diff --git a/cassandra/cqlengine/connection.py b/cassandra/cqlengine/connection.py
index 9b11dc3a..cd015abe 100644
--- a/cassandra/cqlengine/connection.py
+++ b/cassandra/cqlengine/connection.py
@@ -43,9 +43,8 @@ udt_by_keyspace = defaultdict(dict)
 
 def format_log_context(msg, connection=None, keyspace=None):
     """Format log message to add keyspace and connection context"""
-    connection_info = connection
-    if not connection_info:
-        connection_info = 'DEFAULT_CONNECTION'
+    connection_info = connection or 'DEFAULT_CONNECTION'
+
     if keyspace:
         msg = '[Connection: {0}, Keyspace: {1}] {2}'.format(connection_info, keyspace, msg)
     else:
diff --git a/cassandra/cqlengine/management.py b/cassandra/cqlengine/management.py
index b5ca80d3..fe313214 100644
--- a/cassandra/cqlengine/management.py
+++ b/cassandra/cqlengine/management.py
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ def _sync_table(model, connection=None):
     raw_cf_name = model._raw_column_family_name()
 
     ks_name = model._get_keyspace()
-    connection = connection if connection else model._get_connection()
+    connection = connection or model._get_connection()
 
     cluster = get_cluster(connection)
 
@@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ def _drop_table(model, connection=None):
     if not _allow_schema_modification():
         return
 
-    connection = connection if connection else model._get_connection()
+    connection = connection or model._get_connection()
 
     # don't try to delete non existant tables
     meta = get_cluster(connection).metadata
diff --git a/cassandra/cqlengine/query.py b/cassandra/cqlengine/query.py
index f47b025f..cf682c7a 100644
--- a/cassandra/cqlengine/query.py
+++ b/cassandra/cqlengine/query.py
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ class AbstractQuerySet(object):
         if self._batch:
             return self._batch.add_query(statement)
         else:
-            connection = self._connection if self._connection else self.model._get_connection()
+            connection = self._connection or self.model._get_connection()
             result = _execute_statement(self.model, statement, self._consistency, self._timeout, connection=connection)
             if self._if_not_exists or self._if_exists or self._conditional:
                 check_applied(result)
@@ -1482,5 +1482,5 @@ def _execute_statement(model, statement, consistency_level, timeout, connection=
             parts = model._routing_key_from_values(key_values, conn.get_cluster(connection).protocol_version)
             s.routing_key = parts
             s.keyspace = model._get_keyspace()
-    connection = connection if connection else model._get_connection()
+    connection = connection or model._get_connection()
     return conn.execute(s, params, timeout=timeout, connection=connection)