diff --git a/contrib/check-code.py b/contrib/check-code.py
--- a/contrib/check-code.py
+++ b/contrib/check-code.py
@@ -119,11 +119,8 @@ pypats = [
     (r'^\s*(if|while|def|class|except|try)\s[^[]*:\s*[^\]#\s]+',
      "linebreak after :"),
     (r'class\s[^(]:', "old-style class, use class foo(object)"),
-    (r'^\s+del\(', "del isn't a function"),
-    (r'\band\(', "and isn't a function"),
-    (r'\bor\(', "or isn't a function"),
-    (r'\bnot\(', "not isn't a function"),
-    (r'^\s+except\(', "except isn't a function"),
+    (r'\b(%s)\(' % '|'.join(keyword.kwlist),
+     "Python keyword is not a function"),
     (r',]', "unneeded trailing ',' in list"),
 #    (r'class\s[A-Z][^\(]*\((?!Exception)',
 #     "don't capitalize non-exception classes"),