diff --git a/src/testdir/test_backspace_opt.vim b/src/testdir/test_backspace_opt.vim
index 503643a..149d8a8 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_backspace_opt.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_backspace_opt.vim
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@
 
   set cpo-=<
   inoremap <c-u> <left><c-u>
-  exe "normal Avim3\{C-U}\<Esc>\<CR>"
+  exe "normal Avim3\<*C-U>\<Esc>\<CR>"
   iunmap <c-u>
   exe "normal Avim4\<C-U>\<C-U>\<Esc>\<CR>"
 
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@
   exe "normal A vim6\<Esc>Azwei\<C-G>u\<C-U>\<Esc>\<CR>"
 
   inoremap <c-u> <left><c-u>
-  exe "normal A vim7\{C-U}\{C-U}\<Esc>\<CR>"
+  exe "normal A vim7\<*C-U>\<*C-U>\<Esc>\<CR>"
 
   call assert_equal([
         \ "1 this shouldn't be deleted",
diff --git a/src/testdir/test_mapping.vim b/src/testdir/test_mapping.vim
index 7eb6e34..328e1ca 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_mapping.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_mapping.vim
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@
   inoremap <c-c> <ctrl-c>
   cnoremap <c-c> dummy
   cunmap <c-c>
-  call feedkeys("GoTEST2: CTRL-C |\{C-C}A|\<Esc>", "xt")
+  call feedkeys("GoTEST2: CTRL-C |\<*C-C>A|\<Esc>", "xt")
   call assert_equal('TEST2: CTRL-C |<ctrl-c>A|', getline('$'))
   unmap! <c-c>
   set nomodified
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@
 func Test_map_ctrl_c_visual()
   " mapping of ctrl-c in Visual mode
   vnoremap <c-c> :<C-u>$put ='vmap works'
-  call feedkeys("GV\{C-C}\<CR>", "xt")
+  call feedkeys("GV\<*C-C>\<CR>", "xt")
   call assert_equal('vmap works', getline('$'))
   vunmap <c-c>
   set nomodified
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@
 
 func Test_map_meta_quotes()
   imap <M-"> foo
-  call feedkeys("Go-\{M-\"}-\<Esc>", "xt")
+  call feedkeys("Go-\<*M-\">-\<Esc>", "xt")
   call assert_equal("-foo-", getline('$'))
   set nomodified
   iunmap <M-">
diff --git a/src/testdir/test_messages.vim b/src/testdir/test_messages.vim
index 5d6959b..f26b8c0 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_messages.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_messages.vim
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@
 func Test_mapping_at_hit_return_prompt()
   nnoremap <C-B> :echo "hit ctrl-b"<CR>
   call feedkeys(":ls\<CR>", "xt")
-  call feedkeys("\{C-B}", "xt")
+  call feedkeys("\<*C-B>", "xt")
   call assert_match('hit ctrl-b', Screenline(&lines - 1))
   nunmap <C-B>
 endfunc