diff --git a/tests/charmhelpers/contrib/amulet/utils.py b/tests/charmhelpers/contrib/amulet/utils.py
index c0e0a1f5..60d497c0 100644
--- a/tests/charmhelpers/contrib/amulet/utils.py
+++ b/tests/charmhelpers/contrib/amulet/utils.py
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ class AmuletUtils(object):
         # /!\ DEPRECATION WARNING (beisner):
         # New and existing tests should be rewritten to use
         # validate_services_by_name() as it is aware of init systems.
-        self.log.warn('/!\\ DEPRECATION WARNING:  use '
+        self.log.warn('DEPRECATION WARNING:  use '
                       'validate_services_by_name instead of validate_services '
                       'due to init system differences.')
 
@@ -272,12 +272,20 @@ class AmuletUtils(object):
     def _get_proc_start_time(self, sentry_unit, service, pgrep_full=None):
         """Get start time of a process based on the last modification time
            of the /proc/pid directory.
-           """
-        if pgrep_full is True or pgrep_full is False:
+
+        :sentry_unit:  The sentry unit to check for the service on
+        :service:  service name to look for in process table
+        :pgrep_full:  [Deprecated] Use full command line search mode with pgrep
+        :returns:  epoch time of service process start
+        :param commands:  list of bash commands
+        :param sentry_units:  list of sentry unit pointers
+        :returns:  None if successful; Failure message otherwise
+        """
+        if pgrep_full is not None:
             # /!\ DEPRECATION WARNING (beisner):
             # No longer implemented, as pidof is now used instead of pgrep.
             # https://bugs.launchpad.net/charm-helpers/+bug/1474030
-            self.log.warn('/!\\ DEPRECATION WARNING:  pgrep_full bool is no '
+            self.log.warn('DEPRECATION WARNING:  pgrep_full bool is no '
                           'longer implemented re: lp 1474030.')
 
         pid_list = self.get_process_id_list(sentry_unit, service)
@@ -297,14 +305,13 @@ class AmuletUtils(object):
            has been restarted.
            """
         # /!\ DEPRECATION WARNING (beisner):
-        # This is prone to races in that no before-time is known.
+        # This method is prone to races in that no before-time is known.
         # Use validate_service_config_changed instead.
 
         # NOTE(beisner) pgrep_full is no longer implemented, as pidof is now
         # used instead of pgrep.  pgrep_full is still passed through to ensure
         # deprecation WARNS.  lp1474030
-
-        self.log.warn('/!\\ DEPRECATION WARNING:  use '
+        self.log.warn('DEPRECATION WARNING:  use '
                       'validate_service_config_changed instead of '
                       'service_restarted due to known races.')
 
@@ -324,7 +331,7 @@ class AmuletUtils(object):
           sentry_unit (sentry): The sentry unit to check for the service on
           mtime (float): The epoch time to check against
           service (string): service name to look for in process table
-          pgrep_full: No longer implemented, passed for WARNs
+          pgrep_full: [Deprecated] Use full command line search mode with pgrep
           sleep_time (int): Seconds to sleep before looking for process
           retry_count (int): If service is not found, how many times to retry
 
@@ -413,7 +420,7 @@ class AmuletUtils(object):
           mtime (float): The epoch time to check against
           service (string): service name to look for in process table
           filename (string): The file to check mtime of
-          pgrep_full: No longer implemented, passed for WARNs
+          pgrep_full: [Deprecated] Use full command line search mode with pgrep
           sleep_time (int): Initial sleep in seconds to pass to test helpers
           retry_count (int): If service is not found, how many times to retry
           retry_sleep_time (int): Time in seconds to wait between retries