diff --git a/tests/test_decks.py b/tests/test_decks.py
index 835bedc..f71601d 100755
--- a/tests/test_decks.py
+++ b/tests/test_decks.py
@@ -19,21 +19,21 @@ class TestDeckNamesAndIds(unittest.TestCase):
 
 class TestCreateDeck(unittest.TestCase):
     def tearDown(self):
-        util.invoke('deleteDecks', {'decks': ['test']})
+        util.invoke('deleteDecks', decks=['test'])
 
 
     def runTest(self):
-        util.invoke('createDeck', {'deck': 'test'})
+        util.invoke('createDeck', deck='test')
         self.assertIn('test', util.invoke('deckNames'))
 
 
 class TestDeleteDecks(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
-        util.invoke('createDeck', {'deck': 'test'})
+        util.invoke('createDeck', deck='test')
 
 
     def runTest(self):
-        util.invoke('deleteDecks', {'decks': ['test']})
+        util.invoke('deleteDecks', decks=['test'])
         self.assertNotIn('test', util.invoke('deckNames'))
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_misc.py b/tests/test_misc.py
index 9de5d9e..ad1ea9e 100755
--- a/tests/test_misc.py
+++ b/tests/test_misc.py
@@ -6,8 +6,7 @@ import util
 
 class TestVersion(unittest.TestCase):
     def runTest(self):
-        result = util.invoke('version')
-        self.assertEqual(result, 5)
+        self.assertEqual(util.invoke('version'), 5)
 
 
 class TestUpgrade(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -23,13 +22,12 @@ class TestSync(unittest.TestCase):
 class TestMulti(unittest.TestCase):
     def runTest(self):
         result = util.invoke(
-            'multi', {
-                'actions': [
-                    util.request('version'),
-                    util.request('version'),
-                    util.request('version')
-                ]
-            }
+            'multi',
+            actions=[
+                util.request('version'),
+                util.request('version'),
+                util.request('version')
+            ]
         )
 
         self.assertEqual(len(result), 3)
diff --git a/tests/util.py b/tests/util.py
index 2657867..3435b97 100644
--- a/tests/util.py
+++ b/tests/util.py
@@ -1,14 +1,17 @@
 import json
 import urllib2
 
-
-def request(action, params={}, version=5):
-    return {'action': action, 'params': params, 'version': version}
+API_VERSION = 5
+API_URL     = 'http://localhost:8765'
 
 
-def invoke(action, params={}, version=5, url='http://localhost:8765'):
-    requestJson = json.dumps(request(action, params, version))
-    response = json.load(urllib2.urlopen(urllib2.Request(url, requestJson)))
+def request(action, **params):
+    return {'action': action, 'params': params, 'version': API_VERSION}
+
+
+def invoke(action, **params):
+    requestJson = json.dumps(request(action, **params))
+    response = json.load(urllib2.urlopen(urllib2.Request(API_URL, requestJson)))
     if len(response) != 2:
         raise Exception('response has an unexpected number of fields')
     if 'error' not in response: