diff --git a/tempest/api/compute/keypairs/base.py b/tempest/api/compute/keypairs/base.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b742c8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tempest/api/compute/keypairs/base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+# Copyright 2015 Deutsche Telekom AG
+# All Rights Reserved.
+#
+#    Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+#    not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+#    a copy of the License at
+#
+#         http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+#    Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+#    distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+#    WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+#    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+#    under the License.
+
+from tempest.api.compute import base
+
+
+class BaseKeypairTest(base.BaseComputeTest):
+    """Base test case class for all keypair API tests."""
+
+    _api_version = 2
+
+    @classmethod
+    def setup_clients(cls):
+        super(BaseKeypairTest, cls).setup_clients()
+        cls.client = cls.keypairs_client
+
+    def _delete_keypair(self, keypair_name):
+        self.client.delete_keypair(keypair_name)
+
+    def _create_keypair(self, keypair_name, pub_key=None):
+        kwargs = {'name': keypair_name}
+        if pub_key:
+            kwargs.update({'public_key': pub_key})
+        body = self.client.create_keypair(**kwargs)
+        self.addCleanup(self._delete_keypair, keypair_name)
+        return body
diff --git a/tempest/api/compute/keypairs/test_keypairs.py b/tempest/api/compute/keypairs/test_keypairs.py
index 9243fdf..225af12 100644
--- a/tempest/api/compute/keypairs/test_keypairs.py
+++ b/tempest/api/compute/keypairs/test_keypairs.py
@@ -13,31 +13,12 @@
 #    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 #    under the License.
 
-from tempest.api.compute import base
+from tempest.api.compute.keypairs import base
 from tempest.common.utils import data_utils
 from tempest import test
 
 
-class KeyPairsV2TestJSON(base.BaseComputeTest):
-
-    _api_version = 2
-
-    @classmethod
-    def setup_clients(cls):
-        super(KeyPairsV2TestJSON, cls).setup_clients()
-        cls.client = cls.keypairs_client
-
-    def _delete_keypair(self, keypair_name):
-        self.client.delete_keypair(keypair_name)
-
-    def _create_keypair(self, keypair_name, pub_key=None):
-        kwargs = {'name': keypair_name}
-        if pub_key:
-            kwargs.update({'public_key': pub_key})
-        body = self.client.create_keypair(**kwargs)
-        self.addCleanup(self._delete_keypair, keypair_name)
-        return body
-
+class KeyPairsV2TestJSON(base.BaseKeypairTest):
     @test.idempotent_id('1d1dbedb-d7a0-432a-9d09-83f543c3c19b')
     def test_keypairs_create_list_delete(self):
         # Keypairs created should be available in the response list
diff --git a/tempest/api/compute/keypairs/test_keypairs_negative.py b/tempest/api/compute/keypairs/test_keypairs_negative.py
index 3e6d400..0ab78fb 100644
--- a/tempest/api/compute/keypairs/test_keypairs_negative.py
+++ b/tempest/api/compute/keypairs/test_keypairs_negative.py
@@ -16,25 +16,12 @@
 
 from tempest_lib import exceptions as lib_exc
 
-from tempest.api.compute import base
+from tempest.api.compute.keypairs import base
 from tempest.common.utils import data_utils
 from tempest import test
 
 
-class KeyPairsNegativeTestJSON(base.BaseV2ComputeTest):
-
-    @classmethod
-    def setup_clients(cls):
-        super(KeyPairsNegativeTestJSON, cls).setup_clients()
-        cls.client = cls.keypairs_client
-
-    def _create_keypair(self, keypair_name, pub_key=None):
-        kwargs = {'name': keypair_name}
-        if pub_key:
-            kwargs.update({'public_key': pub_key})
-        self.client.create_keypair(**kwargs)
-        self.addCleanup(self.client.delete_keypair, keypair_name)
-
+class KeyPairsNegativeTestJSON(base.BaseKeypairTest):
     @test.attr(type=['negative'])
     @test.idempotent_id('29cca892-46ae-4d48-bc32-8fe7e731eb81')
     def test_keypair_create_with_invalid_pub_key(self):