr_Occurred() != NULL) throw pyerr();
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/podofo/podofo.cpp b/src/calibre/utils/podofo/podofo.cpp
index 517f4cbf80..fc4f8d099d 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/podofo/podofo.cpp
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/podofo/podofo.cpp
@@ -40,9 +40,6 @@ static PyMethodDef podofo_methods[] = {
     {NULL}  /* Sentinel */
 };
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
-#define INITMODULE PyModule_Create(&podofo_module)
 static struct PyModuleDef podofo_module = {
     /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
     /* m_name     */ "podofo",
@@ -55,34 +52,28 @@ static struct PyModuleDef podofo_module = {
     /* m_free     */ 0,
 };
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_podofo(void) {
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-#define INITMODULE Py_InitModule3("podofo", podofo_methods, podofo_doc)
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initpodofo(void) {
-#endif
-
     PyObject* m;
 
     if (PyType_Ready(&pdf::PDFDocType) < 0) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     if (PyType_Ready(&pdf::PDFOutlineItemType) < 0) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     pdf::Error = PyErr_NewException((char*)"podofo.Error", NULL, NULL);
     if (pdf::Error == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     PdfError::SetLogMessageCallback((PdfError::LogMessageCallback*)&log_message);
 
     PdfError::EnableDebug(false);
 
-    m = INITMODULE;
+    m = PyModule_Create(&podofo_module);
     if (m == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     Py_INCREF(&pdf::PDFDocType);
@@ -90,7 +81,5 @@ CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initpodofo(void) {
 
     PyModule_AddObject(m, "Error", pdf::Error);
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return m;
-#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/podofo/utils.cpp b/src/calibre/utils/podofo/utils.cpp
index f9734fd09a..1f706b6386 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/podofo/utils.cpp
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/podofo/utils.cpp
@@ -30,11 +30,5 @@ pdf::podofo_convert_pdfstring(const PdfString &s) {
 
 const PdfString
 pdf::podofo_convert_pystring(PyObject *val) {
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION > 2
     return PdfString(reinterpret_cast<const pdf_utf8*>(PyUnicode_AsUTF8(val)));
-#else
-    pyunique_ptr temp(PyUnicode_AsUTF8String(val));
-    if (!temp) throw std::bad_alloc();
-    return PdfString(reinterpret_cast<const pdf_utf8*>(PyBytes_AS_STRING(temp.get())));
-#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/speedup.c b/src/calibre/utils/speedup.c
index 1bc956a1e3..369a563f9f 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/speedup.c
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/speedup.c
@@ -299,42 +299,6 @@ error:
 	return Py_BuildValue("NII", ans, state, codep);
 }
 
-// This digs into python internals and can't be implemented easily in python3
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION == 2
-static PyObject*
-clean_xml_chars(PyObject *self, PyObject *text) {
-    Py_UNICODE *buf = NULL, ch;
-    PyUnicodeObject *ans = NULL;
-    Py_ssize_t i = 0, j = 0;
-    if (!PyUnicode_Check(text)) {
-        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "A unicode string is required");
-        return NULL;
-    }
-    ans = (PyUnicodeObject*) PyUnicode_FromUnicode(NULL, PyUnicode_GET_SIZE(text));
-    if (ans == NULL) return PyErr_NoMemory();
-    buf = ans->str;
-
-    for (; i < PyUnicode_GET_SIZE(text); i++) {
-        ch = PyUnicode_AS_UNICODE(text)[i];
-#ifdef Py_UNICODE_WIDE
-        if ((0x20 <= ch && ch <= 0xd7ff && ch != 0x7f) || ch == 9 || ch == 10 || ch == 13 || (0xe000 <= ch && ch <= 0xfffd) || (0xffff < ch && ch <= 0x10ffff))
-            buf[j++] = ch;
-#else
-        if ((0x20 <= ch && ch <= 0xd7ff && ch != 0x7f) || ch == 9 || ch == 10 || ch == 13 || (0xd000 <= ch && ch <= 0xfffd)) {
-            if (0xd800 <= ch && ch <= 0xdfff) {
-                // Test for valid surrogate pair
-                if (ch <= 0xdbff && i + 1 < PyUnicode_GET_SIZE(text) && 0xdc00 <= PyUnicode_AS_UNICODE(text)[i + 1] && PyUnicode_AS_UNICODE(text)[i+1] <= 0xdfff) {
-                    buf[j++] = ch; buf[j++] = PyUnicode_AS_UNICODE(text)[++i];
-                }
-            } else
-                buf[j++] = ch;
-        }
-#endif
-    }
-    ans->length = j;
-    return (PyObject*)ans;
-}
-#else
 static PyObject*
 clean_xml_chars(PyObject *self, PyObject *text) {
     PyObject *result = NULL;
@@ -387,7 +351,6 @@ clean_xml_chars(PyObject *self, PyObject *text) {
     free(result_text);
     return result;
 }
-#endif
 
 static PyObject *
 speedup_iso_8601(PyObject *self, PyObject *args) {
@@ -524,7 +487,6 @@ set_thread_name(PyObject *self, PyObject *args) {
 
 #define char_is_ignored(ch) (ch <= 32)
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION > 2
 static size_t
 count_chars_in(PyObject *text) {
 	size_t ans = 0;
@@ -538,23 +500,6 @@ count_chars_in(PyObject *text) {
 	}
 	return ans;
 }
-#else
-static size_t
-count_chars_in(PyObject *text) {
-	size_t ans = 0;
-#define L(data, sz) { \
-	ans = sz; \
-	for (Py_ssize_t i = 0; i < sz; i++) { if (char_is_ignored((data)[i])) ans--; } \
-}
-	if (PyUnicode_Check(text)) {
-		L(PyUnicode_AS_UNICODE(text), PyUnicode_GET_SIZE(text));
-	} else {
-		L(PyBytes_AS_STRING(text), PyBytes_GET_SIZE(text));
-	}
-	return ans;
-#undef L
-}
-#endif
 
 static PyObject*
 get_element_char_length(PyObject *self, PyObject *args) {
@@ -633,8 +578,6 @@ static PyMethodDef speedup_methods[] = {
 };
 
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
 static struct PyModuleDef speedup_module = {
     /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
     /* m_name     */ "speedup",
@@ -649,20 +592,10 @@ static struct PyModuleDef speedup_module = {
 
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_speedup(void) {
     PyObject *mod = PyModule_Create(&speedup_module);
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initspeedup(void) {
-    PyObject *mod = Py_InitModule3("speedup", speedup_methods,
-        "Implementation of methods in C for speed.");
-#endif
-
-    if (mod == NULL) INITERROR;
+    if (mod == NULL) return NULL;
     PyDateTime_IMPORT;
 #ifdef O_CLOEXEC
     PyModule_AddIntConstant(mod, "O_CLOEXEC", O_CLOEXEC);
 #endif
-
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return mod;
-#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/spell/hunspell_wrapper.cpp b/src/calibre/utils/spell/hunspell_wrapper.cpp
index 210f1d3fd0..7e518be716 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/spell/hunspell_wrapper.cpp
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/spell/hunspell_wrapper.cpp
@@ -166,8 +166,6 @@ static PyTypeObject DictionaryType = {
     /* tp_new            */ 0,
 };
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
 static struct PyModuleDef hunspell_module = {
     /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
     /* m_name     */ "hunspell",
@@ -182,26 +180,18 @@ static struct PyModuleDef hunspell_module = {
 
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_hunspell(void) {
     PyObject *mod = PyModule_Create(&hunspell_module);
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC inithunspell(void) {
-    PyObject *mod = Py_InitModule3("hunspell", NULL,
-        "A wrapper for the hunspell spell checking library");
-#endif
-    if (mod == NULL) INITERROR;
+    if (mod == NULL) return NULL;
 
