diff --git a/test/helpers.go b/test/helpers.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3394b0818
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/helpers.go
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+package test_helper
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"reflect"
+	"runtime"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/restic/restic/backend"
+)
+
+// Assert fails the test if the condition is false.
+func Assert(tb testing.TB, condition bool, msg string, v ...interface{}) {
+	if !condition {
+		_, file, line, _ := runtime.Caller(1)
+		fmt.Printf("\033[31m%s:%d: "+msg+"\033[39m\n\n", append([]interface{}{filepath.Base(file), line}, v...)...)
+		tb.FailNow()
+	}
+}
+
+// ok fails the test if an err is not nil.
+func OK(tb testing.TB, err error) {
+	if err != nil {
+		_, file, line, _ := runtime.Caller(1)
+		fmt.Printf("\033[31m%s:%d: unexpected error: %s\033[39m\n\n", filepath.Base(file), line, err.Error())
+		tb.FailNow()
+	}
+}
+
+// equals fails the test if exp is not equal to act.
+func Equals(tb testing.TB, exp, act interface{}) {
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(exp, act) {
+		_, file, line, _ := runtime.Caller(1)
+		fmt.Printf("\033[31m%s:%d:\n\n\texp: %#v\n\n\tgot: %#v\033[39m\n\n", filepath.Base(file), line, exp, act)
+		tb.FailNow()
+	}
+}
+
+func Str2ID(s string) backend.ID {
+	id, err := backend.ParseID(s)
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+
+	return id
+}