diff --git a/_pytest/assertion/oldinterpret.py b/_pytest/assertion/oldinterpret.py
index df737b7d5..40c6d3936 100644
--- a/_pytest/assertion/oldinterpret.py
+++ b/_pytest/assertion/oldinterpret.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import traceback
+import types
 import py
 import sys, inspect
 from compiler import parse, ast, pycodegen
@@ -477,7 +479,7 @@ def check(s, frame=None):
 def interpret(source, frame, should_fail=False):
     module = Interpretable(parse(source, 'exec').node)
     #print "got module", module
-    if isinstance(frame, py.std.types.FrameType):
+    if isinstance(frame, types.FrameType):
         frame = py.code.Frame(frame)
     try:
         module.run(frame)
@@ -487,7 +489,6 @@ def interpret(source, frame, should_fail=False):
     except passthroughex:
         raise
     except:
-        import traceback
         traceback.print_exc()
     if should_fail:
         return ("(assertion failed, but when it was re-run for "
diff --git a/_pytest/assertion/util.py b/_pytest/assertion/util.py
index 3564e4882..95d308518 100644
--- a/_pytest/assertion/util.py
+++ b/_pytest/assertion/util.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 """Utilities for assertion debugging"""
+import pprint
 
 import py
 try:
@@ -168,6 +169,7 @@ def _diff_text(left, right, verbose=False):
 
     If the input are bytes they will be safely converted to text.
     """
+    from difflib import ndiff
     explanation = []
     if isinstance(left, py.builtin.bytes):
         left = u(repr(left)[1:-1]).replace(r'\n', '\n')
@@ -195,8 +197,8 @@ def _diff_text(left, right, verbose=False):
                 left = left[:-i]
                 right = right[:-i]
     explanation += [line.strip('\n')
-                    for line in py.std.difflib.ndiff(left.splitlines(),
-                                                     right.splitlines())]
+                    for line in ndiff(left.splitlines(),
+                                      right.splitlines())]
     return explanation
 
 
@@ -214,8 +216,8 @@ def _compare_eq_sequence(left, right, verbose=False):
         explanation += [
             u('Right contains more items, first extra item: %s') %
             py.io.saferepr(right[len(left)],)]
-    return explanation  # + _diff_text(py.std.pprint.pformat(left),
-                        #             py.std.pprint.pformat(right))
+    return explanation  # + _diff_text(pprint.pformat(left),
+                        #              pprint.pformat(right))
 
 
 def _compare_eq_set(left, right, verbose=False):
@@ -242,7 +244,7 @@ def _compare_eq_dict(left, right, verbose=False):
                         len(same)]
     elif same:
         explanation += [u('Common items:')]
-        explanation += py.std.pprint.pformat(same).splitlines()
+        explanation += pprint.pformat(same).splitlines()
     diff = set(k for k in common if left[k] != right[k])
     if diff:
         explanation += [u('Differing items:')]
@@ -252,12 +254,12 @@ def _compare_eq_dict(left, right, verbose=False):
     extra_left = set(left) - set(right)
     if extra_left:
         explanation.append(u('Left contains more items:'))
-        explanation.extend(py.std.pprint.pformat(
+        explanation.extend(pprint.pformat(
             dict((k, left[k]) for k in extra_left)).splitlines())
     extra_right = set(right) - set(left)
     if extra_right:
         explanation.append(u('Right contains more items:'))
-        explanation.extend(py.std.pprint.pformat(
+        explanation.extend(pprint.pformat(
             dict((k, right[k]) for k in extra_right)).splitlines())
     return explanation
 
diff --git a/_pytest/config.py b/_pytest/config.py
index 1eeb6b3b7..12adc21f8 100644
--- a/_pytest/config.py
+++ b/_pytest/config.py
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
 """ command line options, ini-file and conftest.py processing. """
+import argparse
+import shlex
+import traceback
+import types
+import warnings
 
