diff --git a/testsuite/python/bond_breakage.py b/testsuite/python/bond_breakage.py
index fc89d2c57e3..ba538cb81c9 100644
--- a/testsuite/python/bond_breakage.py
+++ b/testsuite/python/bond_breakage.py
@@ -64,8 +64,10 @@ def tearDown(self):
     def test_00_interface(self):
         self.assertEqual(len(self.system.bond_breakage), 0)
 
-        spec2 = BreakageSpec(breakage_length=1.2, action_type=1)
-        spec4 = BreakageSpec(breakage_length=0.2, action_type=2)
+        spec2 = BreakageSpec(
+            breakage_length=1.2,
+            action_type="revert_center_bond")
+        spec4 = BreakageSpec(breakage_length=0.2, action_type="revert_vs_bond")
         self.system.bond_breakage[2] = spec2
         self.system.bond_breakage[4] = spec4
         self.assertEqual(self.system.bond_breakage[2], spec2)
@@ -91,7 +93,7 @@ def test_ignore(self):
 
         # Particles closer than cutoff
         system.bond_breakage[self.h1._bond_id] = BreakageSpec(
-            breakage_length=2, action_type=1)
+            breakage_length=2, action_type="revert_center_bond")
 
         self.p1.bonds = ((self.h1, self.p2))
         system.integrator.run(1)
@@ -103,7 +105,7 @@ def test_ignore(self):
 
         # Different bond type
         system.bond_breakage[self.h1._bond_id] = BreakageSpec(
-            breakage_length=0.2, action_type=1)
+            breakage_length=0.2, action_type="revert_center_bond")
         self.p1.bonds = [(self.h2, self.p2)]
         self.p2.bonds = [(self.h2, self.p1)]
         system.integrator.run(1)
@@ -115,7 +117,7 @@ def test_delete_bond(self):
 
         # Particles closer than cutoff
         system.bond_breakage[self.h1._bond_id] = BreakageSpec(
-            breakage_length=0, action_type=1)
+            breakage_length=0, action_type="revert_center_bond")
 
         self.p1.bonds = [(self.h1, self.p2)]
         system.integrator.run(1)
@@ -130,7 +132,7 @@ def test_revert_bind_at_point_of_collision(self):
 
         # Particles closer than cutoff
         system.bond_breakage[self.h1._bond_id] = BreakageSpec(
-            breakage_length=0.5, action_type=2)
+            breakage_length=0.5, action_type="revert_vs_bond")
 
         self.p1.bonds = [(self.h2, self.p2)]
         self.p1v.bonds = [(self.h1, self.p2v)]
@@ -167,6 +169,17 @@ def setUpClass(cls):
         cls.system.time_step = 0.01
         cls.system.cell_system.skin = 0.4
 
+    def count_bonds(self, pairs):
+        bonds_count = 0
+        for pair in pairs:
+            for bond in self.system.part.by_id(pair[0]).bonds:
+                if bond[1] == pair[1]:
+                    bonds_count += 1
+            for bond in self.system.part.by_id(pair[1]).bonds:
+                if bond[1] == pair[0]:
+                    bonds_count += 1
+        return bonds_count
+
     def setUp(self):
 
         box_vol = self.system.box_l[0]**3.
@@ -213,7 +226,7 @@ def test_center_bonds(self):
 
         self.system.collision_detection.set_params(mode="off")
         self.system.bond_breakage[harm._bond_id] = BreakageSpec(
-            breakage_length=crit, action_type=1)
+            breakage_length=crit, action_type="revert_center_bond")
         self.system.integrator.run(1)
 
         bonds_dist = 0
@@ -225,17 +238,7 @@ def test_center_bonds(self):
             if dist <= crit:
                 bonds_dist += 1
 
-        bonds_count = 0
-        for pair in pairs:
-            num_bonds = len(self.system.part.by_id(pair[0]).bonds)
-            for i in range(num_bonds):
-                if self.system.part.by_id(pair[0]).bonds[i][1] == pair[1]:
-                    bonds_count += 1
-            num_bonds = len(self.system.part.by_id(pair[1]).bonds)
-            for i in range(num_bonds):
-                if self.system.part.by_id(pair[1]).bonds[i][1] == pair[0]:
-                    bonds_count += 1
-
+        bonds_count = self.count_bonds(pairs)
         np.testing.assert_equal(bonds_dist, bonds_count)
 
     @utx.skipIfMissingFeatures("VIRTUAL_SITES_RELATIVE")
@@ -256,7 +259,7 @@ def test_vs_bonds(self):
 
         self.system.collision_detection.set_params(mode="off")
         self.system.bond_breakage[harm._bond_id] = BreakageSpec(
-            breakage_length=crit_vs, action_type=2)
+            breakage_length=crit_vs, action_type="revert_vs_bond")
         self.system.integrator.run(1)
 
         bonds_dist = 0
@@ -277,16 +280,7 @@ def test_vs_bonds(self):
                     if dist > 0.0:
                         bonds_dist += 1
 
-        bonds_count = 0
-        for pair in pairs:
-            num_bonds = len(self.system.part.by_id(pair[0]).bonds)
-            for i in range(num_bonds):
-                if self.system.part.by_id(pair[0]).bonds[i][1] == pair[1]:
-                    bonds_count += 1
-            num_bonds = len(self.system.part.by_id(pair[1]).bonds)
-            for i in range(num_bonds):
-                if self.system.part.by_id(pair[1]).bonds[i][1] == pair[0]:
-                    bonds_count += 1
+        bonds_count = self.count_bonds(pairs)
 
         np.testing.assert_equal(bonds_dist, bonds_count)