diff --git a/IPython/core/tests/test_ultratb.py b/IPython/core/tests/test_ultratb.py
index 5f5dec0..39ae171 100644
--- a/IPython/core/tests/test_ultratb.py
+++ b/IPython/core/tests/test_ultratb.py
@@ -229,43 +229,44 @@ except Exception:
 #----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 # module testing (minimal)
-def test_handlers():
-    def spam(c, d_e):
-        (d, e) = d_e
-        x = c + d
-        y = c * d
-        foo(x, y)
-
-    def foo(a, b, bar=1):
-        eggs(a, b + bar)
-
-    def eggs(f, g, z=globals()):
-        h = f + g
-        i = f - g
-        return h / i
-    
-    buff = io.StringIO()
-
-    buff.write(u'')
-    buff.write(u'*** Before ***')
-    try:
-        buff.write(spam(1, (2, 3)))
-    except:
-        traceback.print_exc(file=buff)
-
-    handler = ColorTB(ostream=buff)
-    buff.write(u'*** ColorTB ***')
-    try:
-        buff.write(spam(1, (2, 3)))
-    except:
-        handler(*sys.exc_info())
-    buff.write(u'')
-
-    handler = VerboseTB(ostream=buff)
-    buff.write(u'*** VerboseTB ***')
-    try:
-        buff.write(spam(1, (2, 3)))
-    except:
-        handler(*sys.exc_info())
-    buff.write(u'')
+if sys.version_info > (3,):
+    def test_handlers():
+        def spam(c, d_e):
+            (d, e) = d_e
+            x = c + d
+            y = c * d
+            foo(x, y)
+
+        def foo(a, b, bar=1):
+            eggs(a, b + bar)
+
+        def eggs(f, g, z=globals()):
+            h = f + g
+            i = f - g
+            return h / i
+        
+        buff = io.StringIO()
+
+        buff.write('')
+        buff.write('*** Before ***')
+        try:
+            buff.write(spam(1, (2, 3)))
+        except:
+            traceback.print_exc(file=buff)
+
+        handler = ColorTB(ostream=buff)
+        buff.write('*** ColorTB ***')
+        try:
+            buff.write(spam(1, (2, 3)))
+        except:
+            handler(*sys.exc_info())
+        buff.write('')
+
+        handler = VerboseTB(ostream=buff)
+        buff.write('*** VerboseTB ***')
+        try:
+            buff.write(spam(1, (2, 3)))
+        except:
+            handler(*sys.exc_info())
+        buff.write('')