diff --git a/tests/helpers.py b/tests/helpers.py
index 2532548cd..33509c06e 100644
--- a/tests/helpers.py
+++ b/tests/helpers.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 import boto
 from nose.plugins.skip import SkipTest
+import six
 
 
 def version_tuple(v):
@@ -23,3 +24,10 @@ class requires_boto_gte(object):
         if boto_version >= required:
             return test
         return skip_test
+
+
+class disable_on_py3(object):
+    def __call__(self, test):
+        if not six.PY3:
+            return test
+        return skip_test
diff --git a/tests/test_rds/test_rds.py b/tests/test_rds/test_rds.py
index 02c644103..80644ef3e 100644
--- a/tests/test_rds/test_rds.py
+++ b/tests/test_rds/test_rds.py
@@ -6,8 +6,10 @@ from boto.exception import BotoServerError
 import sure  # noqa
 
 from moto import mock_ec2, mock_rds
+from tests.helpers import disable_on_py3
 
 
+@disable_on_py3()
 @mock_rds
 def test_create_database():
     conn = boto.rds.connect_to_region("us-west-2")
@@ -24,6 +26,7 @@ def test_create_database():
     database.security_groups[0].name.should.equal('my_sg')
 
 
+@disable_on_py3()
 @mock_rds
 def test_get_databases():
     conn = boto.rds.connect_to_region("us-west-2")
@@ -47,6 +50,7 @@ def test_describe_non_existant_database():
     conn.get_all_dbinstances.when.called_with("not-a-db").should.throw(BotoServerError)
 
 
+@disable_on_py3()
 @mock_rds
 def test_delete_database():
     conn = boto.rds.connect_to_region("us-west-2")
@@ -115,6 +119,7 @@ def test_delete_non_existant_security_group():
     conn.delete_dbsecurity_group.when.called_with("not-a-db").should.throw(BotoServerError)
 
 
+@disable_on_py3()
 @mock_rds
 def test_security_group_authorize():
     conn = boto.rds.connect_to_region("us-west-2")
@@ -127,6 +132,7 @@ def test_security_group_authorize():
     security_group.ip_ranges[0].cidr_ip.should.equal('10.3.2.45/32')
 
 
+@disable_on_py3()
 @mock_rds
 def test_add_security_group_to_database():
     conn = boto.rds.connect_to_region("us-west-2")
@@ -191,6 +197,7 @@ def test_delete_database_subnet_group():
     conn.delete_db_subnet_group.when.called_with("db_subnet1").should.throw(BotoServerError)
 
 
+@disable_on_py3()
 @mock_ec2
 @mock_rds
 def test_create_database_in_subnet_group():
@@ -208,6 +215,7 @@ def test_create_database_in_subnet_group():
     database.subnet_group.name.should.equal("db_subnet1")
 
 
+@disable_on_py3()
 @mock_rds
 def test_create_database_replica():
     conn = boto.rds.connect_to_region("us-west-2")