diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/agl.py b/Lib/fontTools/agl.py
index 4f7ff920c..cc286e42c 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/agl.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/agl.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ This is used by fontTools when it has to construct glyph names for a font which
 doesn't include any (e.g. format 3.0 post tables).
 """
 
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import tostr
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import tostr
 import re
 
 
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/cffLib/__init__.py b/Lib/fontTools/cffLib/__init__.py
index d4cd7a173..aef6dd205 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/cffLib/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/cffLib/__init__.py
@@ -11,11 +11,10 @@ the demands of variable fonts. This module parses both original CFF and CFF2.
 
 """
 
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytechr, byteord, bytesjoin, tobytes, tostr
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
 from fontTools.misc import psCharStrings
 from fontTools.misc.arrayTools import unionRect, intRect
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import safeEval
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytechr, byteord, bytesjoin, tobytes, tostr, safeEval
 from fontTools.ttLib import TTFont
 from fontTools.ttLib.tables.otBase import OTTableWriter
 from fontTools.ttLib.tables.otBase import OTTableReader
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/designspaceLib/__init__.py b/Lib/fontTools/designspaceLib/__init__.py
index 3bb2bbfc9..b447a1b77 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/designspaceLib/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/designspaceLib/__init__.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import tobytes, tostr
 from fontTools.misc.loggingTools import LogMixin
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import tobytes, tostr
 import collections
 from io import BytesIO, StringIO
 import os
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/feaLib/ast.py b/Lib/fontTools/feaLib/ast.py
index 5bf8b62c2..1ec8da0bd 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/feaLib/ast.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/feaLib/ast.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import byteord, tobytes
 from fontTools.feaLib.error import FeatureLibError
 from fontTools.feaLib.location import FeatureLibLocation
 from fontTools.misc.encodingTools import getEncoding
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import byteord, tobytes
 from collections import OrderedDict
 import itertools
 
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/feaLib/builder.py b/Lib/fontTools/feaLib/builder.py
index 989f05e20..d6f41014f 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/feaLib/builder.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/feaLib/builder.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import Tag, tostr
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import binary2num, safeEval
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import Tag, tostr, binary2num, safeEval
 from fontTools.feaLib.error import FeatureLibError
 from fontTools.feaLib.lookupDebugInfo import (
     LookupDebugInfo,
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/feaLib/parser.py b/Lib/fontTools/feaLib/parser.py
index 199d9b3bf..830a08577 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/feaLib/parser.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/feaLib/parser.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from fontTools.feaLib.error import FeatureLibError
 from fontTools.feaLib.lexer import Lexer, IncludingLexer, NonIncludingLexer
 from fontTools.misc.encodingTools import getEncoding
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytechr, tobytes, tostr
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytechr, tobytes, tostr
 import fontTools.feaLib.ast as ast
 import logging
 import os
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/misc/eexec.py b/Lib/fontTools/misc/eexec.py
index 71f733c1f..d1d4bb6a0 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/misc/eexec.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/misc/eexec.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ the new key at the end of the operation.
 
 """
 
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytechr, bytesjoin, byteord
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytechr, bytesjoin, byteord
 
 
 def _decryptChar(cipher, R):
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/misc/etree.py b/Lib/fontTools/misc/etree.py
index 6e943e4b5..cd4df3655 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/misc/etree.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/misc/etree.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ or subclasses built-in ElementTree classes to add features that are
 only availble in lxml, like OrderedDict for attributes, pretty_print and
 iterwalk.
 """
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import unicode, tostr
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import tostr
 
 
 XML_DECLARATION = """<?xml version='1.0' encoding='%s'?>"""
@@ -150,9 +150,7 @@ except ImportError:
                 )
                 return
 
-            if encoding is unicode or (
-                encoding is not None and encoding.lower() == "unicode"
-            ):
+            if encoding is not None and encoding.lower() == "unicode":
                 if xml_declaration:
                     raise ValueError(
                         "Serialisation to unicode must not request an XML declaration"
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/misc/macCreatorType.py b/Lib/fontTools/misc/macCreatorType.py
index fb237200b..6b191054b 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/misc/macCreatorType.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/misc/macCreatorType.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import Tag, bytesjoin, strjoin
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import Tag, bytesjoin, strjoin
 try:
 	import xattr
 except ImportError:
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ def getMacCreatorAndType(path):
 		path (str): A file path.
 
