diff --git a/rattail/exceptions.py b/rattail/exceptions.py
index 82ff34f0d51bc5f477149e3f25ee9f3dffeaf030..f54f7ab6ea58f6b8fa16d0a728acda60337fe58b 100644
--- a/rattail/exceptions.py
+++ b/rattail/exceptions.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 This module contains all core Rattail exception classes.
 """
 
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
+from __future__ import unicode_literals, absolute_import
 
 
 class RattailError(Exception):
@@ -34,9 +34,6 @@ class RattailError(Exception):
     Base class for all Rattail exceptions.
     """
 
-    def __str__(self):
-        return unicode(self).encode('utf_8')
-
 
 class ConfigurationError(RattailError):
     """
@@ -118,9 +115,6 @@ class PathNotFound(FileOperationError):
     def __init__(self, original_error):
         self.original_error = original_error
 
-    def __str__(self):
-        return unicode(self).encode('utf_8')
-
     def __unicode__(self):
         return '{0}: {1}'.format(
             self.original_error.__class__.__name__,
@@ -138,8 +132,8 @@ class BatchTypeNotFound(BatchError):
     def __init__(self, name):
         self.name = name
 
-    def __str__(self):
-        return "Batch type not found: %s" % self.name
+    def __unicode__(self):
+        return "Batch type not found: {}".format(self.name)
 
     
 class BatchTypeNotSupported(BatchError):
@@ -152,8 +146,8 @@ class BatchTypeNotSupported(BatchError):
         self.executor = executor
         self.batch_type = batch_type
 
-    def __str__(self):
-        return "Batch type '%s' is not supported by executor: %s" % (
+    def __unicode__(self):
+        return "Batch type '{}' is not supported by executor: {}".format(
             self.batch_type, repr(self.executor))
 
 
@@ -162,8 +156,8 @@ class BatchExecutorNotFound(BatchError):
     def __init__(self, name):
         self.name = name
 
-    def __str__(self):
-        return "Batch executor not found: %s" % self.name
+    def __unicode__(self):
+        return "Batch executor not found: {}".format(self.name)
 
     
 class LabelPrintingError(Exception):
@@ -179,7 +173,7 @@ class PalmError(RattailError):
 
 class PalmClassicDatabaseTypelibNotFound(PalmError):
 
-    def __str__(self):
+    def __unicode__(self):
         return ("The Python module for the Palm Classic Database type library "
                 "could not be generated.  (Is the HotSync Manager software "
                 "installed?)")
@@ -187,18 +181,18 @@ class PalmClassicDatabaseTypelibNotFound(PalmError):
 
 class PalmConduitManagerNotFound(PalmError):
 
-    def __str__(self):
+    def __unicode__(self):
         return ("The Palm Desktop Conduit Manager could not be instantiated.  "
                 "(Is the HotSync Manager software installed?)")
 
 
 class PalmConduitAlreadyRegistered(PalmError):
 
-    def __str__(self):
+    def __unicode__(self):
         return "The Rattail Palm conduit is already registered."
 
 
 class PalmConduitNotRegistered(PalmError):
 
-    def __str__(self):
+    def __unicode__(self):
         return "The Rattail Palm conduit is not registered."
diff --git a/tests/test_commands.py b/tests/test_commands.py
index 73371a27eca81d35fc0e5893bf89c6c7a72c1a70..d1f363566a0fbb3a4fff6a4349bc4df48dd8b8bb 100644
--- a/tests/test_commands.py
+++ b/tests/test_commands.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
+from __future__ import unicode_literals, absolute_import
 
 import csv
 import datetime
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from sqlalchemy import func
 
 from . import DataTestCase
 from rattail import commands
+from rattail.commands.core import ArgumentParser, date_argument
 from rattail.db import Session
 from rattail.db import model
 from rattail.db.auth import authenticate_user
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ from rattail.db.auth import authenticate_user
 class TestArgumentParser(TestCase):
 
     def test_parse_args_preserves_extra_argv(self):
-        parser = commands.ArgumentParser()
+        parser = ArgumentParser()
         parser.add_argument('--some-optional-arg')
         parser.add_argument('some_required_arg')
         args = parser.parse_args([
@@ -39,11 +40,11 @@ class TestArgumentParser(TestCase):
 class TestDateArgument(TestCase):
 
     def test_valid_date_string_returns_date_object(self):
-        date = commands.date_argument('2014-01-01')
+        date = date_argument('2014-01-01')
         self.assertEqual(date, datetime.date(2014, 1, 1))
 
     def test_invalid_date_string_raises_error(self):
-        self.assertRaises(argparse.ArgumentTypeError, commands.date_argument, 'invalid-date')
+        self.assertRaises(argparse.ArgumentTypeError, date_argument, 'invalid-date')
 
 
 class TestCommand(TestCase):
@@ -184,7 +185,7 @@ class TestAddUser(DataTestCase):
 
     def test_no_user_created_if_password_prompt_is_canceled(self):
         self.assertEqual(self.session.query(model.User).count(), 0)
-        with patch('rattail.commands.getpass') as getpass:
+        with patch('rattail.commands.core.getpass') as getpass:
             getpass.side_effect = KeyboardInterrupt
             commands.main('adduser', '--no-init', '--stderr', self.stderr_path, 'fred')
         with open(self.stderr_path) as f:
@@ -193,7 +194,7 @@ class TestAddUser(DataTestCase):
 
     def test_normal_user_created_with_correct_password_but_no_admin_role(self):
         self.assertEqual(self.session.query(model.User).count(), 0)
-        with patch('rattail.commands.getpass') as getpass:
+        with patch('rattail.commands.core.getpass') as getpass:
             getpass.return_value = 'fredpass'
             commands.main('adduser', '--no-init', '--stdout', self.stdout_path, 'fred')
         with open(self.stdout_path) as f:
@@ -206,7 +207,7 @@ class TestAddUser(DataTestCase):
 
     def test_admin_user_created_with_administrator_role(self):
         self.assertEqual(self.session.query(model.User).count(), 0)
-        with patch('rattail.commands.getpass') as getpass:
+        with patch('rattail.commands.core.getpass') as getpass:
             getpass.return_value = 'fredpass'
             commands.main('adduser', '--no-init', '--stdout', self.stdout_path, 'fred', '--administrator')
         fred = self.session.query(model.User).one()