diff --git a/Lib/test/test_support.py b/Lib/test/test_support.py
index 145c154e416..1aa21d3cce0 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_support.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_support.py
@@ -224,21 +224,20 @@ def bind_port(sock, host=HOST):
 FUZZ = 1e-6
 
 def fcmp(x, y): # fuzzy comparison function
-    if type(x) == type(0.0) or type(y) == type(0.0):
+    if isinstance(x, float) or isinstance(y, float):
         try:
-            x, y = coerce(x, y)
             fuzz = (abs(x) + abs(y)) * FUZZ
             if abs(x-y) <= fuzz:
                 return 0
         except:
             pass
-    elif type(x) == type(y) and type(x) in (type(()), type([])):
+    elif type(x) == type(y) and isinstance(x, (tuple, list)):
         for i in range(min(len(x), len(y))):
             outcome = fcmp(x[i], y[i])
             if outcome != 0:
                 return outcome
-        return cmp(len(x), len(y))
-    return cmp(x, y)
+        return (len(x) > len(y)) - (len(x) < len(y))
+    return (x > y) - (x < y)
 
 try:
     unicode