diff --git a/src/sugar3/graphics/alert.py b/src/sugar3/graphics/alert.py
index f72a2bdb..239afc25 100644
--- a/src/sugar3/graphics/alert.py
+++ b/src/sugar3/graphics/alert.py
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ class _TimeoutIcon(Gtk.Alignment):
     __gtype_name__ = 'SugarTimeoutIcon'
 
     def __init__(self):
-        GObject.GObject.__init__(self, 0, 0, 1, 1)
+        Gtk.Alignment.__init__(self, xalign=0, yalign=0, xscale=1, yscale=1)
         self.set_app_paintable(True)
         self._text = Gtk.Label()
         self._text.set_alignment(0.5, 0.5)
diff --git a/src/sugar3/graphics/palette.py b/src/sugar3/graphics/palette.py
index 6c24d27c..b23a28d4 100644
--- a/src/sugar3/graphics/palette.py
+++ b/src/sugar3/graphics/palette.py
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@ class Palette(PaletteWindow):
         primary_box.pack_start(self._icon_box, False, True, 0)
 
         labels_box = Gtk.VBox()
-        self._label_alignment = Gtk.Alignment.new(xalign=0, yalign=0.5,
-                                              xscale=1, yscale=0.33)
+        self._label_alignment = Gtk.Alignment(xalign=0, yalign=0.5, xscale=1,
+                                              yscale=0.33)
         self._label_alignment.set_padding(0, 0, style.DEFAULT_SPACING,
                                           style.DEFAULT_SPACING)
         self._label_alignment.add(labels_box)
diff --git a/src/sugar3/graphics/toolbarbox.py b/src/sugar3/graphics/toolbarbox.py
index 458c2d67..b3217156 100644
--- a/src/sugar3/graphics/toolbarbox.py
+++ b/src/sugar3/graphics/toolbarbox.py
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ def _setup_page(page_widget, color, hpad):
 def _embed_page(box_class, page):
     page.show()
 
-    alignment = Gtk.Alignment.new(0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 1.0)
+    alignment = Gtk.Alignment(xscale=1.0, yscale=1.0)
     alignment.add(page)
     alignment.show()
 
diff --git a/src/sugar3/graphics/toolbox.py b/src/sugar3/graphics/toolbox.py
index e67ff164..e4e4c324 100644
--- a/src/sugar3/graphics/toolbox.py
+++ b/src/sugar3/graphics/toolbox.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ class Toolbox(Gtk.VBox):
 
         event_box = Gtk.EventBox()
 
-        alignment = Gtk.Alignment.new(0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 1.0)
+        alignment = Gtk.Alignment(xscale=1.0, yscale=1.0)
         alignment.set_padding(0, 0, style.TOOLBOX_HORIZONTAL_PADDING,
                               style.TOOLBOX_HORIZONTAL_PADDING)
 
diff --git a/src/sugar3/graphics/tray.py b/src/sugar3/graphics/tray.py
index 83c59e59..f14569b0 100644
--- a/src/sugar3/graphics/tray.py
+++ b/src/sugar3/graphics/tray.py
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ class _TrayScrollButton(ToolButton):
                          icon_size=Gtk.IconSize.SMALL_TOOLBAR)
         # The alignment is a hack to work around Gtk.ToolButton code
         # that sets the icon_size when the icon_widget is a Gtk.Image
-        alignment = Gtk.Alignment.new(0.5, 0.5)
+        alignment = Gtk.Alignment(xalign=0.5, yalign=0.5)
         alignment.add(self.icon)
         self.set_icon_widget(alignment)
         alignment.show_all()