diff --git a/gluon/contrib/pyrtf/Elements.py b/gluon/contrib/pyrtf/Elements.py
index c9262913..6e133271 100644
--- a/gluon/contrib/pyrtf/Elements.py
+++ b/gluon/contrib/pyrtf/Elements.py
@@ -722,7 +722,7 @@ def TEXT( *params, **kwargs ) :
         return Text( params[ 0 ], text_props )
 
     result = Inline( text_props )
-    apply( result.append, params )
+    result.append(*params)
     return result
 
 def B( *params ) :
@@ -732,7 +732,7 @@ def B( *params ) :
         return Text( params[ 0 ], text_props )
 
     result = Inline( text_props )
-    apply( result.append, params )
+    result.append(*params)
     return result
 
 def I( *params ) :
@@ -742,7 +742,7 @@ def I( *params ) :
         return Text( params[ 0 ], text_props )
 
     result = Inline( text_props )
-    apply( result.append, params )
+    result.append(*params)
     return result
 
 def U( *params ) :
@@ -752,6 +752,6 @@ def U( *params ) :
         return Text( params[ 0 ], text_props )
 
     result = Inline( text_props )
-    apply( result.append, params )
+    result.append(*params)
     return result
 
diff --git a/gluon/contrib/pyrtf/PropertySets.py b/gluon/contrib/pyrtf/PropertySets.py
index 380025f8..6ca4c9e9 100644
--- a/gluon/contrib/pyrtf/PropertySets.py
+++ b/gluon/contrib/pyrtf/PropertySets.py
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ class ParagraphPropertySet :
         self.SetSpaceAfter ( space_after  )
 
         self.Tabs = []
-        if tabs : apply( self.SetTabs, tabs )
+        if tabs : self.SetTabs(*tabs)
 
         self.SetFirstLineIndent( first_line_indent or None )
         self.SetLeftIndent     ( left_indent or None )
diff --git a/gluon/contrib/qdb.py b/gluon/contrib/qdb.py
index fe2b40d2..be949156 100644
--- a/gluon/contrib/qdb.py
+++ b/gluon/contrib/qdb.py
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ class Qdb(bdb.Bdb):
             except AttributeError:
                 pass
             if f:
-                argspec = apply(inspect.formatargspec, inspect.getargspec(f))
+                argspec = inspect.formatargspec(*inspect.getargspec(f))
             doc = ''
             if callable(obj):
                 try: