diff --git a/conftest.py b/conftest.py
index 0939bcfe..b06379a2 100644
--- a/conftest.py
+++ b/conftest.py
@@ -106,13 +106,10 @@ def pytest_collection_modifyitems(session, config, items):
         assert isinstance(item, _pytest.python.Function)
 
         # unittest-style test functions have the node of UnitTest class as parent
-        assert isinstance(
-            item.parent,
-            (
-                _pytest.python.Class,  # pytest >= 7.0.0
-                _pytest.python.Instance,  # pytest < 7.0.0
-            ),
-        )
+        if tuple(map(int, _pytest.__version__.split("."))) >= (7,):
+            assert isinstance(item.parent, _pytest.python.Class)
+        else:
+            assert isinstance(item.parent, _pytest.python.Instance)
 
         # and that node references the UnitTest class
         assert issubclass(item.parent.cls, _IrcTestCase)