diff --git a/testsuite/pytests/sli2py_regressions/test_ticket_800.py b/testsuite/pytests/sli2py_regressions/test_ticket_800.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6e0077c44e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testsuite/pytests/sli2py_regressions/test_ticket_800.py
@@ -0,0 +1,181 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+#
+# test_ticket_800.py
+#
+# This file is part of NEST.
+#
+# Copyright (C) 2004 The NEST Initiative
+#
+# NEST is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 2 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# NEST is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with NEST.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+import nest
+import pytest
+
+# --- Good and bad parameter sets ---
+good_random_parameters = [
+    ("uniform", {"min": 0.0, "max": 1.0}),
+    ("normal", {"mean": 0.0, "std": 1.0}),
+    ("lognormal", {"mean": 0.0, "std": 1.0}),
+    ("exponential", {"beta": 1.0}),
+]
+good_distance_parameters = [
+    ("distance", {}),
+    ("distance", {"dimension": 1}),
+    ("distance", {"dimension": 2}),
+]
+good_parameters = good_random_parameters + good_distance_parameters
+
+bad_random_parameters = [
+    ("uniform", {"min": 0.0, "max": 0.0}),
+    ("normal", {"mean": 0.0, "sigma": 1.0}),  # bad param name
+    ("normal", {"mean": 0.0, "std": 0.0}),
+    ("normal", {"mean": 0.0, "std": -1.0}),
+    ("lognormal", {"mu": 0.0, "std": 0.0}),
+    ("lognormal", {"mu": 0.0, "std": -1.0}),
+    ("lognormal", {"mu": 0.0, "std": 1.0}),
+]
+bad_distance_parameters = [
+    ("distance", {"dim": 1}),
+    ("distance", {"dimension": 1, "min": 0.0}),
+]
+bad_parameters = bad_random_parameters + bad_distance_parameters
+
+# --- Good and bad masks ---
+good_masks_2d = [
+    ("circular", {"radius": 1.0}),
+    ("circular", {"radius": 1.0, "anchor": [0.5, 0.5]}),
+    ("rectangular", {"lower_left": [-0.1, -0.1], "upper_right": [0.1, 0.1]}),
+    ("doughnut", {"inner_radius": 0.1, "outer_radius": 0.2}),
+]
+good_masks_3d = [
+    ("spherical", {"radius": 1.0}),
+    ("box", {"lower_left": [-0.1, -0.1, -0.1], "upper_right": [0.1, 0.1, 0.1]}),
+]
+good_masks = good_masks_2d + good_masks_3d
+
+bad_masks_2d = [
+    ("circular", {"r": 0.0}),
+    ("circular", {"radius": 1.0, "foo": 1}),
+    ("circular", {"radius": 0.0}),
+    ("circular", {"radius": -1.0}),
+    ("rectangular", {"lower_left": [-0.1, -0.1], "upper_right": [-0.1, 0.1]}),
+    ("rectangular", {"lower_left": [-0.1, -0.1], "upper_right": [0.1, -0.1]}),
+    ("doughnut", {"inner_radius": 0.1, "outer_radius": 0.1}),
+]
+bad_masks_3d = [
+    ("spherical", {"radius": 0.0}),
+    ("spherical", {"radius": -1.0}),
+    ("box", {"lower_left": [-0.1, -0.1, -0.1], "upper_right": [-0.1, 0.1, 0.1]}),
+    ("box", {"lower_left": [-0.1, -0.1, -0.1], "upper_right": [0.1, -0.1, 0.1]}),
+    ("box", {"lower_left": [-0.1, -0.1, -0.1], "upper_right": [0.1, 0.1, -0.1]}),
+]
+bad_masks = bad_masks_2d + bad_masks_3d
+
+# --- Good and bad layer specs ---
+good_layers = [
+    {"shape": [2, 2], "elements": "iaf_psc_alpha"},
+    {"shape": [2, 2], "elements": "iaf_psc_alpha", "extent": [2.0, 0.5], "center": [0.2, 0.3], "edge_wrap": True},
+    {"shape": [2, 2], "elements": "iaf_psc_alpha", "extent": [2.0, 0.5], "center": [0.2, 0.3], "edge_wrap": False},
+    {"positions": [[0.1, 0.1], [0.2, 0.2]], "elements": "iaf_psc_alpha", "extent": [2.0, 0.5], "edge_wrap": True},
+    {
+        "positions": [[0.1, 0.1, 0.1], [0.2, 0.2, 0.2]],
