diff --git a/IPython/core/tests/test_application.py b/IPython/core/tests/test_application.py
index 45d4272..891908e 100644
--- a/IPython/core/tests/test_application.py
+++ b/IPython/core/tests/test_application.py
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@
 import os
 import tempfile
 
-import nose.tools as nt
-
 from traitlets import Unicode
 
 from IPython.core.application import BaseIPythonApplication
@@ -65,9 +63,8 @@ def test_cli_priority():
             f.write("c.TestApp.test = 'config file'")
 
         app = TestApp()
-        app.initialize(['--profile-dir', td])
-        nt.assert_equal(app.test, 'config file')
+        app.initialize(["--profile-dir", td])
+        assert app.test == "config file"
         app = TestApp()
-        app.initialize(['--profile-dir', td, '--TestApp.test=cli'])
-        nt.assert_equal(app.test, 'cli')
-
+        app.initialize(["--profile-dir", td, "--TestApp.test=cli"])
+        assert app.test == "cli"