diff --git a/tests/check/python/__init__.py b/tests/check/python/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/tests/check/python/common.py b/tests/check/python/common.py
index e0e9d70205..23d81e99d8 100644
--- a/tests/check/python/common.py
+++ b/tests/check/python/common.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Copyright (c) 2016 Alexandru Băluț <alexandru.balut@gmail.com>
+# Copyright (c) 2016, Thibault Saunier
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 # modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
@@ -17,9 +18,19 @@
 # Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor,
 # Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
 
-from gi.repository import GES
-from gi.repository import GLib
-import tempfile
+import gi
+
+gi.require_version("Gst", "1.0")
+gi.require_version("GES", "1.0")
+
+from gi.repository import Gst  # noqa
+from gi.repository import GES  # noqa
+from gi.repository import GLib  # noqa
+import unittest  # noqa
+import tempfile  # noqa
+
+Gst.init(None)
+GES.init()
 
 
 def create_main_loop():
@@ -67,3 +78,52 @@ def create_project(with_group=False, saved=False):
 
     return timeline
 
+class GESTest(unittest.TestCase):
+    def _log(self, func, format, *args):
+        string = format
+        if args:
+            string = string % args[0]
+        func(string)
+
+    def log(self, format, *args):
+        self._log(Gst.log, format, *args)
+
+    def debug(self, format, *args):
+        self._log(Gst.debug, format, *args)
+
+    def info(self, format, *args):
+        self._log(Gst.info, format, *args)
+
+    def fixme(self, format, *args):
+        self._log(Gst.fixme, format, *args)
+
+    def warning(self, format, *args):
+        self._log(Gst.warning, format, *args)
+
+    def error(self, format, *args):
+        self._log(Gst.error, format, *args)
+
+
+class GESSimpleTimelineTest(GESTest):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.timeline = GES.Timeline.new_audio_video()
+        self.assertEqual(len(self.timeline.get_tracks()), 2)
+        self.layer = self.timeline.append_layer()
+
+    def add_clip(self, start, in_point, duration):
+        clip = GES.TestClip()
+        clip.props.start = start
+        clip.props.in_point = in_point
+        clip.props.duration = duration
+        self.layer.add_clip(clip)
+
+        return clip
+
+    def check_clip_values(self, clip, start, in_point, duration):
+        for elem in [clip] + clip.get_children(False):
+            self.check_element_values(elem, start, in_point, duration)
+
+    def check_element_values(self, element, start, in_point, duration):
+        self.assertEqual(element.props.start, start, element)
+        self.assertEqual(element.props.in_point, in_point, element)
+        self.assertEqual(element.props.duration, duration, element)
diff --git a/tests/check/python/test_clip.py b/tests/check/python/test_clip.py
index 83c7a8dc2b..6df4f2654f 100644
--- a/tests/check/python/test_clip.py
+++ b/tests/check/python/test_clip.py
@@ -24,8 +24,13 @@ gi.require_version("GES", "1.0")
 
 from gi.repository import Gst  # noqa
 from gi.repository import GES  # noqa
+
+from .common import GESSimpleTimelineTest  # noqa
+
 import unittest  # noqa
 
+
+
 Gst.init(None)
 GES.init()
 
diff --git a/tests/check/python/test_group.py b/tests/check/python/test_group.py
index ef2d3a9716..1d220b0cb0 100644
--- a/tests/check/python/test_group.py
+++ b/tests/check/python/test_group.py
@@ -24,22 +24,17 @@ gi.require_version("GES", "1.0")
 
 from gi.repository import Gst  # noqa
 from gi.repository import GES  # noqa
+
+from . import common  # noqa
+
 import unittest  # noqa
 from unittest import mock
 
-import common
-
 Gst.init(None)
 GES.init()
 
 
-class TestGroup(unittest.TestCase):
-
-    def setUp(self):
-        self.timeline = GES.Timeline.new_audio_video()
-        self.assertEqual(len(self.timeline.get_tracks()), 2)
-        self.layer = self.timeline.append_layer()
-
+class TestGroup(common.GESSimpleTimelineTest):
     def testCopyGroup(self):
         clip1 = GES.TestClip.new()
         clip1.props.duration = 10
diff --git a/tests/check/python/test_timeline.py b/tests/check/python/test_timeline.py
index 9aad8d608b..ba3f0f5a37 100644
--- a/tests/check/python/test_timeline.py
+++ b/tests/check/python/test_timeline.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ from gi.repository import GES  # noqa
 import unittest  # noqa
 from unittest import mock
 
-import common
+from . import common
 
 Gst.init(None)
 GES.init()