+        "elements": "iaf_psc_alpha",
+        "extent": [2.0, 0.5, 3.0],
+        "edge_wrap": True,
+    },
+]
+bad_layers = [
+    {"shape": [1], "elements": "iaf_psc_alpha"},
+    {"shape": [2, 2], "elementsss": "iaf_psc_alpha"},
+    {"shape": [2, 2], "elements": "iaf_psc_alpha", "extent": [2.0, 0.5], "center": [0.2, 0.3], "edge_wrap": 3},
+    {"positions": [[0.1, 0.1], [0.2, 0.2, 0.2]], "elements": "iaf_psc_alpha", "extent": [2.0, 0.5], "edge_wrap": True},
+    {
+        "positions": [[0.1, 0.1, 0.1], [0.2, 0.2, 0.2]],
+        "elements": "iaf_psc_alpha",
+        "extent": [2.0, 0.5],
+        "edge_wrap": True,
+    },
+]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("kind, params", good_parameters)
+def test_good_parameters(kind, params):
+    nest.CreateParameter(kind, params)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("kind, params", bad_parameters)
+def test_bad_parameters(kind, params):
+    with pytest.raises(Exception):
+        nest.CreateParameter(kind, params)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("mask_type, maskdict", good_masks)
+def test_good_masks(mask_type, maskdict):
+    nest.CreateMask(mask_type, maskdict)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("mask_type, maskdict", bad_masks)
+def test_bad_masks(mask_type, maskdict):
+    with pytest.raises(Exception):
+        nest.CreateMask(mask_type, maskdict)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("layer_spec", good_layers)
+def test_good_layers(layer_spec):
+    # Use grid or free depending on positions
+    nest.ResetKernel()
+    if "positions" in layer_spec:
+        positions = layer_spec["positions"]
+        nest.Create(
+            layer_spec.get("elements", "iaf_psc_alpha"),
+            positions=positions,
+            extent=layer_spec.get("extent"),
+            edge_wrap=layer_spec.get("edge_wrap"),
+        )
+    else:
+        shape = layer_spec["shape"]
+        nest.Create(
+            layer_spec.get("elements", "iaf_psc_alpha"),
+            positions=nest.spatial.grid(
+                shape,
+                extent=layer_spec.get("extent"),
+                center=layer_spec.get("center"),
+                edge_wrap=layer_spec.get("edge_wrap"),
+            ),
+        )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("layer_spec", bad_layers)
+def test_bad_layers(layer_spec):
+    nest.ResetKernel()
+    with pytest.raises(Exception):
+        if "positions" in layer_spec:
+            positions = layer_spec["positions"]
+            nest.Create(
+                layer_spec.get("elements", "iaf_psc_alpha"),
+                positions=positions,
+                extent=layer_spec.get("extent"),
+                edge_wrap=layer_spec.get("edge_wrap"),
+            )
+        else:
+            shape = layer_spec["shape"]
+            nest.Create(
+                layer_spec.get("elements", "iaf_psc_alpha"),
+                positions=nest.spatial.grid(
+                    shape,
+                    extent=layer_spec.get("extent"),
+                    center=layer_spec.get("center"),
+                    edge_wrap=layer_spec.get("edge_wrap"),
+                ),
+            )
diff --git a/testsuite/regressiontests/ticket-800.sli b/testsuite/regressiontests/ticket-800.sli
deleted file mode 100644
index e6f0601a20..0000000000
--- a/testsuite/regressiontests/ticket-800.sli
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,373 +0,0 @@
-/*
- *  ticket-800.sli
- *
- *  This file is part of NEST.