 	Returns:
-		A tuple of two :py:class:`fontTools.py23.Tag` objects, the first
+		A tuple of two :py:class:`fontTools.textTools.Tag` objects, the first
 		representing the file creator and the second representing the
 		file type.
 	"""
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/misc/macRes.py b/Lib/fontTools/misc/macRes.py
index 2c15b347c..895ca1b84 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/misc/macRes.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/misc/macRes.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytesjoin, tostr
 from io import BytesIO
 import struct
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytesjoin, tostr
 from collections import OrderedDict
 from collections.abc import MutableMapping
 
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/misc/plistlib/__init__.py b/Lib/fontTools/misc/plistlib/__init__.py
index 84dc41832..04ca5326b 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/misc/plistlib/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/misc/plistlib/__init__.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from functools import singledispatch
 
 from fontTools.misc import etree
 
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import tostr
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import tostr
 
 
 # By default, we
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/misc/psCharStrings.py b/Lib/fontTools/misc/psCharStrings.py
index cb6750504..29c2d3658 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/misc/psCharStrings.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/misc/psCharStrings.py
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@
 CFF dictionary data and Type1/Type2 CharStrings.
 """
 
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytechr, byteord, bytesjoin, strjoin
 from fontTools.misc.fixedTools import (
 	fixedToFloat, floatToFixed, floatToFixedToStr, strToFixedToFloat,
 )
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytechr, byteord, bytesjoin, strjoin
 from fontTools.pens.boundsPen import BoundsPen
 import struct
 import logging
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/misc/psLib.py b/Lib/fontTools/misc/psLib.py
index 916755ce3..c97c418a8 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/misc/psLib.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/misc/psLib.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytechr, byteord, bytesjoin, tobytes, tostr
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytechr, byteord, bytesjoin, tobytes, tostr
 from fontTools.misc import eexec
 from .psOperators import (
 	PSOperators,
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/misc/py23.py b/Lib/fontTools/misc/py23.py
index 25a4cdb6f..29f634d62 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/misc/py23.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/misc/py23.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ from io import BytesIO
 from io import StringIO as UnicodeIO
 from types import SimpleNamespace
 
+from .textTools import Tag, bytechr, byteord, bytesjoin, strjoin, tobytes, tostr
+
 warnings.warn(
     "The py23 module has been deprecated and will be removed in a future release. "
     "Please update your code.",
@@ -57,61 +59,7 @@ unichr = chr
 unicode = str
 zip = zip
 
-
-def bytechr(n):
-    return bytes([n])
-
-
-def byteord(c):
-    return c if isinstance(c, int) else ord(c)
-
-
-def strjoin(iterable, joiner=""):
-    return tostr(joiner).join(iterable)
-
-
-def tobytes(s, encoding="ascii", errors="strict"):
-    if isinstance(s, str):
-        return s.encode(encoding, errors)
-    else:
-        return bytes(s)
-
-
-def tounicode(s, encoding="ascii", errors="strict"):
-    if not isinstance(s, unicode):
-        return s.decode(encoding, errors)
-    else:
-        return s
-
-
-tostr = tounicode
-
-
-class Tag(str):
-    @staticmethod
-    def transcode(blob):
-        if isinstance(blob, bytes):
-            blob = blob.decode("latin-1")
-        return blob
-
-    def __new__(self, content):
-        return str.__new__(self, self.transcode(content))
-
-    def __ne__(self, other):
-        return not self.__eq__(other)
-
-    def __eq__(self, other):
-        return str.__eq__(self, self.transcode(other))
-
-    def __hash__(self):
-        return str.__hash__(self)
-
-    def tobytes(self):
-        return self.encode("latin-1")
-
-
-def bytesjoin(iterable, joiner=b""):
-    return tobytes(joiner).join(tobytes(item) for item in iterable)
+tounicode = tostr
 
 
 def xrange(*args, **kwargs):
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/misc/sstruct.py b/Lib/fontTools/misc/sstruct.py
index 9f1de8bcb..6db8b5153 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/misc/sstruct.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/misc/sstruct.py
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ calcsize(fmt)
 	it returns the size of the data in bytes.
 """
 
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import tobytes, tostr
 from fontTools.misc.fixedTools import fixedToFloat as fi2fl, floatToFixed as fl2fi
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import tobytes, tostr
 import struct
 import re
 
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/misc/testTools.py b/Lib/fontTools/misc/testTools.py
index 1b258e372..e13a3c4e6 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/misc/testTools.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/misc/testTools.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import shutil
 import sys
 import tempfile
 from unittest import TestCase as _TestCase
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import tobytes
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import tobytes
 from fontTools.misc.xmlWriter import XMLWriter
 
 
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/misc/textTools.py b/Lib/fontTools/misc/textTools.py
index 072976af8..bf75bcbd7 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/misc/textTools.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/misc/textTools.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 """fontTools.misc.textTools.py -- miscellaneous routines."""
 
