diff --git a/AUTHORS b/AUTHORS
index 1d7cb65ab..30132759b 100644
--- a/AUTHORS
+++ b/AUTHORS
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ Lukas Bednar
 Luke Murphy
 Maciek Fijalkowski
 Maho
+Mandeep Bhutani
 Manuel Krebber
 Marc Schlaich
 Marcin Bachry
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.rst b/CHANGELOG.rst
index ad5a3c9f9..41d316dd5 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.rst
+++ b/CHANGELOG.rst
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ New Features
 Changes
 -------
 
+* Old-style classes have been changed to new-style classes in order to improve
+  compatability with Python 2. Thanks to `@mandeep`_ for the PR (`#2147`_).
+
 * It is now possible to skip test classes from being collected by setting a
   ``__test__`` attribute to ``False`` in the class body (`#2007`_). Thanks
   to `@syre`_ for the report and `@lwm`_ for the PR.
@@ -44,6 +47,7 @@ Changes
 .. _@wheerd: https://github.com/wheerd
 .. _@fogo: https://github.com/fogo
 .. _@lesteve: https://github.com/lesteve
+.. _@mandeep: https://github.com/mandeep
 
 .. _#1512: https://github.com/pytest-dev/pytest/issues/1512
 .. _#1874: https://github.com/pytest-dev/pytest/pull/1874
@@ -52,6 +56,7 @@ Changes
 .. _#2013: https://github.com/pytest-dev/pytest/issues/2013
 .. _#2101: https://github.com/pytest-dev/pytest/pull/2101
 .. _#2166: https://github.com/pytest-dev/pytest/pull/2166
+.. _#2147: https://github.com/pytest-dev/pytest/issues/2147
 
 3.0.6.dev0 (unreleased)
 =======================
diff --git a/_pytest/_argcomplete.py b/_pytest/_argcomplete.py
index 3ab679d8b..8fbbf2660 100644
--- a/_pytest/_argcomplete.py
+++ b/_pytest/_argcomplete.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ import sys
 import os
 from glob import glob
 
-class FastFilesCompleter:
+class FastFilesCompleter(object):
     'Fast file completer class'
     def __init__(self, directories=True):
         self.directories = directories
diff --git a/_pytest/assertion/__init__.py b/_pytest/assertion/__init__.py
index e0fb4284e..fe0653bb7 100644
--- a/_pytest/assertion/__init__.py
+++ b/_pytest/assertion/__init__.py
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class DummyRewriteHook(object):
         pass
 
 
-class AssertionState:
+class AssertionState(object):
     """State for the assertion plugin."""
 
     def __init__(self, config, mode):
diff --git a/_pytest/cacheprovider.py b/_pytest/cacheprovider.py
index 0657001f2..cd09f4a02 100755
--- a/_pytest/cacheprovider.py
+++ b/_pytest/cacheprovider.py
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ class Cache(object):
                 json.dump(value, f, indent=2, sort_keys=True)
 
 
-class LFPlugin:
+class LFPlugin(object):
     """ Plugin which implements the --lf (run last-failing) option """
     def __init__(self, config):
         self.config = config
diff --git a/_pytest/capture.py b/_pytest/capture.py
index a90e308ce..3fe1816d8 100644
--- a/_pytest/capture.py
+++ b/_pytest/capture.py
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ def pytest_load_initial_conftests(early_config, parser, args):
         sys.stderr.write(err)
 
 
-class CaptureManager:
+class CaptureManager(object):
     def __init__(self, method):
         self._method = method
 
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ def capfd(request):
     return c
 
 
-class CaptureFixture:
+class CaptureFixture(object):
     def __init__(self, captureclass, request):
         self.captureclass = captureclass
         self.request = request
@@ -315,10 +315,10 @@ class MultiCapture(object):
         return (self.out.snap() if self.out is not None else "",
                 self.err.snap() if self.err is not None else "")
 
-class NoCapture:
+class NoCapture(object):
     __init__ = start = done = suspend = resume = lambda *args: None
 
-class FDCapture:
+class FDCapture(object):
     """ Capture IO to/from a given os-level filedescriptor. """
 
     def __init__(self, targetfd, tmpfile=None):
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ class FDCapture:
         os.write(self.targetfd_save, data)
 
 
-class SysCapture:
+class SysCapture(object):
     def __init__(self, fd, tmpfile=None):
         name = patchsysdict[fd]
         self._old = getattr(sys, name)
@@ -432,7 +432,7 @@ class SysCapture:
         self._old.flush()
 
 
-class DontReadFromInput:
+class DontReadFromInput(object):
     """Temporary stub class.  Ideally when stdin is accessed, the
     capturing should be turned off, with possibly all data captured
     so far sent to the screen.  This should be configurable, though,
diff --git a/_pytest/config.py b/_pytest/config.py
index 55326447e..1db281539 100644
--- a/_pytest/config.py
+++ b/_pytest/config.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def main(args=None, plugins=None):
             sys.stderr.write("ERROR: %s\n" %(msg,))
         return 4
 
-class cmdline:  # compatibility namespace
+class cmdline(object):  # compatibility namespace
     main = staticmethod(main)
 
 
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ class PytestPluginManager(PluginManager):
             self.consider_module(mod)
 
 
-class Parser:
+class Parser(object):
     """ Parser for command line arguments and ini-file values.
 
     :ivar extra_info: dict of generic param -> value to display in case
@@ -582,7 +582,7 @@ class ArgumentError(Exception):
             return self.msg
 
 
-class Argument:
+class Argument(object):
     """class that mimics the necessary behaviour of optparse.Option
 
     its currently a least effort implementation
@@ -712,7 +712,7 @@ class Argument:
         return 'Argument({0})'.format(', '.join(args))
 
 
-class OptionGroup:
+class OptionGroup(object):
     def __init__(self, name, description="", parser=None):
         self.name = name
         self.description = description
@@ -838,7 +838,7 @@ class CmdOptions(object):
     def copy(self):
         return CmdOptions(self.__dict__)
 
-class Notset:
+class Notset(object):
     def __repr__(self):
         return "<NOTSET>"
 
diff --git a/_pytest/debugging.py b/_pytest/debugging.py
index c8d00ad79..c21e0977d 100644
--- a/_pytest/debugging.py
+++ b/_pytest/debugging.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def pytest_configure(config):
     pytestPDB._pdb_cls = pdb_cls
     config._cleanup.append(fin)
 
-class pytestPDB:
+class pytestPDB(object):
     """ Pseudo PDB that defers to the real pdb. """
     _pluginmanager = None
     _config = None
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class pytestPDB:
         self._pdb_cls().set_trace(frame)
 
 
-class PdbInvoke:
+class PdbInvoke(object):
     def pytest_exception_interact(self, node, call, report):
         capman = node.config.pluginmanager.getplugin("capturemanager")
         if capman:
diff --git a/_pytest/fixtures.py b/_pytest/fixtures.py
index 28bcd4d8d..f675217f8 100644
--- a/_pytest/fixtures.py
+++ b/_pytest/fixtures.py
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ def slice_items(items, ignore, scoped_argkeys_cache):
 
 
 
-class FuncargnamesCompatAttr:
+class FuncargnamesCompatAttr(object):
     """ helper class so that Metafunc, Function and FixtureRequest
     don't need to each define the "funcargnames" compatibility attribute.
     """
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ def fillfixtures(function):
 def get_direct_param_fixture_func(request):
     return request.param
 
-class FuncFixtureInfo:
+class FuncFixtureInfo(object):
     def __init__(self, argnames, names_closure, name2fixturedefs):
         self.argnames = argnames
         self.names_closure = names_closure
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ class FixtureRequest(FuncargnamesCompatAttr):
                 fixturedef = self._getnextfixturedef(argname)
             except FixtureLookupError:
                 if argname == "request":
-                    class PseudoFixtureDef:
+                    class PseudoFixtureDef(object):
                         cached_result = (self, [0], None)
                         scope = "function"
                     return PseudoFixtureDef
@@ -723,7 +723,7 @@ def call_fixture_func(fixturefunc, request, kwargs):
     return res
 
 
-class FixtureDef:
+class FixtureDef(object):
     """ A container for a factory definition. """
     def __init__(self, fixturemanager, baseid, argname, func, scope, params,
                  unittest=False, ids=None):
@@ -822,7 +822,7 @@ def pytest_fixture_setup(fixturedef, request):
     return result
 
 
-class FixtureFunctionMarker:
+class FixtureFunctionMarker(object):
     def __init__(self, scope, params, autouse=False, ids=None, name=None):
         self.scope = scope
         self.params = params
@@ -909,7 +909,7 @@ def pytestconfig(request):
     return request.config
 
