diff --git a/designate_tempest_plugin/tests/api/v2/test_zones.py b/designate_tempest_plugin/tests/api/v2/test_zones.py
index b0abfc9..f97e256 100644
--- a/designate_tempest_plugin/tests/api/v2/test_zones.py
+++ b/designate_tempest_plugin/tests/api/v2/test_zones.py
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 # WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
 # License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
-import six
 from oslo_log import log as logging
 from tempest import test
 from tempest.lib import exceptions as lib_exc
@@ -24,12 +23,8 @@
 
 
 class BaseZonesTest(base.BaseDnsTest):
-    def _assertExpected(self, expected, actual):
-        for key, value in six.iteritems(expected):
-            if key not in ('created_at', 'updated_at', 'version', 'links',
-                           'status', 'action'):
-                self.assertIn(key, actual)
-                self.assertEqual(value, actual[key], key)
+    excluded_keys = ['created_at', 'updated_at', 'version', 'links',
+                    'status', 'action']
 
 
 class ZonesTest(BaseZonesTest):
@@ -61,7 +56,7 @@
         _, body = self.client.show_zone(zone['id'])
 
         LOG.info('Ensure the fetched response matches the created zone')
-        self._assertExpected(zone, body)
+        self.assertExpected(zone, body, self.excluded_keys)
 
     @test.attr(type='smoke')
     @test.idempotent_id('a4791906-6cd6-4d27-9f15-32273db8bb3d')
@@ -143,7 +138,7 @@
             zone['id'], params={'all_projects': True})
 
         LOG.info('Ensure the fetched response matches the created zone')
-        self._assertExpected(zone, body)
+        self.assertExpected(zone, body, self.excluded_keys)
 
 
 class ZoneOwnershipTest(BaseZonesTest):
diff --git a/designate_tempest_plugin/tests/base.py b/designate_tempest_plugin/tests/base.py
index 5bdd0c7..6519a4f 100644
--- a/designate_tempest_plugin/tests/base.py
+++ b/designate_tempest_plugin/tests/base.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 # WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
 # License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
+import six
 from tempest import test
 
 from designate_tempest_plugin import clients
@@ -31,3 +32,9 @@
     # NOTE(kiall) We should default to only primary, and request additional
     # credentials in the tests that require them.
     credentials = ['primary']
+
+    def assertExpected(self, expected, actual, excluded_keys):
+        for key, value in six.iteritems(expected):
+            if key not in excluded_keys:
+                self.assertIn(key, actual)
+                self.assertEqual(value, actual[key], key)