diff --git a/buildtools/config.py b/buildtools/config.py
index 726e0239..673013da 100644
--- a/buildtools/config.py
+++ b/buildtools/config.py
@@ -771,9 +771,11 @@ def myExecfile(filename, ns):
     if sys.version_info < (3,):
         execfile(filename, ns)
     else:
-        source = open(filename, 'r').read()
+        f = open(filename, 'r')
+        source = f.read()
+        f.close()
         exec(source, ns)
-    
+
     
 def textfile_open(filename, mode='rt'):
     """
diff --git a/etgtools/sip_generator.py b/etgtools/sip_generator.py
index a1257f25..44875e27 100644
--- a/etgtools/sip_generator.py
+++ b/etgtools/sip_generator.py
@@ -649,6 +649,9 @@ from .%s import *
         for idx, pn in enumerate(pnames):
             # take only the part before the =, if there is one
             name = pn.split('=')[0].strip()   
+            # remove annotations
+            name = re.sub('/[A-Za-z]*/', '', name) 
+            name = name.strip()
             # now get just the part after any space, * or &, which should be
             # the parameter name
             name = re.split(r'[ \*\&]+', name)[-1] 
@@ -690,6 +693,7 @@ from .%s import *
             # take only the part before the =, if there is one
             arg = arg.split('=')[0].strip()   
             arg = arg.replace('&', '*')  # SIP will always want to use pointers for parameters
+            arg = re.sub('/[A-Za-z]*/', '', arg)  # remove annotations
             fargs[idx] = arg
         fargs = ', '.join(fargs)
         if method.isCtor:
diff --git a/unittests/runtests.py b/unittests/runtests.py
index b10a9b19..0151ec19 100755
--- a/unittests/runtests.py
+++ b/unittests/runtests.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ else:  # run as main?
     if not d: d = '.'
     phoenixDir = os.path.abspath(d+'/..')
 
-#if phoenixDir not in sys.path:
+# in case phoenixDir not in sys.path:
 sys.path.insert(0, phoenixDir)
 
 # stuff for debugging
diff --git a/unittests/test_animate.py b/unittests/test_animate.py
index be57da34..47892066 100644
--- a/unittests/test_animate.py
+++ b/unittests/test_animate.py
@@ -17,13 +17,14 @@ class animate_Tests(wtc.WidgetTestCase):
         self.assertTrue(ani.IsOk())
         anictrl = wx.adv.AnimationCtrl(self.frame, anim=ani)
         anictrl.Play()
-
+        self.waitFor(500)
 
     def test_animate2(self):
         ani = wx.adv.Animation(gifFile)
         self.assertTrue(ani.IsOk())
         anictrl = wx.adv.AnimationCtrl(self.frame, anim=ani)
         anictrl.Play()
+        self.waitFor(500)
         
 #---------------------------------------------------------------------------