     HunspellError = PyErr_NewException((char*)"hunspell.HunspellError", NULL, NULL);
-    if (HunspellError == NULL) INITERROR;
+    if (HunspellError == NULL) return NULL;
     PyModule_AddObject(mod, "HunspellError", HunspellError);
 
     // Fill in some slots in the type, and make it ready
     DictionaryType.tp_new = PyType_GenericNew;
-    if (PyType_Ready(&DictionaryType) < 0) INITERROR;
+    if (PyType_Ready(&DictionaryType) < 0) return NULL;
     // Add the type to the module.
     Py_INCREF(&DictionaryType);
     PyModule_AddObject(mod, "Dictionary", (PyObject *)&DictionaryType);
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return mod;
-#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/windows/winutil.c b/src/calibre/utils/windows/winutil.c
index a74b234683..6d429b4099 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/windows/winutil.c
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/windows/winutil.c
@@ -474,9 +474,6 @@ be a unicode string. Returns unicode strings."
     {NULL, NULL, 0, NULL}
 };
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
-#define INITMODULE PyModule_Create(&winutil_module)
 static struct PyModuleDef winutil_module = {
     /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
     /* m_name     */ "winutil",
@@ -489,17 +486,10 @@ static struct PyModuleDef winutil_module = {
     /* m_free     */ 0,
 };
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_winutil(void) {
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-#define INITMODULE Py_InitModule3("winutil", winutil_methods, winutil_doc)
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initwinutil(void) {
-#endif
-
-    PyObject *m;
-    m = INITMODULE;
+    PyObject *m = PyModule_Create(&winutil_module);
 
     if (m == NULL) {
-        INITERROR;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     PyModule_AddIntConstant(m, "CSIDL_ADMINTOOLS", CSIDL_ADMINTOOLS);
@@ -524,7 +514,5 @@ CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initwinutil(void) {
     PyModule_AddIntConstant(m, "CSIDL_STARTUP", CSIDL_STARTUP);
     PyModule_AddIntConstant(m, "CSIDL_COMMON_STARTUP", CSIDL_COMMON_STARTUP);
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return m;
-#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/windows/winutilpp.cpp b/src/calibre/utils/windows/winutilpp.cpp
index 13ee781da2..fe3020c6b3 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/windows/winutilpp.cpp
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/windows/winutilpp.cpp
@@ -100,18 +100,6 @@ class scoped_com_initializer {  // {{{
 		scoped_com_initializer & operator=( const scoped_com_initializer & ) ;
 }; // }}}
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION < 3
-static wchar_t*
-PyUnicode_AsWideCharString(PyObject *obj, Py_ssize_t *size) {
-    Py_ssize_t sz = PyUnicode_GET_SIZE(obj) * 4 + 4;
-    wchar_t *ans = (wchar_t*)PyMem_Malloc(sz);
-    memset(ans, 0, sz);
-    Py_ssize_t res = PyUnicode_AsWideChar(reinterpret_cast<PyUnicodeObject*>(obj), ans, (sz / sizeof(wchar_t)) - 1);
-    if (size) *size = res;
-    return ans;
-}
-#endif
-
 static inline int
 py_to_wchar(PyObject *obj, wchar_raii *output) {
 	if (!PyUnicode_Check(obj)) {
diff --git a/src/tinycss/tokenizer.c b/src/tinycss/tokenizer.c
index f7df2b3d4e..67ba9e5c1c 100644
--- a/src/tinycss/tokenizer.c
+++ b/src/tinycss/tokenizer.c
@@ -55,24 +55,18 @@ tokenizer_Token_new(PyTypeObject *type, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
     return (PyObject *)self;
 }
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define PyObject_Unicode_Compat(arg) PyObject_Str(arg)
-#else
-#define PyObject_Unicode_Compat(arg) PyObject_Unicode(arg)
-#endif
-
 static PyObject *
 tokenizer_Token_repr(tokenizer_Token *self) {
     PyObject *type = NULL, *line = NULL, *column = NULL, *value = NULL, *ans = NULL, *unit = NULL;
     if (!self->type || !self->line || !self->column || !self->value)
         return PyBytes_FromString("<Token NULL fields>");
-    type = PyObject_Unicode_Compat(self->type);
-    line = PyObject_Unicode_Compat(self->line);
-    column = PyObject_Unicode_Compat(self->column);
-    value = PyObject_Unicode_Compat(self->value);
+    type = PyObject_Str(self->type);
+    line = PyObject_Str(self->line);
+    column = PyObject_Str(self->column);
+    value = PyObject_Str(self->value);
     if (type && line && column && value) {
         if (self->unit != NULL && PyObject_IsTrue(self->unit)) {
-            unit = PyObject_Unicode_Compat(self->unit);
+            unit = PyObject_Str(self->unit);
             if (unit != NULL)
                 ans = PyUnicode_FromFormat("<Token %U at %U:%U %U%U>", type, line, column, value, unit);
             else
@@ -205,20 +199,12 @@ tokenize_init(PyObject *self, PyObject *args) {
 #define END_ITER_CODE_PTS }}
 
