diff --git a/testing/talos/talos/ttest.py b/testing/talos/talos/ttest.py
index 540bca937c47..0ed5a2bbd224 100644
--- a/testing/talos/talos/ttest.py
+++ b/testing/talos/talos/ttest.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import mozfile
 
 from mozlog import get_proxy_logger
 
-from talos.utils import TalosCrash, TalosRegression
+from talos.utils import TalosCrash, TalosError, TalosRegression
 from talos.talos_process import run_browser
 from talos.ffsetup import FFSetup
 from talos.cmanager import CounterManagement
@@ -34,8 +34,6 @@ LOG = get_proxy_logger()
 
 
 class TTest(object):
-    platform_type = utils.PLATFORM_TYPE
-
     def check_for_crashes(self, browser_config, minidump_dir, test_name):
         # check for minidumps
         found = mozcrash.check_for_crashes(minidump_dir,
@@ -59,14 +57,32 @@ class TTest(object):
 
         """
 
-        LOG.debug("operating with platform_type : %s" % self.platform_type)
-
         with FFSetup(browser_config, test_config) as setup:
             return self._runTest(browser_config, test_config, setup)
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _get_counter_prefix():
+        if platform.system() == "Linux":
+            return 'linux'
+        elif platform.system() in ("Windows", "Microsoft"):
+            if '6.1' in platform.version():  # w7
+                return 'w7'
+            elif '6.2' in platform.version():  # w8
+                return 'w8'
+            # Bug 1264325 - FIXME: with python 2.7.11: reports win8 instead of 8.1
+            elif '6.3' in platform.version():
+                return 'w8'
+            # Bug 1264325 - FIXME: with python 2.7.11: reports win8 instead of 10
+            elif '10.0' in platform.version():
+                return 'w8'
+            else:
+                raise TalosError('unsupported windows version')
+        elif platform.system() == "Darwin":
+            return 'mac'
+
     def _runTest(self, browser_config, test_config, setup):
         minidump_dir = os.path.join(setup.profile_dir, 'minidumps')
-        counters = test_config.get(self.platform_type + 'counters', [])
+        counters = test_config.get('%s_counters' % self._get_counter_prefix(), [])
         resolution = test_config['resolution']
 
         # add the mainthread_io to the environment variable, as defined
diff --git a/testing/talos/talos/utils.py b/testing/talos/talos/utils.py
index f73639a08653..329674c06c5f 100755
--- a/testing/talos/talos/utils.py
+++ b/testing/talos/talos/utils.py
@@ -20,32 +20,6 @@ here = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))
 LOG = get_proxy_logger()
 
 
-def _get_platform():
-    # get the platform we're interested in. Note that the values
-    # are used in TTest historically, this is why they are not really friendly.
-    # TODO: give some user friendly values
-    if platform.system() == "Linux":
-        return 'linux_'
-    elif platform.system() in ("Windows", "Microsoft"):
-        if '6.1' in platform.version():  # w7
-            return 'w7_'
-        elif '6.2' in platform.version():  # w8
-            return 'w8_'
-        # Bug 1264325 - FIXME: with python 2.7.11: reports win8 instead of 8.1
-        elif '6.3' in platform.version():
-            return 'w8_'
-        # Bug 1264325 - FIXME: with python 2.7.11: reports win8 instead of 10
-        elif '10.0' in platform.version():
-            return 'w8_'
-        else:
-            raise TalosError('unsupported windows version')
-    elif platform.system() == "Darwin":
-        return 'mac_'
-
-
-PLATFORM_TYPE = _get_platform()
-
-
 class Timer(object):
     def __init__(self):
         self._start_time = 0