diff --git a/mcutils.py b/mcutils.py
index 8fdbcdf..432cd92 100644
--- a/mcutils.py
+++ b/mcutils.py
@@ -39,14 +39,14 @@ def colormap( list_of_colors ):
   return cmap
 
 def simpleaxis(ax=None):
-    is ax is None: ax = plt.gca()
+    if ax is None: ax = plt.gca()
     ax.spines['top'].set_visible(False)
     ax.spines['right'].set_visible(False)
     ax.get_xaxis().tick_bottom()
     ax.get_yaxis().tick_left()
 
 def noaxis(ax=None):
-    is ax is None: ax = plt.gca()
+    if ax is None: ax = plt.gca()
     ax.spines['top'].set_visible(False)
     ax.spines['right'].set_visible(False)
     ax.spines['left'].set_visible(False)