 
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytechr, byteord, bytesjoin, strjoin, tobytes
 import ast
 import string
 
@@ -10,6 +9,29 @@ import string
 safeEval = ast.literal_eval
 
 
+class Tag(str):
+    @staticmethod
+    def transcode(blob):
+        if isinstance(blob, bytes):
+            blob = blob.decode("latin-1")
+        return blob
+
+    def __new__(self, content):
+        return str.__new__(self, self.transcode(content))
+
+    def __ne__(self, other):
+        return not self.__eq__(other)
+
+    def __eq__(self, other):
+        return str.__eq__(self, self.transcode(other))
+
+    def __hash__(self):
+        return str.__hash__(self)
+
+    def tobytes(self):
+        return self.encode("latin-1")
+
+
 def readHex(content):
 	"""Convert a list of hex strings to binary data."""
 	return deHexStr(strjoin(chunk for chunk in content if isinstance(chunk, str)))
@@ -97,6 +119,36 @@ def pad(data, size):
 	return data
 
 
+def tostr(s, encoding="ascii", errors="strict"):
+    if not isinstance(s, str):
+        return s.decode(encoding, errors)
+    else:
+        return s
+
+
+def tobytes(s, encoding="ascii", errors="strict"):
+    if isinstance(s, str):
+        return s.encode(encoding, errors)
+    else:
+        return bytes(s)
+
+
+def bytechr(n):
+    return bytes([n])
+
+
+def byteord(c):
+    return c if isinstance(c, int) else ord(c)
+
+
+def strjoin(iterable, joiner=""):
+    return tostr(joiner).join(iterable)
+
+
+def bytesjoin(iterable, joiner=b""):
+    return tobytes(joiner).join(tobytes(item) for item in iterable)
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
 	import doctest, sys
 	sys.exit(doctest.testmod().failed)
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/misc/xmlWriter.py b/Lib/fontTools/misc/xmlWriter.py
index ddc2fdb3e..9e30fa33d 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/misc/xmlWriter.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/misc/xmlWriter.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """xmlWriter.py -- Simple XML authoring class"""
 
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import byteord, strjoin, tobytes, tostr
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import byteord, strjoin, tobytes, tostr
 import sys
 import os
 import string
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/svgLib/path/__init__.py b/Lib/fontTools/svgLib/path/__init__.py
index 9440429bd..fbddeeabb 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/svgLib/path/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/svgLib/path/__init__.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import tostr
-
 from fontTools.pens.transformPen import TransformPen
 from fontTools.misc import etree
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import tostr
 from .parser import parse_path
 from .shapes import PathBuilder
 
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/t1Lib/__init__.py b/Lib/fontTools/t1Lib/__init__.py
index e1d94d35f..d07d78c05 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/t1Lib/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/t1Lib/__init__.py
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ write(path, data, kind='OTHER', dohex=False)
 	part should be written as hexadecimal or binary, but only if kind
 	is 'OTHER'.
 """
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytechr, byteord, bytesjoin
 from fontTools.misc import eexec
 from fontTools.misc.macCreatorType import getMacCreatorAndType
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytechr, byteord, bytesjoin
 import os
 import re
 
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/sfnt.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/sfnt.py
index d609dc518..b2a5bd4fc 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/sfnt.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/sfnt.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ a table's length chages you need to rewrite the whole file anyway.
 
 from io import BytesIO
 from types import SimpleNamespace
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import Tag
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import Tag
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
 from fontTools.ttLib import TTLibError
 import struct
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/C_B_D_T_.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/C_B_D_T_.py
index 11bb60b8b..adf5447f1 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/C_B_D_T_.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/C_B_D_T_.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 # Google Author(s): Matt Fontaine
 
 
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytesjoin
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytesjoin
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
 from . import E_B_D_T_
 from .BitmapGlyphMetrics import BigGlyphMetrics, bigGlyphMetricsFormat, SmallGlyphMetrics, smallGlyphMetricsFormat
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/C_P_A_L_.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/C_P_A_L_.py
index c095095e6..1ad342f12 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/C_P_A_L_.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/C_P_A_L_.py
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@
 #
 # Google Author(s): Behdad Esfahbod
 