 import py
 # DON't import pytest here because it causes import cycle troubles
@@ -29,7 +34,7 @@ def main(args=None, plugins=None):
     except ConftestImportFailure:
         e = sys.exc_info()[1]
         tw = py.io.TerminalWriter(sys.stderr)
-        for line in py.std.traceback.format_exception(*e.excinfo):
+        for line in traceback.format_exception(*e.excinfo):
             tw.line(line.rstrip(), red=True)
         tw.line("ERROR: could not load %s\n" % (e.path), red=True)
         return 4
@@ -71,7 +76,7 @@ def _prepareconfig(args=None, plugins=None):
     elif not isinstance(args, (tuple, list)):
         if not isinstance(args, str):
             raise ValueError("not a string or argument list: %r" % (args,))
-        args = py.std.shlex.split(args)
+        args = shlex.split(args)
     pluginmanager = get_plugin_manager()
     try:
         if plugins:
@@ -229,7 +234,7 @@ class ArgumentError(Exception):
 
 
 class Argument:
-    """class that mimics the necessary behaviour of py.std.optparse.Option """
+    """class that mimics the necessary behaviour of optparse.Option """
     _typ_map = {
         'int': int,
         'string': str,
@@ -247,7 +252,7 @@ class Argument:
             try:
                 help = attrs['help']
                 if '%default' in help:
-                    py.std.warnings.warn(
+                    warnings.warn(
                         'pytest now uses argparse. "%default" should be'
                         ' changed to "%(default)s" ',
                         FutureWarning,
@@ -263,7 +268,7 @@ class Argument:
             if isinstance(typ, py.builtin._basestring):
                 if typ == 'choice':
                     if self.TYPE_WARN:
-                        py.std.warnings.warn(
+                        warnings.warn(
                             'type argument to addoption() is a string %r.'
                             ' For parsearg this is optional and when supplied '
                             ' should be a type.'
@@ -275,7 +280,7 @@ class Argument:
                     attrs['type'] = type(attrs['choices'][0])
                 else:
                     if self.TYPE_WARN:
-                        py.std.warnings.warn(
+                        warnings.warn(
                             'type argument to addoption() is a string %r.'
                             ' For parsearg this should be a type.'
                             ' (options: %s)' % (typ, names),
@@ -395,10 +400,10 @@ class OptionGroup:
         self.options.append(option)
 
 
-class MyOptionParser(py.std.argparse.ArgumentParser):
+class MyOptionParser(argparse.ArgumentParser):
     def __init__(self, parser):
         self._parser = parser
-        py.std.argparse.ArgumentParser.__init__(self, usage=parser._usage,
+        argparse.ArgumentParser.__init__(self, usage=parser._usage,
             add_help=False, formatter_class=DropShorterLongHelpFormatter)
 
     def parse_args(self, args=None, namespace=None):
@@ -407,12 +412,12 @@ class MyOptionParser(py.std.argparse.ArgumentParser):
         if argv:
             for arg in argv:
                 if arg and arg[0] == '-':
-                    msg = py.std.argparse._('unrecognized arguments: %s')
+                    msg = argparse._('unrecognized arguments: %s')
                     self.error(msg % ' '.join(argv))
             getattr(args, FILE_OR_DIR).extend(argv)
         return args
 
-class DropShorterLongHelpFormatter(py.std.argparse.HelpFormatter):
+class DropShorterLongHelpFormatter(argparse.HelpFormatter):
     """shorten help for long options that differ only in extra hyphens
 