 static PyObject *unicode_to_number(PyObject *src) {
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     PyObject* ans = PyFloat_FromString(src);
-#else
-    PyObject* ans = PyFloat_FromString(src, NULL);
-#endif
     double val = PyFloat_AsDouble(ans);
     long lval = (long)val;
     if (val - lval != 0) return ans;
     Py_DECREF(ans);
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return PyLong_FromLong(lval);
-#else
-    return PyInt_FromLong(lval);
-#endif
 }
 
 
@@ -465,8 +451,6 @@ static PyMethodDef tokenizer_methods[] = {
     {NULL, NULL, 0, NULL}
 };
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
 static struct PyModuleDef tokenizer_module = {
         /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
         /* m_name     */ "tokenizer",
@@ -480,25 +464,11 @@ static struct PyModuleDef tokenizer_module = {
 };
 
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_tokenizer(void) {
-    if (PyType_Ready(&tokenizer_TokenType) < 0)
-        INITERROR;
+    if (PyType_Ready(&tokenizer_TokenType) < 0) return NULL;
 
     PyObject *mod = PyModule_Create(&tokenizer_module);
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC inittokenizer(void) {
-    if (PyType_Ready(&tokenizer_TokenType) < 0)
-        INITERROR;
-
-    PyObject *mod = Py_InitModule3("tokenizer", tokenizer_methods,
-        "Implementation of tokenizer in C for speed.");
-#endif
-
-    if (mod == NULL) INITERROR;
+    if (mod == NULL) return NULL;
     Py_INCREF(&tokenizer_TokenType);
     PyModule_AddObject(mod, "Token", (PyObject *) &tokenizer_TokenType);
-
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
     return mod;
-#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/unicode_names/unicode_names.c b/src/unicode_names/unicode_names.c
index f2ea1693ec..961105b443 100644
--- a/src/unicode_names/unicode_names.c
+++ b/src/unicode_names/unicode_names.c
@@ -81,8 +81,6 @@ static PyMethodDef unicode_names_methods[] = {
     {NULL, NULL, 0, NULL}        /* Sentinel */
 };
 
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define INITERROR return NULL
 static struct PyModuleDef unicode_names_module = {
     /* m_base     */ PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
     /* m_name     */ "unicode_names",
@@ -96,15 +94,6 @@ static struct PyModuleDef unicode_names_module = {
 };
 
 CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC PyInit_unicode_names(void) {
-#else
-#define INITERROR return
-CALIBRE_MODINIT_FUNC initunicode_names(void) {
-#endif
     // Create the module
-#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
-    PyObject *mod = PyModule_Create(&unicode_names_module);
-    return mod;
-#else
-    Py_InitModule3("unicode_names", unicode_names_methods, "");
-#endif
+    return PyModule_Create(&unicode_names_module);
 }