 
-class FixtureManager:
+class FixtureManager(object):
     """
     pytest fixtures definitions and information is stored and managed
     from this class.
diff --git a/_pytest/main.py b/_pytest/main.py
index a2a53cced..3d2d455d1 100644
--- a/_pytest/main.py
+++ b/_pytest/main.py
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ def pytest_ignore_collect(path, config):
     return False
 
 
-class FSHookProxy:
+class FSHookProxy(object):
     def __init__(self, fspath, pm, remove_mods):
         self.fspath = fspath
         self.pm = pm
diff --git a/_pytest/mark.py b/_pytest/mark.py
index 5a6926ea0..ef9a94ad9 100644
--- a/_pytest/mark.py
+++ b/_pytest/mark.py
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ def pytest_collection_modifyitems(items, config):
         items[:] = remaining
 
 
-class MarkMapping:
+class MarkMapping(object):
     """Provides a local mapping for markers where item access
     resolves to True if the marker is present. """
     def __init__(self, keywords):
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ class MarkMapping:
         return name in self._mymarks
 
 
-class KeywordMapping:
+class KeywordMapping(object):
     """Provides a local mapping for keywords.
     Given a list of names, map any substring of one of these names to True.
     """
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ def pytest_configure(config):
         pytest.mark._config = config
 
 
-class MarkGenerator:
+class MarkGenerator(object):
     """ Factory for :class:`MarkDecorator` objects - exposed as
     a ``pytest.mark`` singleton instance.  Example::
 
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ def istestfunc(func):
     return hasattr(func, "__call__") and \
         getattr(func, "__name__", "<lambda>") != "<lambda>"
 
-class MarkDecorator:
+class MarkDecorator(object):
     """ A decorator for test functions and test classes.  When applied
     it will create :class:`MarkInfo` objects which may be
     :ref:`retrieved by hooks as item keywords <excontrolskip>`.
diff --git a/_pytest/monkeypatch.py b/_pytest/monkeypatch.py
index 852e72bed..313ed89be 100644
--- a/_pytest/monkeypatch.py
+++ b/_pytest/monkeypatch.py
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ def derive_importpath(import_path, raising):
     return attr, target
 
 
-class Notset:
+class Notset(object):
     def __repr__(self):
         return "<notset>"
 
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ class Notset:
 notset = Notset()
 
 
-class MonkeyPatch:
+class MonkeyPatch(object):
     """ Object returned by the ``monkeypatch`` fixture keeping a record of setattr/item/env/syspath changes.
     """
 
diff --git a/_pytest/pytester.py b/_pytest/pytester.py
index 8b86fc3db..6748fdef4 100644
--- a/_pytest/pytester.py
+++ b/_pytest/pytester.py
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ def _pytest(request):
     """
     return PytestArg(request)
 
-class PytestArg:
+class PytestArg(object):
     def __init__(self, request):
         self.request = request
 
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ def get_public_names(l):
     return [x for x in l if x[0] != "_"]
 
 
-class ParsedCall:
+class ParsedCall(object):
     def __init__(self, name, kwargs):
         self.__dict__.update(kwargs)
         self._name = name
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ class ParsedCall:
         return "<ParsedCall %r(**%r)>" %(self._name, d)
 
 
-class HookRecorder:
+class HookRecorder(object):
     """Record all hooks called in a plugin manager.
 
     This wraps all the hook calls in the plugin manager, recording
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ def testdir(request, tmpdir_factory):
 
 
 rex_outcome = re.compile("(\d+) ([\w-]+)")
-class RunResult:
+class RunResult(object):
     """The result of running a command.
 
     Attributes:
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ class RunResult:
 
 
 
-class Testdir:
+class Testdir(object):
     """Temporary test directory with tools to test/run pytest itself.
 
