diff --git a/lib/dml/tests/dml_test.php b/lib/dml/tests/dml_test.php
index 39481ad67cd..f696104c9ad 100644
--- a/lib/dml/tests/dml_test.php
+++ b/lib/dml/tests/dml_test.php
@@ -1797,7 +1797,7 @@ class dml_testcase extends database_driver_testcase {
         $this->assertSame(false, $DB->get_field($tablename, 'course', array('course' => 11), IGNORE_MISSING));
         try {
             $DB->get_field($tablename, 'course', array('course' => 4), MUST_EXIST);
-            $this->assertFail('Exception expected due to missing record');
+            $this->fail('Exception expected due to missing record');
         } catch (dml_exception $ex) {
             $this->assertTrue(true);
         }
@@ -1952,7 +1952,7 @@ class dml_testcase extends database_driver_testcase {
         // custom sequence - missing id error
         try {
             $DB->insert_record_raw($tablename, array('course' => 3, 'onechar' => 'bb'), true, false, true);
-            $this->assertFail('Exception expected due to missing record');
+            $this->fail('Exception expected due to missing record');
         } catch (coding_exception $ex) {
             $this->assertTrue(true);
         }
@@ -1960,7 +1960,7 @@ class dml_testcase extends database_driver_testcase {
         // wrong column error
         try {
             $DB->insert_record_raw($tablename, array('xxxxx' => 3, 'onechar' => 'bb'));
-            $this->assertFail('Exception expected due to invalid column');
+            $this->fail('Exception expected due to invalid column');
         } catch (dml_exception $ex) {
             $this->assertTrue(true);
         }
diff --git a/lib/tests/moodlelib_test.php b/lib/tests/moodlelib_test.php
index f5045c3476f..fef75b5f895 100644
--- a/lib/tests/moodlelib_test.php
+++ b/lib/tests/moodlelib_test.php
@@ -1405,46 +1405,46 @@ class moodlelib_testcase extends advanced_testcase {
         $longvalue = str_repeat('a', 1334);
         try {
             set_user_preference('_test_long_user_preference', $longvalue);
-            $this->assertFail('Exception expected - longer than 1333 chars not allowed as preference value');
-        } catch (Exception $e) {
-            $this->assertTrue($e instanceof coding_exception);
+            $this->fail('Exception expected - longer than 1333 chars not allowed as preference value');
+        } catch (coding_exception $ex) {
+            $this->assertTrue(true);
         }
 
         //test invalid params
         try {
             set_user_preference('_test_user_preferences_pref', array());
-            $this->assertFail('Exception expected - array not valid preference value');
-        } catch (Exception $ex) {
+            $this->fail('Exception expected - array not valid preference value');
+        } catch (coding_exception $ex) {
             $this->assertTrue(true);
         }
         try {
             set_user_preference('_test_user_preferences_pref', new stdClass);
-            $this->assertFail('Exception expected - class not valid preference value');
-        } catch (Exception $ex) {
+            $this->fail('Exception expected - class not valid preference value');
+        } catch (coding_exception $ex) {
             $this->assertTrue(true);
         }
         try {
-            set_user_preference('_test_user_preferences_pref', 1, array('xx'=>1));
-            $this->assertFail('Exception expected - user instance expected');
-        } catch (Exception $ex) {
+            set_user_preference('_test_user_preferences_pref', 1, array('xx' => 1));
+            $this->fail('Exception expected - user instance expected');
+        } catch (coding_exception $ex) {
             $this->assertTrue(true);
         }
         try {
             set_user_preference('_test_user_preferences_pref', 1, 'abc');
-            $this->assertFail('Exception expected - user instance expected');
-        } catch (Exception $ex) {
+            $this->fail('Exception expected - user instance expected');
+        } catch (coding_exception $ex) {
             $this->assertTrue(true);
         }
         try {
             set_user_preference('', 1);
-            $this->assertFail('Exception expected - invalid name accepted');
-        } catch (Exception $ex) {
+            $this->fail('Exception expected - invalid name accepted');
+        } catch (coding_exception $ex) {
             $this->assertTrue(true);
         }
         try {
             set_user_preference('1', 1);
-            $this->assertFail('Exception expected - invalid name accepted');
-        } catch (Exception $ex) {
+            $this->fail('Exception expected - invalid name accepted');
+        } catch (coding_exception $ex) {
             $this->assertTrue(true);
         }