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytesjoin
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import safeEval
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytesjoin, safeEval
 from . import DefaultTable
 import array
 from collections import namedtuple
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/D_S_I_G_.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/D_S_I_G_.py
index 1a520cab6..02fddee6a 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/D_S_I_G_.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/D_S_I_G_.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytesjoin, strjoin, tobytes, tostr
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import safeEval
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytesjoin, strjoin, tobytes, tostr, safeEval
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
 from . import DefaultTable
 import base64
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/DefaultTable.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/DefaultTable.py
index c70480a33..dae83183d 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/DefaultTable.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/DefaultTable.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import Tag
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import Tag
 from fontTools.ttLib import getClassTag
 
 class DefaultTable(object):
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/E_B_D_T_.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/E_B_D_T_.py
index 5d9e7244a..0bd2ab99a 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/E_B_D_T_.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/E_B_D_T_.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytechr, byteord, bytesjoin, strjoin
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import safeEval, readHex, hexStr, deHexStr
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytechr, byteord, bytesjoin, strjoin, safeEval, readHex, hexStr, deHexStr
 from .BitmapGlyphMetrics import BigGlyphMetrics, bigGlyphMetricsFormat, SmallGlyphMetrics, smallGlyphMetricsFormat
 from . import DefaultTable
 import itertools
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/E_B_L_C_.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/E_B_L_C_.py
index 94d40d966..cfdbca7b3 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/E_B_L_C_.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/E_B_L_C_.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytesjoin
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
 from . import DefaultTable
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import safeEval
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytesjoin, safeEval
 from .BitmapGlyphMetrics import BigGlyphMetrics, bigGlyphMetricsFormat, SmallGlyphMetrics, smallGlyphMetricsFormat
 import struct
 import itertools
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/G_M_A_P_.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/G_M_A_P_.py
index 5b30dcfe4..833890da2 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/G_M_A_P_.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/G_M_A_P_.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import tobytes, tostr
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import safeEval
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import tobytes, tostr, safeEval
 from . import DefaultTable
 
 GMAPFormat = """
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/G_P_K_G_.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/G_P_K_G_.py
index 7598a62aa..4f469c022 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/G_P_K_G_.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/G_P_K_G_.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytesjoin
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import safeEval, readHex
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytesjoin, safeEval, readHex
 from . import DefaultTable
 import sys
 import array
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/M_E_T_A_.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/M_E_T_A_.py
index d4f6bc8cf..990bfd2d9 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/M_E_T_A_.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/M_E_T_A_.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import byteord
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import safeEval
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import byteord, safeEval
 from . import DefaultTable
 import pdb
 import struct
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/S_I_N_G_.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/S_I_N_G_.py
index dd9b63c48..73246df4d 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/S_I_N_G_.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/S_I_N_G_.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytechr, byteord, tobytes, tostr
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import safeEval
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytechr, byteord, tobytes, tostr, safeEval
 from . import DefaultTable
 
 SINGFormat = """
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/S_V_G_.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/S_V_G_.py
index 135f2718f..a59cc8659 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/S_V_G_.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/S_V_G_.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytesjoin, strjoin, tobytes, tostr
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytesjoin, strjoin, tobytes, tostr
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
 from . import DefaultTable
 try:
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/S__i_l_f.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/S__i_l_f.py
index 95880b07b..f326c3860 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/S__i_l_f.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/S__i_l_f.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import byteord
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
 from fontTools.misc.fixedTools import floatToFixedToStr
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import safeEval
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import byteord, safeEval
 # from itertools import *
 from . import DefaultTable
 from . import grUtils
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/T_S_I_V_.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/T_S_I_V_.py
index 802144528..c1e244c64 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/T_S_I_V_.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/T_S_I_V_.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import strjoin, tobytes, tostr
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import strjoin, tobytes, tostr
 from . import asciiTable
 
 class table_T_S_I_V_(asciiTable.asciiTable):
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/T_S_I__1.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/T_S_I__1.py
index 9ae7acd6c..7f7608b2d 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/T_S_I__1.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/T_S_I__1.py
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ tool to store its hinting source data.
 TSI1 contains the text of the glyph programs in the form of low-level assembly
 code, as well as the 'extra' programs 'fpgm', 'ppgm' (i.e. 'prep'), and 'cvt'.
 """
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import strjoin, tobytes, tostr
 from . import DefaultTable
 from fontTools.misc.loggingTools import LogMixin
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import strjoin, tobytes, tostr
 
 
 class table_T_S_I__1(LogMixin, DefaultTable.DefaultTable):
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/V_O_R_G_.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/V_O_R_G_.py
index 0b7fe959c..8acf14b4c 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/V_O_R_G_.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/V_O_R_G_.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytesjoin
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import safeEval
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytesjoin, safeEval
 from . import DefaultTable
 import struct
 