- *
- *  Copyright (C) 2004 The NEST Initiative
- *
- *  NEST is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
- *  it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
- *  the Free Software Foundation, either version 2 of the License, or
- *  (at your option) any later version.
- *
- *  NEST is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
- *  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
- *  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
- *  GNU General Public License for more details.
- *
- *  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
- *  along with NEST.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
- *
- */
-
-/** @BeginDocumentation
-
-Name: testsuite::ticket-800 Ensure that spatial parameters check their parameters
-
-Synopsis: (ticket-800) run -> NEST exits if test fails
-
-Description:
-This ticket ensures that spatial parameters check their parameters for
-validity, e.g., strictly positive sigma for a Gaussian.
-
-Author: Hans Ekkehard Plesser, 2014-12-13
- */
-
-(unittest) run
-/unittest using
-
-M_ERROR setverbosity
-
-/good_random_parameters
-[
-  << /uniform << /min 0. /max 1. >> >>
-  << /normal << /mean 0. /std 1. >> >>
-  << /lognormal << /mean 0. /std 1. >> >>
-  << /exponential << /beta 1. >> >>
-]
-def
-
-/good_distance_parameters
-[
-  << /distance << >> >>
-  << /distance << /dimension 1 >> >>
-  << /distance << /dimension 2 >> >>
-]
-def
-
-/good_parameters good_random_parameters good_distance_parameters join def
-
-/bad_random_parameters
-[
-  << /uniform << /min 0. /max 0. >> >>
-  << /normal << /mean 0. /sigma 1. >> >>   % check if bad parameter names are detected
-  << /normal << /mean 0. /std 0. >> >>
-  << /normal << /mean 0. /std -1. >> >>
-  << /lognormal << /mu 0. /std 0. >> >>
-  << /lognormal << /mu 0. /std -1. >> >>
-  << /lognormal << /mu 0. /std 1. >> >>
-]
-def
-
-/bad_distance_parameters
-[
-  << /distance << /dim 1 >> >>
-  << /distance << /dimension 1 /min 0. >> >>
-]
-def
-
-/bad_parameters bad_random_parameters bad_distance_parameters join def
-
-/good_masks_2d
-[
-  << /circular << /radius 1. >> >>
-  << /circular << /radius 1. >> /anchor [0.5 0.5] >>
-  << /rectangular << /lower_left [-0.1 -0.1] /upper_right [0.1 0.1] >> >>
-  << /doughnut << /inner_radius 0.1 /outer_radius 0.2 >> >>
-]
-def
-
-/bad_masks_2d
-[
-  << /circular << /r 0. >> >>   % check if bad parameter names are detected
-  << /circular << /radius 1. /foo 1 >> >>  % spurious parameter
-  << /circular << /radius 0. >> >>
-  << /circular << /radius -1. >> >>
-  << /rectangular << /lower_left [-0.1 -0.1] /upper_right [-0.1 0.1] >> >>
-  << /rectangular << /lower_left [-0.1 -0.1] /upper_right [0.1 -0.1] >> >>
-  << /doughnut << /inner_radius 0.1 /outer_radius 0.1 >> >>
-]
-def
-
-/good_masks_3d
-[
-  << /spherical << /radius 1. >> >>
-  << /box << /lower_left [-0.1 -0.1 -0.1] /upper_right [0.1 0.1 0.1] >> >>
-]
-def
-
-/bad_masks_3d
-[
-  << /spherical << /radius 0. >> >>
-  << /spherical << /radius -1. >> >>
-  << /box << /lower_left [-0.1 -0.1 -0.1] /upper_right [-0.1 0.1 0.1] >> >>
-  << /box << /lower_left [-0.1 -0.1 -0.1] /upper_right [0.1 -0.1 0.1] >> >>
