diff --git a/notebook/tests/selenium/test_deletecell.py b/notebook/tests/selenium/test_deletecell.py
index 60f7d8127..388dd2ad8 100644
--- a/notebook/tests/selenium/test_deletecell.py
+++ b/notebook/tests/selenium/test_deletecell.py
@@ -1,14 +1,6 @@
 import os
 import pytest
 
-def get_cells_contents(nb):
-    JS = 'return Jupyter.notebook.get_cells().map(function(c) {return c.get_text();})'
-    return nb.browser.execute_script(JS)
-
-def set_cell_metadata(nb, index, key, value):
-    JS = 'Jupyter.notebook.get_cell({}).metadata.{} = {}'.format(index, key, value)
-    return nb.browser.execute_script(JS)
-
 def cell_is_deletable(nb, index):
     JS = 'return Jupyter.notebook.get_cell({}).is_deletable();'.format(index)
     return nb.browser.execute_script(JS)
@@ -28,12 +20,12 @@ def test_delete_cells(notebook):
     notebook.to_command_mode()
     
     # Validate initial state
-    assert get_cells_contents(notebook) == [a, b, c]
+    assert notebook.get_cells_contents() == [a, b, c]
     for cell in range(0, 3):
         assert cell_is_deletable(notebook, cell)
 
-    set_cell_metadata(notebook, 0, 'deletable', 'false')
-    set_cell_metadata(notebook, 1, 'deletable', 0
+    notebook.set_cell_metadata(0, 'deletable', 'false')
+    notebook.set_cell_metadata(1, 'deletable', 0
     )   
     assert not cell_is_deletable(notebook, 0)
     assert cell_is_deletable(notebook, 1)
@@ -41,18 +33,18 @@ def test_delete_cells(notebook):
     
     # Try to delete cell a (should not be deleted)
     delete_cell(notebook, 0)
-    assert get_cells_contents(notebook) == [a, b, c]
+    assert notebook.get_cells_contents() == [a, b, c]
 
     # Try to delete cell b (should succeed)
     delete_cell(notebook, 1)
-    assert get_cells_contents(notebook) == [a, c]
+    assert notebook.get_cells_contents() == [a, c]
 
     # Try to delete cell c (should succeed)
     delete_cell(notebook, 1)
-    assert get_cells_contents(notebook) == [a]
+    assert notebook.get_cells_contents() == [a]
 
     # Change the deletable state of cell a
-    set_cell_metadata(notebook, 0, 'deletable', 'true')
+    notebook.set_cell_metadata(0, 'deletable', 'true')
 
     # Try to delete cell a (should succeed)
     delete_cell(notebook, 0)
@@ -60,7 +52,7 @@ def test_delete_cells(notebook):
 
     # Make sure copied cells are deletable
     notebook.edit_cell(index=0, content=a)
-    set_cell_metadata(notebook, 0, 'deletable', 'false')
+    notebook.set_cell_metadata(0, 'deletable', 'false')
     assert not cell_is_deletable(notebook, 0)
     notebook.to_command_mode()
     notebook.current_cell.send_keys('cv')
diff --git a/notebook/tests/selenium/utils.py b/notebook/tests/selenium/utils.py
index efe49fb4c..ef4092772 100644
--- a/notebook/tests/selenium/utils.py
+++ b/notebook/tests/selenium/utils.py
@@ -127,6 +127,14 @@ class Notebook:
         wait = WebDriverWait(self.browser, 10)
         element = wait.until(EC.staleness_of(cell))
 
+    def get_cells_contents(self):
+        JS = 'return Jupyter.notebook.get_cells().map(function(c) {return c.get_text();})'
+        return self.browser.execute_script(JS)
+
+    def set_cell_metadata(self, index, key, value):
+        JS = 'Jupyter.notebook.get_cell({}).metadata.{} = {}'.format(index, key, value)
+        return self.browser.execute_script(JS)
+
     def edit_cell(self, cell=None, index=0, content="", render=False):
         """Set the contents of a cell to *content*, by cell object or by index
         """