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_a_v_a_r.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_a_v_a_r.py
index 2b6a40ed8..5a02493c0 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_a_v_a_r.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_a_v_a_r.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytesjoin
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
 from fontTools.misc.fixedTools import (
     fixedToFloat as fi2fl,
@@ -6,6 +5,7 @@ from fontTools.misc.fixedTools import (
     floatToFixedToStr as fl2str,
     strToFixedToFloat as str2fl,
 )
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytesjoin
 from fontTools.ttLib import TTLibError
 from . import DefaultTable
 import struct
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_c_m_a_p.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_c_m_a_p.py
index a65a0c25c..19b5998d6 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_c_m_a_p.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_c_m_a_p.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytesjoin
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import safeEval, readHex
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytesjoin, safeEval, readHex
 from fontTools.misc.encodingTools import getEncoding
 from fontTools.ttLib import getSearchRange
 from fontTools.unicode import Unicode
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_c_v_a_r.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_c_v_a_r.py
index a5f1acf7d..a67efe02f 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_c_v_a_r.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_c_v_a_r.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytesjoin
 from . import DefaultTable
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytesjoin
 from fontTools.ttLib.tables.TupleVariation import \
     compileTupleVariationStore, decompileTupleVariationStore, TupleVariation
 
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_f_v_a_r.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_f_v_a_r.py
index 7487da623..d74091956 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_f_v_a_r.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_f_v_a_r.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import Tag, bytesjoin
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
 from fontTools.misc.fixedTools import (
     fixedToFloat as fi2fl,
@@ -6,7 +5,7 @@ from fontTools.misc.fixedTools import (
     floatToFixedToStr as fl2str,
     strToFixedToFloat as str2fl,
 )
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import safeEval
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import Tag, bytesjoin, safeEval
 from fontTools.ttLib import TTLibError
 from . import DefaultTable
 import struct
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_g_l_y_f.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_g_l_y_f.py
index e3bbddb9c..f9c682bb5 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_g_l_y_f.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_g_l_y_f.py
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 """_g_l_y_f.py -- Converter classes for the 'glyf' table."""
 
 from collections import namedtuple
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import tostr
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
 from fontTools import ttLib
 from fontTools import version
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import safeEval, pad
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import tostr, safeEval, pad
 from fontTools.misc.arrayTools import calcIntBounds, pointInRect
 from fontTools.misc.bezierTools import calcQuadraticBounds
 from fontTools.misc.fixedTools import (
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_h_d_m_x.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_h_d_m_x.py
index 954d1bc18..9f860d2a5 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_h_d_m_x.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_h_d_m_x.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytechr, byteord, strjoin
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytechr, byteord, strjoin
 from . import DefaultTable
 import array
 from collections.abc import Mapping
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_l_t_a_g.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_l_t_a_g.py
index caec72a37..ce3c6b977 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_l_t_a_g.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_l_t_a_g.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytesjoin, tobytes
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import safeEval
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytesjoin, tobytes, safeEval
 from . import DefaultTable
 import struct
 
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_m_e_t_a.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_m_e_t_a.py
index 1a125f824..3faf0a56d 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_m_e_t_a.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_m_e_t_a.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytesjoin, strjoin
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import readHex
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytesjoin, strjoin, readHex
 from fontTools.ttLib import TTLibError
 from . import DefaultTable
 
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_n_a_m_e.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_n_a_m_e.py
index 206469def..b51e1b725 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_n_a_m_e.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_n_a_m_e.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytechr, byteord, bytesjoin, strjoin, tobytes, tostr
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import safeEval
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytechr, byteord, bytesjoin, strjoin, tobytes, tostr, safeEval
 from fontTools.misc.encodingTools import getEncoding
 from fontTools.ttLib import newTable
 from . import DefaultTable
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_p_o_s_t.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_p_o_s_t.py
index 9bd49444e..c54b87f03 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_p_o_s_t.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_p_o_s_t.py
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytechr, byteord, tobytes, tostr
 from fontTools import ttLib
 from fontTools.ttLib.standardGlyphOrder import standardGlyphOrder
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import safeEval, readHex
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytechr, byteord, tobytes, tostr, safeEval, readHex
 from . import DefaultTable
 import sys
 import struct
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_t_r_a_k.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_t_r_a_k.py
index 7f3227dc5..3052496f5 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_t_r_a_k.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_t_r_a_k.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytesjoin
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
 from fontTools.misc.fixedTools import (
 	fixedToFloat as fi2fl,
@@ -6,7 +5,7 @@ from fontTools.misc.fixedTools import (
 	floatToFixedToStr as fl2str,
 	strToFixedToFloat as str2fl,
 )
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import safeEval
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytesjoin, safeEval
 from fontTools.ttLib import TTLibError
 from . import DefaultTable
 import struct
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/asciiTable.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/asciiTable.py
index 7b036c8e1..a97d92dfe 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/asciiTable.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/asciiTable.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import strjoin, tobytes, tostr
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import strjoin, tobytes, tostr
 from . import DefaultTable
 
