diff --git a/tempest/api/compute/servers/test_delete_server.py b/tempest/api/compute/servers/test_delete_server.py
index 6796bb5..079465d 100644
--- a/tempest/api/compute/servers/test_delete_server.py
+++ b/tempest/api/compute/servers/test_delete_server.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 import testtools
 
 from tempest.api.compute import base
+from tempest.common import compute
 from tempest.common import waiters
 from tempest import config
 from tempest import test
@@ -84,16 +85,8 @@
     def test_delete_server_while_in_shelved_state(self):
         # Delete a server while it's VM state is Shelved
         server = self.create_test_server(wait_until='ACTIVE')
-        self.client.shelve_server(server['id'])
+        compute.shelve_server(self.client, server['id'])
 
-        offload_time = CONF.compute.shelved_offload_time
-        if offload_time >= 0:
-            waiters.wait_for_server_status(self.client, server['id'],
-                                           'SHELVED_OFFLOADED',
-                                           extra_timeout=offload_time)
-        else:
-            waiters.wait_for_server_status(self.client, server['id'],
-                                           'SHELVED')
         self.client.delete_server(server['id'])
         waiters.wait_for_server_termination(self.client, server['id'])
 
diff --git a/tempest/api/compute/servers/test_server_actions.py b/tempest/api/compute/servers/test_server_actions.py
index 5b4417a..f3aa16a 100644
--- a/tempest/api/compute/servers/test_server_actions.py
+++ b/tempest/api/compute/servers/test_server_actions.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 import testtools
 
 from tempest.api.compute import base
+from tempest.common import compute
 from tempest.common.utils import data_utils
 from tempest.common.utils.linux import remote_client
 from tempest.common import waiters
@@ -440,20 +441,8 @@
     @testtools.skipUnless(CONF.compute_feature_enabled.shelve,
                           'Shelve is not available.')
     def test_shelve_unshelve_server(self):
-        self.client.shelve_server(self.server_id)
-
-        offload_time = CONF.compute.shelved_offload_time
-        if offload_time >= 0:
-            waiters.wait_for_server_status(self.client, self.server_id,
-                                           'SHELVED_OFFLOADED',
-                                           extra_timeout=offload_time)
-        else:
-            waiters.wait_for_server_status(self.client, self.server_id,
-                                           'SHELVED')
-
-            self.client.shelve_offload_server(self.server_id)
-            waiters.wait_for_server_status(self.client, self.server_id,
-                                           'SHELVED_OFFLOADED')
+        compute.shelve_server(self.client, self.server_id,
+                              force_shelve_offload=True)
 
         server = self.client.show_server(self.server_id)['server']
         image_name = server['name'] + '-shelved'
diff --git a/tempest/api/compute/servers/test_servers_negative.py b/tempest/api/compute/servers/test_servers_negative.py
index 8f0e430..10ea31d 100644
--- a/tempest/api/compute/servers/test_servers_negative.py
+++ b/tempest/api/compute/servers/test_servers_negative.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 import testtools
 
 from tempest.api.compute import base
+from tempest.common import compute
 from tempest.common.utils import data_utils
 from tempest.common import waiters
 from tempest import config
@@ -453,18 +454,7 @@
     @test.attr(type=['negative'])
     def test_shelve_shelved_server(self):
         # shelve a shelved server.
-        self.client.shelve_server(self.server_id)
-
-        offload_time = CONF.compute.shelved_offload_time
-        if offload_time >= 0:
-            waiters.wait_for_server_status(self.client,
-                                           self.server_id,
-                                           'SHELVED_OFFLOADED',
-                                           extra_timeout=offload_time)
-        else:
-            waiters.wait_for_server_status(self.client,
-                                           self.server_id,
-                                           'SHELVED')
+        compute.shelve_server(self.client, self.server_id)
 
         server = self.client.show_server(self.server_id)['server']
         image_name = server['name'] + '-shelved'
diff --git a/tempest/common/compute.py b/tempest/common/compute.py
index b5c4547..7ebc283 100644
--- a/tempest/common/compute.py
+++ b/tempest/common/compute.py
@@ -157,3 +157,29 @@
                                           % server['id'])
 
     return body, servers
+
+
+def shelve_server(client, server_id, force_shelve_offload=False):
+    """Common wrapper utility to shelve server.
+
+    This method is a common wrapper to make server in 'SHELVED'
+    or 'SHELVED_OFFLOADED' state.
+
+    :param server_id: Server to make in shelve state
+    :param force_shelve_offload: Forcefully offload shelve server if it
+                                 is configured not to offload server
+                                 automatically after offload time.
+    """
+    client.shelve_server(server_id)
+
+    offload_time = CONF.compute.shelved_offload_time
+    if offload_time >= 0:
+        waiters.wait_for_server_status(client, server_id,
+                                       'SHELVED_OFFLOADED',
+                                       extra_timeout=offload_time)
+    else:
+        waiters.wait_for_server_status(client, server_id, 'SHELVED')
+        if force_shelve_offload:
+            client.shelve_offload_server(server_id)
+            waiters.wait_for_server_status(client, server_id,
+                                           'SHELVED_OFFLOADED')
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/test_shelve_instance.py b/tempest/scenario/test_shelve_instance.py
index 77de47e..6d3ecd4 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/test_shelve_instance.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/test_shelve_instance.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 import testtools
 
+from tempest.common import compute
 from tempest.common import waiters
 from tempest import config
 from tempest.scenario import manager
@@ -35,18 +36,9 @@
     """
 
     def _shelve_then_unshelve_server(self, server):
-        self.servers_client.shelve_server(server['id'])
-        offload_time = CONF.compute.shelved_offload_time
-        if offload_time >= 0:
-            waiters.wait_for_server_status(self.servers_client, server['id'],
-                                           'SHELVED_OFFLOADED',
-                                           extra_timeout=offload_time)
-        else:
-            waiters.wait_for_server_status(self.servers_client,
-                                           server['id'], 'SHELVED')
-            self.servers_client.shelve_offload_server(server['id'])
-            waiters.wait_for_server_status(self.servers_client, server['id'],
-                                           'SHELVED_OFFLOADED')
+        compute.shelve_server(self.servers_client, server['id'],
+                              force_shelve_offload=True)
+
         self.servers_client.unshelve_server(server['id'])
         waiters.wait_for_server_status(self.servers_client, server['id'],
                                        'ACTIVE')