diff --git a/common/check_new_dids b/common/check_new_dids
index 6f290cb..b9238c1 100755
--- a/common/check_new_dids
+++ b/common/check_new_dids
@@ -1,58 +1,66 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python
-# Copyright European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) 2013
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+# Copyright European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) since 2012
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-# You may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-# You may obtain a copy of the License at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
 #
-# Authors:
-# - Vincent Garonne, <vincent.garonne@cern.ch>, 2013
-# - Thomas Beermann, <thomas.beermann@cern.ch>, 2019
-# - Eric Vaandering <ewv@fnal.gov>, 2020
+#    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
 
 """
 Probe to check the backlog of new dids.
 """
-from __future__ import print_function
 
 import sys
 import traceback
 
 from prometheus_client import CollectorRegistry, Gauge, push_to_gateway
-from rucio.common.config import config_get
+from sqlalchemy import func, null, select
+
+from rucio.common.config import config_get_list
 from rucio.db.sqla import models
 from rucio.db.sqla.session import get_session
-from rucio.db.sqla.util import get_count
 
 from utils.common import probe_metrics
 
 # Exit statuses
 OK, WARNING, CRITICAL, UNKNOWN = 0, 1, 2, 3
 
-PROM_SERVERS = config_get('monitor', 'prometheus_servers', raise_exception=False, default='')
-if PROM_SERVERS != '':
-    PROM_SERVERS = PROM_SERVERS.split(',')
+PROM_SERVERS = config_get_list('monitor', 'prometheus_servers', raise_exception=False, default=[])
 
-if __name__ == "__main__":
+if __name__ == '__main__':
     try:
         registry = CollectorRegistry()
         session = get_session()
-        query = (session.query(models.DataIdentifier.scope)
-                        .with_hint(models.DataIdentifier, "INDEX_FFS(DIDS DIDS_IS_NEW_IDX)", 'oracle')
-                        .filter(models.DataIdentifier.is_new.isnot(None)))
-        result = get_count(query)
+
+        query = select(
+            func.count()
+        ).select_from(
+            models.DataIdentifier
+        ).with_hint(
+            models.DataIdentifier, 'INDEX_FFS(DIDS DIDS_IS_NEW_IDX)', 'oracle'
+        ).where(
+            models.DataIdentifier.is_new != null()
+        )
+        result = session.execute(query).scalar_one()
+
         probe_metrics.gauge(name='transmogrifier.new_dids').set(result)
         Gauge('transmogrifier_new_dids', '', registry=registry).set(result)
 
-        if len(PROM_SERVERS):
-            for server in PROM_SERVERS:
-                try:
-                    push_to_gateway(server.strip(), job='check_new_dids', registry=registry)
-                except:
-                    continue
+        for server in PROM_SERVERS:
+            try:
+                push_to_gateway(server, job='check_new_dids', registry=registry)
+            except Exception:
+                continue
 
         print(result)
-    except:
+    except Exception:
         print(traceback.format_exc())
         sys.exit(UNKNOWN)
     sys.exit(OK)