     - collapse **long** options that are the same except for extra hyphens
@@ -422,7 +427,7 @@ class DropShorterLongHelpFormatter(py.std.argparse.HelpFormatter):
     - cache result on action object as this is called at least 2 times
     """
     def _format_action_invocation(self, action):
-        orgstr = py.std.argparse.HelpFormatter._format_action_invocation(self, action)
+        orgstr = argparse.HelpFormatter._format_action_invocation(self, action)
         if orgstr and orgstr[0] != '-': # only optional arguments
             return orgstr
         res = getattr(action, '_formatted_action_invocation', None)
@@ -746,7 +751,7 @@ class Config(object):
         self.hook.pytest_cmdline_preparse(config=self, args=args)
         args = self._parser.parse_setoption(args, self.option)
         if not args:
-            args.append(py.std.os.getcwd())
+            args.append(os.getcwd())
         self.args = args
 
     def addinivalue_line(self, name, line):
@@ -784,11 +789,11 @@ class Config(object):
         if type == "pathlist":
             dp = py.path.local(self.inicfg.config.path).dirpath()
             l = []
-            for relpath in py.std.shlex.split(value):
+            for relpath in shlex.split(value):
                 l.append(dp.join(relpath, abs=True))
             return l
         elif type == "args":
-            return py.std.shlex.split(value)
+            return shlex.split(value)
         elif type == "linelist":
             return [t for t in map(lambda x: x.strip(), value.split("\n")) if t]
         else:
@@ -876,7 +881,7 @@ def setns(obj, dic):
             mod = getattr(obj, name, None)
             if mod is None:
                 modname = "pytest.%s" % name
-                mod = py.std.types.ModuleType(modname)
+                mod = types.ModuleType(modname)
                 sys.modules[modname] = mod
                 mod.__all__ = []
                 setattr(obj, name, mod)
diff --git a/_pytest/core.py b/_pytest/core.py
index 6ede18d95..de422e149 100644
--- a/_pytest/core.py
+++ b/_pytest/core.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """
 pytest PluginManager, basic initialization and tracing.
 """
+import os
 import sys
 import inspect
 import py
@@ -154,7 +155,7 @@ class PluginManager(object):
     # API for bootstrapping
     #
     def _envlist(self, varname):
-        val = py.std.os.environ.get(varname, None)
+        val = os.environ.get(varname, None)
         if val is not None:
             return val.split(',')
         return ()
@@ -221,7 +222,7 @@ class PluginManager(object):
                 return self.import_plugin(modname[7:])
             raise
         except:
-            e = py.std.sys.exc_info()[1]
+            e = sys.exc_info()[1]
             import pytest
             if not hasattr(pytest, 'skip') or not isinstance(e, pytest.skip.Exception):
                 raise
diff --git a/_pytest/doctest.py b/_pytest/doctest.py
index 82bbc4b49..f61730717 100644
--- a/_pytest/doctest.py
+++ b/_pytest/doctest.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 """ discover and run doctests in modules and test files."""
-
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+import traceback
 import pytest, py
 from _pytest.python import FixtureRequest, FuncFixtureInfo
 from py._code.code import TerminalRepr, ReprFileLocation
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ class DoctestItem(pytest.Item):
         self.runner.run(self.dtest)
 
     def repr_failure(self, excinfo):
-        doctest = py.std.doctest
+        import doctest
         if excinfo.errisinstance((doctest.DocTestFailure,
                                   doctest.UnexpectedException)):
             doctestfailure = excinfo.value
@@ -56,8 +57,8 @@ class DoctestItem(pytest.Item):
                 lineno = test.lineno + example.lineno + 1
             message = excinfo.type.__name__
             reprlocation = ReprFileLocation(filename, lineno, message)
-            checker = py.std.doctest.OutputChecker()
-            REPORT_UDIFF = py.std.doctest.REPORT_UDIFF
+            checker = doctest.OutputChecker()
+            REPORT_UDIFF = doctest.REPORT_UDIFF
             filelines = py.path.local(filename).readlines(cr=0)
             lines = []
             if lineno is not None:
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ class DoctestItem(pytest.Item):
                 inner_excinfo = py.code.ExceptionInfo(excinfo.value.exc_info)
                 lines += ["UNEXPECTED EXCEPTION: %s" %
                             repr(inner_excinfo.value)]
-                lines += py.std.traceback.format_exception(*excinfo.value.exc_info)
+                lines += traceback.format_exception(*excinfo.value.exc_info)
             return ReprFailDoctest(reprlocation, lines)
         else:
             return super(DoctestItem, self).repr_failure(excinfo)
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ class DoctestItem(pytest.Item):
 