-  << /box << /lower_left [-0.1 -0.1 -0.1] /upper_right [0.1 0.1 -0.1] >> >>
-]
-def
-
-/good_layers
-[
-  << /shape [ 2 2 ] /elements /iaf_psc_alpha >>
-  << /shape [ 2 2 ] /elements /iaf_psc_alpha
-     /extent [2. .5] /center [.2 .3] /edge_wrap true >>
-  << /shape [ 2 2 ] /elements /iaf_psc_alpha
-     /extent [2. .5] /center [.2 .3] /edge_wrap false >>
-  << /positions [[0.1 0.1] [0.2 0.2]] /elements /iaf_psc_alpha
-     /extent [2. .5] /edge_wrap true >>
-  << /positions [[0.1 0.1 0.1] [0.2 0.2 0.2]] /elements /iaf_psc_alpha
-     /extent [2. .5 3.] /edge_wrap true >>
-]
-def
-
-/bad_layers
-[
-  << /shape [ 1 ] /elements /iaf_psc_alpha >>    % too few elements in shape
-  << /shape [ 2 2 ] /elementsss /iaf_psc_alpha >>  % misspelling
-  << /shape [ 2 2 ] /elements /iaf_psc_alpha
-     /extent [2. .5] /center [.2 .3] /edge_wrap 3 >>  % bad data type
-  << /positions [[0.1 0.1] [0.2 0.2 0.2]] /elements /iaf_psc_alpha  % dim mix
-     /extent [2. .5] /edge_wrap true >>
-  << /positions [[0.1 0.1 0.1] [0.2 0.2 0.2]] /elements /iaf_psc_alpha  % dim mix
-     /extent [2. .5] /edge_wrap true >>
-]
-def
-
-/good_connspecs
-[
-  << /connection_type /pairwise_bernoulli_on_source >>
-  << /connection_type /pairwise_bernoulli_on_target >>
-  << /connection_type /pairwise_bernoulli_on_source /allow_oversized_mask true >>
-  << /connection_type /pairwise_bernoulli_on_source /synapse_model /static_synapse >>
-  << /connection_type /pairwise_bernoulli_on_source /allow_multapses false >>
-  << /connection_type /pairwise_bernoulli_on_source /allow_autapses false >>
-  << /connection_type /pairwise_bernoulli_on_source /allow_oversized_mask true >>
-  << /connection_type /pairwise_bernoulli_on_source /number_of_connections 2 >>
-  << /connection_type /pairwise_bernoulli_on_target /number_of_connections 2 >>
-  << /connection_type /pairwise_bernoulli_on_source /delay 2.0 >>
-]
-def
-
-/bad_connspecs
-[
-  << /connection_type /population >>   % unknown type
-  << /kernel 0.1 >>                    % type missing
-]
-def
-
-%% Test runner for 2d connections
-/conn_layers_test_2d
-{
-  /conndict Set
-
-  ResetKernel
-  << /elements /iaf_psc_alpha  /shape [ 1 1 ] >> CreateLayer
-  dup
-  conndict ConnectLayers
-} def
-
-%% Test runner for 3d connections
-/conn_layers_test_3d
-{
-  /conndict Set
-
-  ResetKernel
-  << /elements /iaf_psc_alpha  /positions [ [0. 0. 0.] ] /extent [1.0 1.0 1.0] >> CreateLayer
-  dup
-  conndict ConnectLayers
-} def
-
-
-%% first: test CreateParameter on good parameter sets
-good_parameters
-{
-  /pset Set
-  (Test 1: ) =only
-  pset keys ==
-  { pset CreateParameter } pass_or_die
-  clear
-} forall
-
-%% second: test CreateParameter on bad parameter sets
-bad_parameters
-{
-  /pset Set
-  (Test 2: ) =only
-  pset keys ==
-  { pset CreateParameter } fail_or_die
-  clear
-} forall
-
-%% third: test CreateMask on good masks
-good_masks_2d good_masks_3d join
-{
-  /mask Set
-  (Test 3: ) =only
-  mask keys ==
-  { mask CreateMask } pass_or_die
-  clear
-} forall
-
-%% fourth: test CreateMask on bad masks
-bad_masks_2d bad_masks_3d join
-{
-  /mask Set