     This is based on the ``tmpdir`` fixture but provides a number of
@@ -707,7 +707,7 @@ class Testdir:
 
         rec = []
 
-        class Collect:
+        class Collect(object):
             def pytest_configure(x, config):
                 rec.append(self.make_hook_recorder(config.pluginmanager))
 
@@ -718,7 +718,7 @@ class Testdir:
         if len(rec) == 1:
             reprec = rec.pop()
         else:
-            class reprec:
+            class reprec(object):
                 pass
         reprec.ret = ret
 
@@ -742,13 +742,13 @@ class Testdir:
                 reprec = self.inline_run(*args, **kwargs)
             except SystemExit as e:
 
-                class reprec:
+                class reprec(object):
                     ret = e.args[0]
 
             except Exception:
                 traceback.print_exc()
 
-                class reprec:
+                class reprec(object):
                     ret = 3
         finally:
             out, err = capture.reset()
@@ -1033,7 +1033,7 @@ def getdecoded(out):
                     py.io.saferepr(out),)
 
 
-class LineComp:
+class LineComp(object):
     def __init__(self):
         self.stringio = py.io.TextIO()
 
@@ -1049,7 +1049,7 @@ class LineComp:
         return LineMatcher(lines1).fnmatch_lines(lines2)
 
 
-class LineMatcher:
+class LineMatcher(object):
     """Flexible matching of text.
 
     This is a convenience class to test large texts like the output of
diff --git a/_pytest/runner.py b/_pytest/runner.py
index 89635a839..f17155dae 100644
--- a/_pytest/runner.py
+++ b/_pytest/runner.py
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ def pytest_sessionstart(session):
 def pytest_sessionfinish(session):
     session._setupstate.teardown_all()
 
-class NodeInfo:
+class NodeInfo(object):
     def __init__(self, location):
         self.location = location
 
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ def call_runtest_hook(item, when, **kwds):
     ihook = getattr(item.ihook, hookname)
     return CallInfo(lambda: ihook(item=item, **kwds), when=when)
 
-class CallInfo:
+class CallInfo(object):
     """ Result/Exception info a function invocation. """
     #: None or ExceptionInfo object.
     excinfo = None
diff --git a/_pytest/skipping.py b/_pytest/skipping.py
index c10fb18c3..cc92012a0 100644
--- a/_pytest/skipping.py
+++ b/_pytest/skipping.py
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ def xfail(reason=""):
 xfail.Exception = XFailed
 
 
-class MarkEvaluator:
+class MarkEvaluator(object):
     def __init__(self, item, name):
         self.item = item
         self.name = name
diff --git a/_pytest/terminal.py b/_pytest/terminal.py
index 16bf75733..f509283cb 100644
--- a/_pytest/terminal.py
+++ b/_pytest/terminal.py
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ def pytest_report_teststatus(report):
             letter = "f"
     return report.outcome, letter, report.outcome.upper()
 
-class WarningReport:
+class WarningReport(object):
     def __init__(self, code, message, nodeid=None, fslocation=None):
         self.code = code
         self.message = message
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ class WarningReport:
         self.fslocation = fslocation
 
 
-class TerminalReporter:
+class TerminalReporter(object):
     def __init__(self, config, file=None):
         import _pytest.config
         self.config = config
diff --git a/_pytest/tmpdir.py b/_pytest/tmpdir.py
index 28a6b0636..565c35cf9 100644
--- a/_pytest/tmpdir.py
+++ b/_pytest/tmpdir.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import py
 from _pytest.monkeypatch import MonkeyPatch
 
 
-class TempdirFactory:
+class TempdirFactory(object):
     """Factory for temporary directories under the common base temp directory.
 
     The base directory can be configured using the ``--basetemp`` option.
diff --git a/_pytest/vendored_packages/pluggy.py b/_pytest/vendored_packages/pluggy.py
index 9c13932b3..a300053a1 100644
--- a/_pytest/vendored_packages/pluggy.py
+++ b/_pytest/vendored_packages/pluggy.py
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ __all__ = ["PluginManager", "PluginValidationError", "HookCallError",
 _py3 = sys.version_info > (3, 0)
 
 
-class HookspecMarker:
+class HookspecMarker(object):
     """ Decorator helper class for marking functions as hook specifications.
 
     You can instantiate it with a project_name to get a decorator.
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ class HookspecMarker:
             return setattr_hookspec_opts
 
 
-class HookimplMarker:
+class HookimplMarker(object):
     """ Decorator helper class for marking functions as hook implementations.
 
     You can instantiate with a project_name to get a decorator.
@@ -770,7 +770,7 @@ class _HookCaller(object):
                     proc(res[0])
 
 
-class HookImpl:
+class HookImpl(object):
     def __init__(self, plugin, plugin_name, function, hook_impl_opts):
         self.function = function
         self.argnames = varnames(self.function)