 class DoctestTextfile(DoctestItem, pytest.File):
     def runtest(self):
-        doctest = py.std.doctest
+        import doctest
         # satisfy `FixtureRequest` constructor...
         self.funcargs = {}
         fm = self.session._fixturemanager
@@ -106,7 +107,7 @@ class DoctestTextfile(DoctestItem, pytest.File):
 
 class DoctestModule(pytest.File):
     def collect(self):
-        doctest = py.std.doctest
+        import doctest
         if self.fspath.basename == "conftest.py":
             module = self.config._conftest.importconftest(self.fspath)
         else:
diff --git a/_pytest/genscript.py b/_pytest/genscript.py
index 25e8e6a0f..7dddcfc57 100755
--- a/_pytest/genscript.py
+++ b/_pytest/genscript.py
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 """ generate a single-file self-contained version of pytest """
+import base64
+import pickle
 import py
 import sys
+import zlib
+
 
 def find_toplevel(name):
-    for syspath in py.std.sys.path:
+    for syspath in sys.path:
         base = py.path.local(syspath)
         lib = base/name
         if lib.check(dir=1):
@@ -29,9 +33,9 @@ def pkg_to_mapping(name):
     return name2src
 
 def compress_mapping(mapping):
-    data = py.std.pickle.dumps(mapping, 2)
-    data = py.std.zlib.compress(data, 9)
-    data = py.std.base64.encodestring(data)
+    data = pickle.dumps(mapping, 2)
+    data = zlib.compress(data, 9)
+    data = base64.encodestring(data)
     data = data.decode('ascii')
     return data
 
diff --git a/_pytest/junitxml.py b/_pytest/junitxml.py
index bc4c72590..2a86c8dee 100644
--- a/_pytest/junitxml.py
+++ b/_pytest/junitxml.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 Based on initial code from Ross Lawley.
 """
+import codecs
 
 import py
 import os
@@ -206,8 +207,8 @@ class LogXML(object):
         self.suite_start_time = time.time()
 
     def pytest_sessionfinish(self):
-        if py.std.sys.version_info[0] < 3:
-            logfile = py.std.codecs.open(self.logfile, 'w', encoding='utf-8')
+        if sys.version_info[0] < 3:
+            logfile = codecs.open(self.logfile, 'w', encoding='utf-8')
         else:
             logfile = open(self.logfile, 'w', encoding='utf-8')
 
diff --git a/_pytest/main.py b/_pytest/main.py
index 9ab13abd3..cbe2fabda 100644
--- a/_pytest/main.py
+++ b/_pytest/main.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 """ core implementation of testing process: init, session, runtest loop. """
+import re
 
 import py
 import pytest, _pytest
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ EXIT_INTERRUPTED = 2
 EXIT_INTERNALERROR = 3
 EXIT_USAGEERROR = 4
 
-name_re = py.std.re.compile("^[a-zA-Z_]\w*$")
+name_re = re.compile("^[a-zA-Z_]\w*$")
 
 def pytest_addoption(parser):
     parser.addini("norecursedirs", "directory patterns to avoid for recursion",
@@ -315,7 +316,7 @@ class Node(object):
         except py.builtin._sysex:
             raise
         except:
-            failure = py.std.sys.exc_info()
+            failure = sys.exc_info()
             setattr(self, exattrname, failure)
             raise
         setattr(self, attrname, res)
diff --git a/_pytest/pdb.py b/_pytest/pdb.py
index 9a0dd9aa7..607a4582b 100644
--- a/_pytest/pdb.py
+++ b/_pytest/pdb.py
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 """ interactive debugging with PDB, the Python Debugger. """
-
-import pytest, py
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+import pdb
 import sys
 
+import pytest
+import py
+
+
 def pytest_addoption(parser):
     group = parser.getgroup("general")
     group._addoption('--pdb',
@@ -16,10 +20,10 @@ def pytest_configure(config):
     if config.getvalue("usepdb"):
         config.pluginmanager.register(PdbInvoke(), 'pdbinvoke')
 
