diff --git a/test/bin/run_conformance_tests b/test/bin/run_conformance_tests
index da84d8bd..c957e229 100755
--- a/test/bin/run_conformance_tests
+++ b/test/bin/run_conformance_tests
@@ -364,8 +364,8 @@ if [ "$enable_jasper_tests" -ne 0 ]; then
 		fi
 
 		if [ "$verbose" -ge 3 ]; then
-			python -c 'print("*" * 80)'
 			cat <<- EOF
+			$(repeat_string 80 '*')
 			test case ID: $testcase
 			encoded file: $enc_file
 			reference file: $orig_file
@@ -373,8 +373,8 @@ if [ "$enable_jasper_tests" -ne 0 ]; then
 			number of components: $num_comps
 			size: $width $height
 			precision: $prec
+			$(repeat_string 80 '*')
 			EOF
-			python -c 'print("*" * 80)'
 		fi
 
 		buffer=$("$imginfo" -q < "$enc_file" 2> /dev/null)
diff --git a/test/bin/utilities b/test/bin/utilities
index c14cd456..1bbbed06 100644
--- a/test/bin/utilities
+++ b/test/bin/utilities
@@ -5,18 +5,18 @@
 #
 ################################################################################
 
-function panic()
+panic()
 {
 	echo "ERROR: $@" 1>&2
 	exit 1
 }
 
-function eecho()
+eecho()
 {
 	echo "$@" 1>&2
 }
 
-function set_source_and_build_dirs()
+set_source_and_build_dirs()
 {
 	#eecho "JAS_ABS_TOP_BUILDDIR $JAS_ABS_TOP_BUILDDIR"
 	#eecho "JAS_TOP_BUILDDIR $JAS_TOP_BUILDDIR"
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ function set_source_and_build_dirs()
 	#eecho "top_srcdir=$top_srcdir"
 }
 
-function get_tmp_dir()
+get_tmp_dir()
 {
 	local package="jasper"
 	if [ $# -ne 1 ]; then
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ function get_tmp_dir()
 	echo "/tmp/$package-$USER@$HOSTNAME/$name-$$"
 }
 
-function make_tmp_dir()
+make_tmp_dir()
 {
 	local name
 	if [ $# -ge 1 ]; then
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ function make_tmp_dir()
 	echo "$tmp_dir"
 }
 
-function make_tmp_dir_2()
+make_tmp_dir_2()
 {
 	[ $# -eq 1 ] || return 1
 	local template="$1"
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ function make_tmp_dir_2()
 # Image characteristics.
 ################################################################################
 
-function image_which()
+image_which()
 {
 	if [ $# -ne 2 ]; then
 		return 2
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ function image_which()
 	echo "$file"
 }
 
-function image_info()
+image_info()
 {
 	#eecho "IMGINFO_COMMAND $IMGINFO_COMMAND"
 	if [ $# -ne 2 ]; then
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ tcf_gettestids()
 	eval declare -g -a "$name"=\("$buffer"\)
 }
 
-function evaluate_expression()
+evaluate_expression()
 {
 	[ $# -eq 1 ] || return 1
 	local expr="$1"
@@ -252,3 +252,15 @@ is_supported_format()
 	  grep -q '^'"$format"'$' && supported=1
 	echo "$supported"
 }
+
+repeat_string()
+{
+	[ $# -eq 2 ] || return 1
+	local n="$1"
+	local string="$2"
+	local buffer=
+	for((i = 0; i < $n; ++i)); do
+		buffer="$buffer$string"
+	done
+	echo "$buffer"
+}