 
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/otBase.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/otBase.py
index 0e748124a..917bc982e 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/otBase.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/otBase.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import Tag, bytesjoin
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import Tag, bytesjoin
 from .DefaultTable import DefaultTable
 import sys
 import array
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/otConverters.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/otConverters.py
index 058813a81..3733c079d 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/otConverters.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/otConverters.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytesjoin, tobytes, tostr
 from fontTools.misc.fixedTools import (
 	fixedToFloat as fi2fl,
 	floatToFixed as fl2fi,
@@ -8,7 +7,7 @@ from fontTools.misc.fixedTools import (
 	versionToFixed as ve2fi,
 )
 from fontTools.misc.roundTools import nearestMultipleShortestRepr, otRound
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import pad, safeEval
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytesjoin, tobytes, tostr, pad, safeEval
 from fontTools.ttLib import getSearchRange
 from .otBase import (CountReference, FormatSwitchingBaseTable,
                      OTTableReader, OTTableWriter, ValueRecordFactory)
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/otTables.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/otTables.py
index 679df751e..f7e854489 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/otTables.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/otTables.py
@@ -9,9 +9,8 @@ import copy
 from enum import IntEnum
 import itertools
 from collections import defaultdict, namedtuple
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytesjoin
 from fontTools.misc.roundTools import otRound
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import pad, safeEval
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytesjoin, pad, safeEval
 from .otBase import (
 	BaseTable, FormatSwitchingBaseTable, ValueRecord, CountReference,
 	getFormatSwitchingBaseTableClass,
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/ttProgram.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/ttProgram.py
index a1dfa3c52..723775837 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/ttProgram.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/ttProgram.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 """ttLib.tables.ttProgram.py -- Assembler/disassembler for TrueType bytecode programs."""
 
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import strjoin
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import num2binary, binary2num, readHex
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import num2binary, binary2num, readHex, strjoin
 import array
 from io import StringIO
 import re
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/ttFont.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/ttFont.py
index 5ccd182cd..fc0f97122 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/ttFont.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/ttFont.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from fontTools.misc import xmlWriter
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import Tag, byteord, tostr
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import Tag, byteord, tostr
 from fontTools.misc.loggingTools import deprecateArgument
 from fontTools.ttLib import TTLibError
 from fontTools.ttLib.sfnt import SFNTReader, SFNTWriter
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/woff2.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/woff2.py
index cc58afa5f..b66661ab9 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/woff2.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/woff2.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import Tag, bytechr, byteord, bytesjoin
 from io import BytesIO
 import sys
 import array
@@ -6,7 +5,7 @@ import struct
 from collections import OrderedDict
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
 from fontTools.misc.arrayTools import calcIntBounds
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import pad
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import Tag, bytechr, byteord, bytesjoin, pad
 from fontTools.ttLib import (TTFont, TTLibError, getTableModule, getTableClass,
 	getSearchRange)
 from fontTools.ttLib.sfnt import (SFNTReader, SFNTWriter, DirectoryEntry,
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttx.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttx.py
index 55b27513e..e3421d195 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttx.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttx.py
@@ -86,10 +86,10 @@ usage: ttx [options] inputfile1 [... inputfileN]
 """
 
