diff --git a/swh/storage/tests/test_filter.py b/swh/storage/tests/test_filter.py
--- a/swh/storage/tests/test_filter.py
+++ b/swh/storage/tests/test_filter.py
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 # License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
 # See top-level LICENSE file for more information
 
+import attr
+
 import pytest
 
 from swh.storage import get_storage
@@ -12,25 +14,25 @@
 def swh_storage():
     storage_config = {
         "cls": "pipeline",
-        "steps": [{"cls": "validate"}, {"cls": "filter"}, {"cls": "memory"},],
+        "steps": [{"cls": "filter"}, {"cls": "memory"},],
     }
 
     return get_storage(**storage_config)
 
 
-def test_filtering_proxy_storage_content(swh_storage, sample_data):
-    sample_content = sample_data["content"][0]
+def test_filtering_proxy_storage_content(swh_storage, sample_data_model):
+    sample_content = sample_data_model["content"][0]
 
-    content = next(swh_storage.content_get([sample_content["sha1"]]))
+    content = next(swh_storage.content_get([sample_content.sha1]))
     assert not content
 
     s = swh_storage.content_add([sample_content])
     assert s == {
         "content:add": 1,
-        "content:add:bytes": sample_content["length"],
+        "content:add:bytes": sample_content.length,
     }
 
-    content = next(swh_storage.content_get([sample_content["sha1"]]))
+    content = next(swh_storage.content_get([sample_content.sha1]))
     assert content is not None
 
     s = swh_storage.content_add([sample_content])
@@ -40,18 +42,19 @@
     }
 
 
-def test_filtering_proxy_storage_skipped_content(swh_storage, sample_data):
-    sample_content = sample_data["skipped_content"][0]
+def test_filtering_proxy_storage_skipped_content(swh_storage, sample_data_model):
+    sample_content = sample_data_model["skipped_content"][0]
+    sample_content_dict = sample_content.to_dict()
 
-    content = next(swh_storage.skipped_content_missing([sample_content]))
-    assert content["sha1"] == sample_content["sha1"]
+    content = next(swh_storage.skipped_content_missing([sample_content_dict]))
+    assert content["sha1"] == sample_content.sha1
 
     s = swh_storage.skipped_content_add([sample_content])
     assert s == {
         "skipped_content:add": 1,
     }
 
-    content = list(swh_storage.skipped_content_missing([sample_content]))
+    content = list(swh_storage.skipped_content_missing([sample_content_dict]))
     assert content == []
 
     s = swh_storage.skipped_content_add([sample_content])
@@ -61,16 +64,17 @@
 
 
 def test_filtering_proxy_storage_skipped_content_missing_sha1_git(
-    swh_storage, sample_data
+    swh_storage, sample_data_model
 ):
-    sample_content = sample_data["skipped_content"][0]
-    sample_content2 = sample_data["skipped_content"][1]
+    sample_contents = [
+        attr.evolve(c, sha1_git=None) for c in sample_data_model["skipped_content"]
+    ]
+    sample_content, sample_content2 = [c.to_dict() for c in sample_contents]
 
-    sample_content["sha1_git"] = sample_content2["sha1_git"] = None
     content = next(swh_storage.skipped_content_missing([sample_content]))
     assert content["sha1"] == sample_content["sha1"]
 
-    s = swh_storage.skipped_content_add([sample_content])
+    s = swh_storage.skipped_content_add([sample_contents[0]])
     assert s == {
         "skipped_content:add": 1,
     }
@@ -78,7 +82,7 @@
     content = list(swh_storage.skipped_content_missing([sample_content]))
     assert content == []
 
-    s = swh_storage.skipped_content_add([sample_content2])
+    s = swh_storage.skipped_content_add([sample_contents[1]])
     assert s == {
         "skipped_content:add": 1,
     }
@@ -87,10 +91,10 @@
     assert content == []
 
 
-def test_filtering_proxy_storage_revision(swh_storage, sample_data):
-    sample_revision = sample_data["revision"][0]
+def test_filtering_proxy_storage_revision(swh_storage, sample_data_model):
+    sample_revision = sample_data_model["revision"][0]
 
-    revision = next(swh_storage.revision_get([sample_revision["id"]]))
+    revision = next(swh_storage.revision_get([sample_revision.id]))
     assert not revision
 
     s = swh_storage.revision_add([sample_revision])
@@ -98,7 +102,7 @@
         "revision:add": 1,
     }
 
-    revision = next(swh_storage.revision_get([sample_revision["id"]]))
+    revision = next(swh_storage.revision_get([sample_revision.id]))
     assert revision is not None
 
     s = swh_storage.revision_add([sample_revision])
@@ -107,10 +111,10 @@
     }
 
 
-def test_filtering_proxy_storage_directory(swh_storage, sample_data):
-    sample_directory = sample_data["directory"][0]
+def test_filtering_proxy_storage_directory(swh_storage, sample_data_model):
+    sample_directory = sample_data_model["directory"][0]
 
-    directory = next(swh_storage.directory_missing([sample_directory["id"]]))
+    directory = next(swh_storage.directory_missing([sample_directory.id]))
     assert directory
 
     s = swh_storage.directory_add([sample_directory])
@@ -118,7 +122,7 @@
         "directory:add": 1,
     }
 
-    directory = list(swh_storage.directory_missing([sample_directory["id"]]))
+    directory = list(swh_storage.directory_missing([sample_directory.id]))
     assert not directory
 
     s = swh_storage.directory_add([sample_directory])