diff --git a/tests/test_location.py b/tests/test_location.py
index 50129a52..3a78468d 100644
--- a/tests/test_location.py
+++ b/tests/test_location.py
@@ -57,4 +57,4 @@ def test_location_class(
     )
 
     assert location_obj.country_code == country_code
-    assert not location_obj.serialize() == None
+    assert location_obj.serialize() is not None
diff --git a/tests/test_routes.py b/tests/test_routes.py
index 5143ca8a..63b39998 100644
--- a/tests/test_routes.py
+++ b/tests/test_routes.py
@@ -87,11 +87,11 @@ async def test_v1_all(self):
         assert return_data == json.loads(expected_json_output)
 
     async def test_v2_latest(self):
-        state = "latest"
-
         with mock.patch("app.services.location.jhu.datetime") as mock_datetime:
             mock_datetime.utcnow.return_value.isoformat.return_value = DATETIME_STRING
             mock_datetime.strptime.side_effect = mocked_strptime_isoformat
+            state = "latest"
+
             response = await self.asgi_client.get(f"/v2/{state}")
 
         return_data = response.json()