-    old = (py.std.pdb.set_trace, pytestPDB._pluginmanager)
+    old = (pdb.set_trace, pytestPDB._pluginmanager)
     def fin():
-        py.std.pdb.set_trace, pytestPDB._pluginmanager = old
-    py.std.pdb.set_trace = pytest.set_trace
+        pdb.set_trace, pytestPDB._pluginmanager = old
+    pdb.set_trace = pytest.set_trace
     pytestPDB._pluginmanager = config.pluginmanager
     config._cleanup.append(fin)
 
@@ -38,7 +42,7 @@ class pytestPDB:
             tw = py.io.TerminalWriter()
             tw.line()
             tw.sep(">", "PDB set_trace (IO-capturing turned off)")
-        py.std.pdb.Pdb().set_trace(frame)
+        pdb.Pdb().set_trace(frame)
 
 
 class PdbInvoke:
@@ -74,7 +78,8 @@ def _enter_pdb(node, excinfo, rep):
 def _postmortem_traceback(excinfo):
     # A doctest.UnexpectedException is not useful for post_mortem.
     # Use the underlying exception instead:
-    if isinstance(excinfo.value, py.std.doctest.UnexpectedException):
+    from doctest import UnexpectedException
+    if isinstance(excinfo.value, UnexpectedException):
         return excinfo.value.exc_info[2]
     else:
         return excinfo._excinfo[2]
@@ -88,7 +93,6 @@ def _find_last_non_hidden_frame(stack):
 
 
 def post_mortem(t):
-    pdb = py.std.pdb
     class Pdb(pdb.Pdb):
         def get_stack(self, f, t):
             stack, i = pdb.Pdb.get_stack(self, f, t)
diff --git a/_pytest/pytester.py b/_pytest/pytester.py
index 36713bf2c..9e987ae03 100644
--- a/_pytest/pytester.py
+++ b/_pytest/pytester.py
@@ -1,15 +1,21 @@
 """ (disabled by default) support for testing pytest and pytest plugins. """
-
-import py, pytest
-import sys, os
+import inspect
+import sys
+import os
 import codecs
 import re
 import time
+import platform
 from fnmatch import fnmatch
-from _pytest.main import Session, EXIT_OK
+import subprocess
+
+import py
+import pytest
 from py.builtin import print_
 from _pytest.core import HookRelay
 
+from _pytest.main import Session, EXIT_OK
+
 
 def get_public_names(l):
     """Only return names from iterator l without a leading underscore."""
@@ -87,10 +93,10 @@ class HookRecorder:
 
     def _makecallparser(self, method):
         name = method.__name__
-        args, varargs, varkw, default = py.std.inspect.getargspec(method)
+        args, varargs, varkw, default = inspect.getargspec(method)
         if not args or args[0] != "self":
             args.insert(0, 'self')
-        fspec = py.std.inspect.formatargspec(args, varargs, varkw, default)
+        fspec = inspect.formatargspec(args, varargs, varkw, default)
         # we use exec because we want to have early type
         # errors on wrong input arguments, using
         # *args/**kwargs delays this and gives errors
@@ -122,7 +128,7 @@ class HookRecorder:
         __tracebackhide__ = True
         i = 0
         entries = list(entries)
-        backlocals = py.std.sys._getframe(1).f_locals
+        backlocals = sys._getframe(1).f_locals
         while entries:
             name, check = entries.pop(0)
             for ind, call in enumerate(self.calls[i:]):
@@ -210,7 +216,7 @@ class TmpTestdir:
 
     def finalize(self):
         for p in self._syspathremove:
-            py.std.sys.path.remove(p)
+            sys.path.remove(p)
         if hasattr(self, '_olddir'):
             self._olddir.chdir()
         # delete modules that have been loaded from tmpdir
@@ -283,7 +289,7 @@ class TmpTestdir:
     def syspathinsert(self, path=None):
         if path is None:
             path = self.tmpdir
-        py.std.sys.path.insert(0, str(path))
+        sys.path.insert(0, str(path))
         self._syspathremove.append(str(path))
 