-  (Test 4: ) =only
-  mask keys ==
-  { mask CreateMask } fail_or_die
-  clear
-} forall
-
-%% fifth: test CreateLayer on good specs
-good_layers
-{
-  /lspec Set
-  ResetKernel
-  (Test 5: ) =only
-  lspec keys ==
-  { lspec CreateLayer } pass_or_die
-  clear
-} forall
-
-%% sixth: test CreateLayer on bad specs
-bad_layers
-{
-  /lspec Set
-  ResetKernel
-  (Test 6: ) =only
-  lspec keys ==
-  { lspec CreateLayer } fail_or_die
-  clear
-} forall
-
-%% seventh: test ConnectLayers with good kernels
-good_distance_parameters [ 0.5 1.0 ] join
-{
-  /kspec Set
-  (Test 7: ) =only
-  kspec DictQ { keys == } { == } ifelse
-  { << /connection_type /pairwise_bernoulli_on_source /kernel kspec >>
-    conn_layers_test_2d
-  } pass_or_die
-  clear
-} forall
-
-%% eighth: test ConnectLayers with bad kernels
-bad_distance_parameters
-{
-  /kspec Set
-  (Test 8: ) =only
-  kspec DictQ { keys == } { == } ifelse
-  { << /connection_type /pairwise_bernoulli_on_source /kernel kspec >>
-    conn_layers_test_2d
-  } fail_or_die
-  clear
-} forall
-
-%% ninth: test ConnectLayers with good weights
-good_parameters [ 0.5 1.0 ] join
-{
-  /wspec Set
-  (Test 9: ) =only
-  wspec DictQ { keys == } { == } ifelse
-  { << /connection_type /pairwise_bernoulli_on_source /weight wspec >>
-    conn_layers_test_2d
-  } pass_or_die
-  clear
-} forall
-
-%% tenth: test ConnectLayers with bad weights
-bad_parameters
-{
-  /wspec Set
-  (Test 10: ) =only
-  wspec DictQ { keys == } { == } ifelse
-  { << /connection_type /pairwise_bernoulli_on_source /weight wspec >>
-    conn_layers_test_2d
-  } fail_or_die
-  clear
-} forall
-
-%% elevnth: test ConnectLayers with good 2d masks
-good_masks_2d
-{
-  /mspec Set
-  (Test 11: ) =only
-  mspec DictQ { keys == } { == } ifelse
-  { << /connection_type /pairwise_bernoulli_on_source /mask mspec >>
-    conn_layers_test_2d
-  } pass_or_die
-  clear
-} forall
-
-%% twelfth: test ConnectLayers with bad 2d masks
-bad_masks_2d
-{
-  /mspec Set
-  (Test 12: ) =only
-  mspec DictQ { keys == } { == } ifelse
-  { << /connection_type /pairwise_bernoulli_on_source /mask mspec >>
-    conn_layers_test_2d
-  } fail_or_die
-  clear
-} forall
-
-%% thirteenth: test ConnectLayers with good 3d masks
-good_masks_3d
-{
-  /mspec Set
-  (Test 13: ) =only
-  mspec DictQ { keys == } { == } ifelse
-  { << /connection_type /pairwise_bernoulli_on_source /mask mspec >>
-    conn_layers_test_3d
-  } pass_or_die
-  clear
-} forall
-
-%% fourteenth: test ConnectLayers with bad 3d masks
-bad_masks_3d
-{
-  /mspec Set
-  (Test 14: ) =only
-  mspec DictQ { keys == } { == } ifelse
-  { << /connection_type /pairwise_bernoulli_on_source /mask mspec >>
-    conn_layers_test_3d
-  } fail_or_die
-  clear
-} forall
-
-%% fifteenth test: various good cases
-good_connspecs
-{
-  /cspec Set
-  (Test 15: ) =only
-  cspec DictQ { keys == } { == } ifelse
-  { cspec
-    conn_layers_test_2d
-  } pass_or_die
-  clear
-} forall
-
-%% sixteenth test: various bad cases
-bad_connspecs
-{
-  /cspec Set
-  (Test 16: ) =only
-  cspec DictQ { keys == } { == } ifelse
-  { cspec
-    conn_layers_test_2d
-  } fail_or_die
-  clear
-} forall
-
-endusing