 
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import Tag, tostr
 from fontTools.ttLib import TTFont, TTLibError
 from fontTools.misc.macCreatorType import getMacCreatorAndType
 from fontTools.unicode import setUnicodeData
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import Tag, tostr
 from fontTools.misc.timeTools import timestampSinceEpoch
 from fontTools.misc.loggingTools import Timer
 from fontTools.misc.cliTools import makeOutputFileName
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ufoLib/glifLib.py b/Lib/fontTools/ufoLib/glifLib.py
index 3003110e5..1437d8876 100755
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ufoLib/glifLib.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ufoLib/glifLib.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import fs.base
 import fs.errors
 import fs.osfs
 import fs.path
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import tobytes
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import tobytes
 from fontTools.misc import plistlib
 from fontTools.pens.pointPen import AbstractPointPen, PointToSegmentPen
 from fontTools.ufoLib.errors import GlifLibError
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ufoLib/plistlib.py b/Lib/fontTools/ufoLib/plistlib.py
index 763816873..1f52f20a2 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ufoLib/plistlib.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ufoLib/plistlib.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ for the old ufoLib.plistlib module, which was moved to fontTools.misc.plistlib.
 Please use the latter instead.
 """
 from fontTools.misc.plistlib import dump, dumps, load, loads
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import tobytes
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import tobytes
 
 # The following functions were part of the old py2-like ufoLib.plistlib API.
 # They are kept only for backward compatiblity.
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/unicodedata/__init__.py b/Lib/fontTools/unicodedata/__init__.py
index 8845b8295..1c1210f97 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/unicodedata/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/unicodedata/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import byteord, tostr
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import byteord, tostr
 
 import re
 from bisect import bisect_right
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/__init__.py b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/__init__.py
index 9d39747e1..db10a72f5 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/__init__.py
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ Then you can make a variable-font this way:
 
 API *will* change in near future.
 """
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import Tag, tostr
-from fontTools.misc.roundTools import noRound, otRound
 from fontTools.misc.vector import Vector
+from fontTools.misc.roundTools import noRound, otRound
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import Tag, tostr
 from fontTools.ttLib import TTFont, newTable
 from fontTools.ttLib.tables._f_v_a_r import Axis, NamedInstance
 from fontTools.ttLib.tables._g_l_y_f import GlyphCoordinates
diff --git a/Snippets/svg2glif.py b/Snippets/svg2glif.py
index 22fcc7d1f..b28cb25d1 100755
--- a/Snippets/svg2glif.py
+++ b/Snippets/svg2glif.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 __requires__ = ["fontTools"]
 
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import SimpleNamespace
+from types import SimpleNamespace
 from fontTools.svgLib import SVGPath
 
 from fontTools.pens.pointPen import SegmentToPointPen
diff --git a/Tests/feaLib/lexer_test.py b/Tests/feaLib/lexer_test.py
index 24dc5dbab..3df67f706 100644
--- a/Tests/feaLib/lexer_test.py
+++ b/Tests/feaLib/lexer_test.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import tobytes
 from fontTools.feaLib.error import FeatureLibError, IncludedFeaNotFound
 from fontTools.feaLib.lexer import IncludingLexer, Lexer
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import tobytes
 from io import StringIO
 import os
 import shutil
diff --git a/Tests/misc/plistlib_test.py b/Tests/misc/plistlib_test.py
index b2ce408d1..5659d6900 100644
--- a/Tests/misc/plistlib_test.py
+++ b/Tests/misc/plistlib_test.py
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@ import codecs
 import collections
 from io import BytesIO
 from numbers import Integral
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import tostr
 from fontTools.misc import etree
 from fontTools.misc import plistlib
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import tostr
 from fontTools.ufoLib.plistlib import (
     readPlist, readPlistFromString, writePlist, writePlistToString,
 )
diff --git a/Tests/misc/xmlReader_test.py b/Tests/misc/xmlReader_test.py
index f6775cbcd..ec4aff578 100644
--- a/Tests/misc/xmlReader_test.py
+++ b/Tests/misc/xmlReader_test.py
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import strjoin
 from io import BytesIO
 import os
 import unittest
 from fontTools.ttLib import TTFont
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import strjoin
 from fontTools.misc.xmlReader import XMLReader, ProgressPrinter, BUFSIZE
 import tempfile
 
diff --git a/Tests/misc/xmlWriter_test.py b/Tests/misc/xmlWriter_test.py
index 7b9894c66..694715431 100644
--- a/Tests/misc/xmlWriter_test.py
+++ b/Tests/misc/xmlWriter_test.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytesjoin, tobytes
 from io import BytesIO
 import os
 import unittest
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytesjoin, tobytes
 from fontTools.misc.xmlWriter import XMLWriter
 
