diff --git a/python/pyplugin_installer/installer_data.py b/python/pyplugin_installer/installer_data.py
index ee64a06c7f8..1036320146f 100644
--- a/python/pyplugin_installer/installer_data.py
+++ b/python/pyplugin_installer/installer_data.py
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ class Repositories(QObject):
     def urlParams(self):
         """ return GET parameters to be added to every request """
         # Strip down the point release segment from the version string
-        return "?qgis=%s" % re.sub('\.\d*$', '', pyQgisVersion())
+        return "?qgis={}".format(re.sub(r'\.\d*$', '', pyQgisVersion()))
 
     # ----------------------------------------- #
     def setRepositoryData(self, reposName, key, value):
diff --git a/python/pyplugin_installer/version_compare.py b/python/pyplugin_installer/version_compare.py
index 70c2045f7bc..e85fdc921b2 100644
--- a/python/pyplugin_installer/version_compare.py
+++ b/python/pyplugin_installer/version_compare.py
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ def pyQgisVersion():
         If Y = 99, bump up to (X+1.0.0), so e.g. 2.99 becomes 3.0.0
         This way QGIS X.99 is only compatible with plugins for the upcoming major release.
     """
-    x, y, z = re.findall('^(\d*).(\d*).(\d*)', Qgis.QGIS_VERSION)[0]
+    x, y, z = re.findall(r'^(\d*).(\d*).(\d*)', Qgis.QGIS_VERSION)[0]
     if y == '99':
         x = str(int(x) + 1)
         y = z = '0'