diff --git a/test/base/api.py b/test/base/api.py
index f9d00623586..2ec54762477 100644
--- a/test/base/api.py
+++ b/test/base/api.py
@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@ from base.interactor import GalaxyInteractorApi as BaseInteractor
 
 from .api_util import get_master_api_key
 from .api_util import get_user_api_key
+from .api_asserts import (
+    assert_status_code_is,
+    assert_has_keys,
+    assert_error_code_is,
+)
 
 from urllib import urlencode
 
@@ -73,25 +78,13 @@ class ApiTestCase( TwillTestCase ):
         return self.galaxy_interactor.post( *args, **kwds )
 
     def _assert_status_code_is( self, response, expected_status_code ):
-        response_status_code = response.status_code
-        if expected_status_code != response_status_code:
-            try:
-                body = response.json()
-            except Exception:
-                body = "INVALID JSON RESPONSE <%s>" % response.content
-            assertion_message_template = "Request status code (%d) was not expected value %d. Body was %s"
-            assertion_message = assertion_message_template % ( response_status_code, expected_status_code, body )
-            raise AssertionError( assertion_message )
+        assert_status_code_is( response, expected_status_code )
 
     def _assert_has_keys( self, response, *keys ):
-        for key in keys:
-            assert key in response, "Response [%s] does not contain key [%s]" % ( response, key )
+        assert_has_keys( response, *keys )
 
     def _assert_error_code_is( self, response, error_code ):
-        if hasattr( response, "json" ):
-            response = response.json()
-        self._assert_has_keys( response, "err_code" )
-        self.assertEquals( response[ "err_code" ], int( error_code ) )
+        assert_error_code_is( response, error_code )
 
     def _random_key( self ):  # Used for invalid request testing...
         return "1234567890123456"
diff --git a/test/base/api_asserts.py b/test/base/api_asserts.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..129b63fca53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/base/api_asserts.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+""" Utility methods for making assertions about Galaxy API responses, etc...
+"""
+ASSERT_FAIL_ERROR_CODE = "Expected Galaxy error code %d, obtained %d"
+ASSERT_FAIL_STATUS_CODE = "Request status code (%d) was not expected value %d. Body was %s"
+
+
+def assert_status_code_is( response, expected_status_code ):
+    response_status_code = response.status_code
+    if expected_status_code != response_status_code:
+        try:
+            body = response.json()
+        except Exception:
+            body = "INVALID JSON RESPONSE <%s>" % response.content
+        assertion_message = ASSERT_FAIL_STATUS_CODE % ( response_status_code, expected_status_code, body )
+        raise AssertionError( assertion_message )
+
+
+def assert_has_keys( response, *keys ):
+    for key in keys:
+        assert key in response, "Response [%s] does not contain key [%s]" % ( response, key )
+
+
+def assert_error_code_is( response, error_code ):
+    if hasattr( response, "json" ):
+        response = response.json()
+    assert_has_keys( response, "err_code" )
+    err_code = response[ "err_code" ]
+    assert err_code == int( error_code ), ASSERT_FAIL_ERROR_CODE % ( err_code, int( error_code ) )
+
+assert_has_key = assert_has_keys