     def mkdir(self, name):
@@ -426,9 +432,8 @@ class TmpTestdir:
         env['PYTHONPATH'] = os.pathsep.join(filter(None, [
             str(os.getcwd()), env.get('PYTHONPATH', '')]))
         kw['env'] = env
-        #print "env", env
-        return py.std.subprocess.Popen(cmdargs,
-                                       stdout=stdout, stderr=stderr, **kw)
+        return subprocess.Popen(cmdargs,
+                                stdout=stdout, stderr=stderr, **kw)
 
     def run(self, *cmdargs):
         return self._run(*cmdargs)
@@ -474,9 +479,9 @@ class TmpTestdir:
     def _getpybinargs(self, scriptname):
         if not self.request.config.getvalue("notoolsonpath"):
             # XXX we rely on script referring to the correct environment
-            # we cannot use "(py.std.sys.executable,script)"
+            # we cannot use "(sys.executable,script)"
             # because on windows the script is e.g. a py.test.exe
-            return (py.std.sys.executable, _pytest_fullpath,) # noqa
+            return (sys.executable, _pytest_fullpath,) # noqa
         else:
             pytest.skip("cannot run %r with --no-tools-on-path" % scriptname)
 
@@ -496,7 +501,7 @@ class TmpTestdir:
 
     def runpython_c(self, command):
         command = self._getsysprepend() + command
-        return self.run(py.std.sys.executable, "-c", command)
+        return self.run(sys.executable, "-c", command)
 
     def runpytest(self, *args):
         p = py.path.local.make_numbered_dir(prefix="runpytest-",
@@ -523,7 +528,7 @@ class TmpTestdir:
 
     def spawn(self, cmd, expect_timeout=10.0):
         pexpect = pytest.importorskip("pexpect", "3.0")
-        if hasattr(sys, 'pypy_version_info') and '64' in py.std.platform.machine():
+        if hasattr(sys, 'pypy_version_info') and '64' in platform.machine():
             pytest.skip("pypy-64 bit not supported")
         if sys.platform == "darwin":
             pytest.xfail("pexpect does not work reliably on darwin?!")
@@ -670,7 +675,7 @@ class LineMatcher:
 
     def fnmatch_lines(self, lines2):
         def show(arg1, arg2):
-            py.builtin.print_(arg1, arg2, file=py.std.sys.stderr)
+            py.builtin.print_(arg1, arg2, file=sys.stderr)
         lines2 = self._getlines(lines2)
         lines1 = self.lines[:]
         nextline = None
diff --git a/_pytest/recwarn.py b/_pytest/recwarn.py
index 987ff8f97..482b78b0e 100644
--- a/_pytest/recwarn.py
+++ b/_pytest/recwarn.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 """ recording warnings during test function execution. """
 
-import py
 import sys
+import warnings
+
 
 def pytest_funcarg__recwarn(request):
     """Return a WarningsRecorder instance that provides these methods:
@@ -13,7 +14,6 @@ def pytest_funcarg__recwarn(request):
     on warning categories.
     """
     if sys.version_info >= (2,7):
-        import warnings
         oldfilters = warnings.filters[:]
         warnings.simplefilter('default')
         def reset_filters():
@@ -30,26 +30,24 @@ def deprecated_call(func, *args, **kwargs):
     """ assert that calling ``func(*args, **kwargs)``
     triggers a DeprecationWarning.
     """
-    warningmodule = py.std.warnings
     l = []
-    oldwarn_explicit = getattr(warningmodule, 'warn_explicit')
+    oldwarn_explicit = getattr(warnings, 'warn_explicit')
     def warn_explicit(*args, **kwargs):
         l.append(args)
         oldwarn_explicit(*args, **kwargs)
-    oldwarn = getattr(warningmodule, 'warn')
+    oldwarn = getattr(warnings, 'warn')
     def warn(*args, **kwargs):
         l.append(args)
         oldwarn(*args, **kwargs)
 