 HEADER = b'<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>\n'
diff --git a/Tests/subset/subset_test.py b/Tests/subset/subset_test.py
index ea63db638..4b3d9a843 100644
--- a/Tests/subset/subset_test.py
+++ b/Tests/subset/subset_test.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import io
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import tobytes, tostr
 from fontTools.misc.testTools import getXML
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import tobytes, tostr
 from fontTools import subset
 from fontTools.fontBuilder import FontBuilder
 from fontTools.pens.ttGlyphPen import TTGlyphPen
diff --git a/Tests/svgLib/path/path_test.py b/Tests/svgLib/path/path_test.py
index 8ee334a07..caf351d40 100644
--- a/Tests/svgLib/path/path_test.py
+++ b/Tests/svgLib/path/path_test.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import tobytes
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import tobytes
 from fontTools.pens.recordingPen import RecordingPen
 from fontTools.svgLib import SVGPath
 
diff --git a/Tests/ttLib/tables/T_S_I__1_test.py b/Tests/ttLib/tables/T_S_I__1_test.py
index 3a565adc6..b792221e1 100644
--- a/Tests/ttLib/tables/T_S_I__1_test.py
+++ b/Tests/ttLib/tables/T_S_I__1_test.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import tobytes
 from fontTools.misc.loggingTools import CapturingLogHandler
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import tobytes
 from fontTools.ttLib import TTFont, TTLibError
 from fontTools.ttLib.tables.T_S_I__0 import table_T_S_I__0
 from fontTools.ttLib.tables.T_S_I__1 import table_T_S_I__1
diff --git a/Tests/ttLib/tables/_m_o_r_x_test.py b/Tests/ttLib/tables/_m_o_r_x_test.py
index 0b807f820..d65619ca6 100644
--- a/Tests/ttLib/tables/_m_o_r_x_test.py
+++ b/Tests/ttLib/tables/_m_o_r_x_test.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytechr, bytesjoin
 from fontTools.misc.testTools import FakeFont, getXML, parseXML
-from fontTools.misc.textTools import deHexStr, hexStr
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytechr, bytesjoin, deHexStr, hexStr
 from fontTools.ttLib import newTable
 import unittest
 
diff --git a/Tests/ttLib/tables/_n_a_m_e_test.py b/Tests/ttLib/tables/_n_a_m_e_test.py
index 8e8297049..38fbfef78 100644
--- a/Tests/ttLib/tables/_n_a_m_e_test.py
+++ b/Tests/ttLib/tables/_n_a_m_e_test.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import bytesjoin, tostr
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
 from fontTools.misc.loggingTools import CapturingLogHandler
 from fontTools.misc.testTools import FakeFont
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import bytesjoin, tostr
 from fontTools.misc.xmlWriter import XMLWriter
 from io import BytesIO
 import struct
diff --git a/Tests/ttLib/woff2_test.py b/Tests/ttLib/woff2_test.py
index c0d60ceed..7fe40dd10 100644
--- a/Tests/ttLib/woff2_test.py
+++ b/Tests/ttLib/woff2_test.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import Tag, bytechr, byteord
 from fontTools import ttLib
 from fontTools.ttLib import woff2
 from fontTools.ttLib.tables import _g_l_y_f
@@ -10,6 +9,7 @@ from fontTools.ttLib.woff2 import (
 	WOFF2HmtxTable, WOFF2Writer, unpackBase128, unpack255UShort, pack255UShort)
 import unittest
 from fontTools.misc import sstruct
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import Tag, bytechr, byteord
 from fontTools import fontBuilder
 from fontTools.pens.ttGlyphPen import TTGlyphPen
 from io import BytesIO
diff --git a/Tests/ufoLib/UFOZ_test.py b/Tests/ufoLib/UFOZ_test.py
index 51362106d..6ea39e9af 100644
--- a/Tests/ufoLib/UFOZ_test.py
+++ b/Tests/ufoLib/UFOZ_test.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import tostr
 from fontTools.ufoLib import UFOReader, UFOWriter, UFOFileStructure
 from fontTools.ufoLib.errors import UFOLibError, GlifLibError
 from fontTools.misc import plistlib
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import tostr
 import sys
 import os
 import fs.osfs
diff --git a/Tests/varLib/instancer/instancer_test.py b/Tests/varLib/instancer/instancer_test.py
index cbc313dc9..37d3da48a 100644
--- a/Tests/varLib/instancer/instancer_test.py
+++ b/Tests/varLib/instancer/instancer_test.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-from fontTools.misc.py23 import Tag
 from fontTools.misc.fixedTools import floatToFixedToFloat
+from fontTools.misc.textTools import Tag
 from fontTools import ttLib
 from fontTools import designspaceLib
 from fontTools.feaLib.builder import addOpenTypeFeaturesFromString