diff --git a/neutron_lib/api/attributes.py b/neutron_lib/api/attributes.py
index 4eb30acc8..0fd9fdcde 100644
--- a/neutron_lib/api/attributes.py
+++ b/neutron_lib/api/attributes.py
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ class AttributeInfo(object):
                 res = validator(res_dict[attr],
                                 attr_vals['validate'][rule])
                 if res:
-                    msg_dict = dict(attr=attr, reason=res)
+                    msg_dict = {'attr': attr, 'reason': res}
                     msg = _("Invalid input for %(attr)s. "
                             "Reason: %(reason)s.") % msg_dict
                     raise exc_cls(msg)
diff --git a/neutron_lib/db/standard_attr.py b/neutron_lib/db/standard_attr.py
index 8ab5a8b9a..2a605a6e4 100644
--- a/neutron_lib/db/standard_attr.py
+++ b/neutron_lib/db/standard_attr.py
@@ -213,9 +213,9 @@ def _resource_model_map_helper(rs_map, resource, subclass):
         raise RuntimeError(_("Model %(sub)s tried to register for API "
                              "resource %(res)s which conflicts with model "
                              "%(other)s.") %
-                           dict(sub=subclass,
-                                other=rs_map[resource],
-                                res=resource))
+                           {'sub': subclass,
+                            'other': rs_map[resource],
+                            'res': resource})
     rs_map[resource] = subclass
 
 
@@ -241,8 +241,8 @@ def get_tag_resource_parent_map():
                 if collection in parent_map:
                     msg = (_("API parent %(collection)s/%(resource)s for "
                              "model %(subclass)s is already registered.") %
-                           dict(collection=collection, resource=resource,
-                                subclass=subclass))
+                           {'collection': collection, 'resource': resource,
+                            'subclass': subclass})
                     raise RuntimeError(msg)
                 parent_map[collection] = resource
     return parent_map