-    warningmodule.warn_explicit = warn_explicit
-    warningmodule.warn = warn
+    warnings.warn_explicit = warn_explicit
+    warnings.warn = warn
     try:
         ret = func(*args, **kwargs)
     finally:
-        warningmodule.warn_explicit = warn_explicit
-        warningmodule.warn = warn
+        warnings.warn_explicit = warn_explicit
+        warnings.warn = warn
     if not l:
-        #print warningmodule
         __tracebackhide__ = True
         raise AssertionError("%r did not produce DeprecationWarning" %(func,))
     return ret
@@ -65,7 +63,6 @@ class RecordedWarning:
 
 class WarningsRecorder:
     def __init__(self):
-        warningmodule = py.std.warnings
         self.list = []
         def showwarning(message, category, filename, lineno, line=0):
             self.list.append(RecordedWarning(
@@ -76,8 +73,8 @@ class WarningsRecorder:
             except TypeError:
                 # < python2.6
                 self.old_showwarning(message, category, filename, lineno)
-        self.old_showwarning = warningmodule.showwarning
-        warningmodule.showwarning = showwarning
+        self.old_showwarning = warnings.showwarning
+        warnings.showwarning = showwarning
 
     def pop(self, cls=Warning):
         """ pop the first recorded warning, raise exception if not exists."""
@@ -88,7 +85,6 @@ class WarningsRecorder:
         assert 0, "%r not found in %r" %(cls, self.list)
 
     #def resetregistry(self):
-    #    import warnings
     #    warnings.onceregistry.clear()
     #    warnings.__warningregistry__.clear()
 
@@ -96,4 +92,4 @@ class WarningsRecorder:
         self.list[:] = []
 
     def finalize(self):
-        py.std.warnings.showwarning = self.old_showwarning
+        warnings.showwarning = self.old_showwarning
diff --git a/_pytest/runner.py b/_pytest/runner.py
index 428e6ec42..2932f14c3 100644
--- a/_pytest/runner.py
+++ b/_pytest/runner.py
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 """ basic collect and runtest protocol implementations """
+import bdb
+import sys
+from time import time
 
 import py
 import pytest
-import sys
-from time import time
 from py._code.code import TerminalRepr
 
 def pytest_namespace():
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ def check_interactive_exception(call, report):
     return call.excinfo and not (
                 hasattr(report, "wasxfail") or
                 call.excinfo.errisinstance(skip.Exception) or
-                call.excinfo.errisinstance(py.std.bdb.BdbQuit))
+                call.excinfo.errisinstance(bdb.BdbQuit))
 
 def call_runtest_hook(item, when, **kwds):
     hookname = "pytest_runtest_" + when
diff --git a/_pytest/skipping.py b/_pytest/skipping.py
index aee98ffa8..56f28b118 100644
--- a/_pytest/skipping.py
+++ b/_pytest/skipping.py
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 """ support for skip/xfail functions and markers. """
-
-import py, pytest
+import os
 import sys
+import traceback
+
+import py
+import pytest
 
 def pytest_addoption(parser):
     group = parser.getgroup("general")
@@ -79,7 +82,7 @@ class MarkEvaluator:
                 msg = [" " * (self.exc[1].offset + 4) + "^",]
                 msg.append("SyntaxError: invalid syntax")
             else:
-                msg = py.std.traceback.format_exception_only(*self.exc[:2])
+                msg = traceback.format_exception_only(*self.exc[:2])
             pytest.fail("Error evaluating %r expression\n"
                         "    %s\n"
                         "%s"
@@ -87,7 +90,7 @@ class MarkEvaluator:
                         pytrace=False)
 
     def _getglobals(self):
-        d = {'os': py.std.os, 'sys': py.std.sys, 'config': self.item.config}
+        d = {'os': os, 'sys': sys, 'config': self.item.config}
         func = self.item.obj
         try:
             d.update(func.__globals__)
diff --git a/_pytest/terminal.py b/_pytest/terminal.py
index abb8f1549..f60d8495e 100644
--- a/_pytest/terminal.py
+++ b/_pytest/terminal.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ This is a good source for looking at the various reporting hooks.
 import pytest
 import py
 import sys
+import time
+
 
 def pytest_addoption(parser):
     group = parser.getgroup("terminal reporting", "reporting", after="general")
@@ -49,7 +51,7 @@ def getreportopt(config):
     optvalue = config.option.report
     if optvalue:
         py.builtin.print_("DEPRECATED: use -r instead of --report option.",
-            file=py.std.sys.stderr)
+            file=sys.stderr)
         if optvalue:
             for setting in optvalue.split(","):
                 setting = setting.strip()
@@ -95,7 +97,7 @@ class TerminalReporter:
         self.stats = {}
         self.startdir = self.curdir = py.path.local()
         if file is None:
-            file = py.std.sys.stdout
+            file = sys.stdout
         self._tw = self.writer = py.io.TerminalWriter(file)
         if self.config.option.color == 'yes':
             self._tw.hasmarkup = True
@@ -265,7 +267,7 @@ class TerminalReporter:
 
     @pytest.mark.trylast
     def pytest_sessionstart(self, session):
-        self._sessionstarttime = py.std.time.time()
+        self._sessionstarttime = time.time()
         if not self.showheader:
             return
         self.write_sep("=", "test session starts", bold=True)
@@ -469,7 +471,7 @@ class TerminalReporter:
             self._tw.line(content)
 
     def summary_stats(self):
-        session_duration = py.std.time.time() - self._sessionstarttime
+        session_duration = time.time() - self._sessionstarttime
 
         keys = ("failed passed skipped deselected "
                "xfailed xpassed warnings").split()
diff --git a/_pytest/tmpdir.py b/_pytest/tmpdir.py
index 8eb0cdec0..53c396b76 100644
--- a/_pytest/tmpdir.py
+++ b/_pytest/tmpdir.py
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 """ support for providing temporary directories to test functions.  """
-import pytest, py
+import re
+
+import pytest
+import py
 from _pytest.monkeypatch import monkeypatch
 
+
 class TempdirHandler:
     def __init__(self, config):
         self.config = config
@@ -63,7 +67,7 @@ def tmpdir(request):
     path object.
     """
     name = request.node.name
-    name = py.std.re.sub("[\W]", "_", name)
+    name = re.sub("[\W]", "_", name)
     MAXVAL = 30
     if len(name) > MAXVAL:
         name = name[:MAXVAL]
diff --git a/_pytest/unittest.py b/_pytest/unittest.py
index 435a93514..666519129 100644
--- a/_pytest/unittest.py
+++ b/_pytest/unittest.py
@@ -1,7 +1,13 @@
 """ discovery and running of std-library "unittest" style tests. """
-import pytest, py
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+import traceback
+import unittest
 import sys
 
+import pytest
+import py
+
+
 # for transfering markers
 from _pytest.python import transfer_markers
 
@@ -45,7 +51,7 @@ class UnitTestCase(pytest.Class):
         if not getattr(cls, "__test__", True):
             return
         self.session._fixturemanager.parsefactories(self, unittest=True)
-        loader = py.std.unittest.TestLoader()
+        loader = unittest.TestLoader()
         module = self.getparent(pytest.Module).obj
         foundsomething = False
         for name in loader.getTestCaseNames(self.obj):
@@ -90,7 +96,7 @@ class TestCaseFunction(pytest.Function):
         except TypeError:
             try:
                 try:
-                    l = py.std.traceback.format_exception(*rawexcinfo)
+                    l = traceback.format_exception(*rawexcinfo)
                     l.insert(0, "NOTE: Incompatible Exception Representation, "
                         "displaying natively:\n\n")
                     pytest.fail("".join(l), pytrace=False)