diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 95355c297..b669d51b1 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -135,9 +135,9 @@ check-flake8:
 
 check-black:
 	. $(VENV)/bin/activate; \
-	$(PYTHON) -m black --check --line-length $(MAX_LINE_LENGTH) --target-version py36 $(MRLN); \
-	$(PYTHON) -m black --check --line-length $(MAX_LINE_LENGTH) --target-version py36 $(TEST); \
-	$(PYTHON) -m black --check --line-length $(MAX_LINE_LENGTH) --target-version py36 *.py; \
+	$(PYTHON) -m black --check --line-length $(MAX_LINE_LENGTH) --target-version py38 $(MRLN); \
+	$(PYTHON) -m black --check --line-length $(MAX_LINE_LENGTH) --target-version py38 $(TEST); \
+	$(PYTHON) -m black --check --line-length $(MAX_LINE_LENGTH) --target-version py38 *.py; \
 
 
 check-isort:
@@ -179,9 +179,9 @@ fix-style:
 	$(PYTHON) -m isort -w $(MAX_LINE_LENGTH) $(MRLN); \
 	$(PYTHON) -m isort -w $(MAX_LINE_LENGTH) $(TEST); \
 	$(PYTHON) -m isort -w $(MAX_LINE_LENGTH) *.py; \
-	$(PYTHON) -m black --target-version py36 -l $(MAX_LINE_LENGTH) $(MRLN); \
-	$(PYTHON) -m black --target-version py36 -l $(MAX_LINE_LENGTH) $(TEST); \
-	$(PYTHON) -m black --target-version py36 -l $(MAX_LINE_LENGTH) *.py; \
+	$(PYTHON) -m black --target-version py38 -l $(MAX_LINE_LENGTH) $(MRLN); \
+	$(PYTHON) -m black --target-version py38 -l $(MAX_LINE_LENGTH) $(TEST); \
+	$(PYTHON) -m black --target-version py38 -l $(MAX_LINE_LENGTH) *.py; \
 
 
 # Increment the Merlin version. USE ONLY ON DEVELOP BEFORE MERGING TO MASTER.
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 398947bef..43cbc80bf 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -170,6 +170,7 @@ def sleep_sig(celery_app: Celery) -> Signature:  # pylint: disable=redefined-out
     :param celery_app: The celery app object we'll use for testing
     :returns: A celery signature for a task that will sleep for 3 seconds
     """
+
     # Create a celery task that sleeps for 3 sec
     @celery_app.task
     def sleep_task():