diff --git a/benchmarks/gem_exec_ctx.c b/benchmarks/gem_exec_ctx.c
index 0eac04b0..a1c6e5d7 100644
--- a/benchmarks/gem_exec_ctx.c
+++ b/benchmarks/gem_exec_ctx.c
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ static uint32_t batch(int fd)
 	return handle;
 }
 
-static uint32_t __gem_context_create(int fd)
+static uint32_t __gem_context_create_local(int fd)
 {
 	struct drm_i915_gem_context_create create;
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ static int loop(unsigned ring,
 	execbuf.flags |= LOCAL_I915_EXEC_HANDLE_LUT;
 	execbuf.flags |= LOCAL_I915_EXEC_NO_RELOC;
 	if (mode != DEFAULT) {
-		execbuf.rsvd1 = __gem_context_create(fd);
+		execbuf.rsvd1 = __gem_context_create_local(fd);
 		if (execbuf.rsvd1 == 0)
 			return 77;
 	}
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ static int loop(unsigned ring,
 			uint32_t ctx = 0;
 
 			if (mode != DEFAULT && mode != NOP) {
-				execbuf.rsvd1 = __gem_context_create(fd);
+				execbuf.rsvd1 = __gem_context_create_local(fd);
 				ctx = gem_context_create(fd);
 			}
 
diff --git a/benchmarks/gem_exec_trace.c b/benchmarks/gem_exec_trace.c
index 12577649..2724ee92 100644
--- a/benchmarks/gem_exec_trace.c
+++ b/benchmarks/gem_exec_trace.c
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ static double elapsed(const struct timespec *start, const struct timespec *end)
 	return 1e3*(end->tv_sec - start->tv_sec) + 1e-6*(end->tv_nsec - start->tv_nsec);
 }
 
-static uint32_t __gem_context_create(int fd)
+static uint32_t __gem_context_create_local(int fd)
 {
 	struct drm_i915_gem_context_create arg = {};
 	drmIoctl(fd, DRM_IOCTL_I915_GEM_CONTEXT_CREATE, &arg);
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ static double replay(const char *filename, long nop, long range)
 				num_ctx = new_ctx;
 			}
 
-			ctx[t->handle] = __gem_context_create(fd);
+			ctx[t->handle] = __gem_context_create_local(fd);
 			break;
 		}
 	case DEL_CTX:
diff --git a/lib/i915/gem_context.c b/lib/i915/gem_context.c
index 6d9edf5e..a6c37051 100644
--- a/lib/i915/gem_context.c
+++ b/lib/i915/gem_context.c
@@ -43,6 +43,22 @@
  * software features improving submission model (context priority).
  */
 
+int __gem_context_create(int fd, uint32_t *ctx_id)
+{
+       struct drm_i915_gem_context_create create;
+       int err = 0;
+
+       memset(&create, 0, sizeof(create));
+       if (igt_ioctl(fd, DRM_IOCTL_I915_GEM_CONTEXT_CREATE, &create) == 0)
+               *ctx_id = create.ctx_id;
+       else
+               err = -errno;
+
+       errno = 0;
+       return err;
+}
+
+
 /**
  * gem_context_create:
  * @fd: open i915 drm file descriptor
@@ -55,18 +71,44 @@
  */
 uint32_t gem_context_create(int fd)
 {
-	struct drm_i915_gem_context_create create;
+	uint32_t ctx_id;
+	gem_require_contexts(fd);
 
-	memset(&create, 0, sizeof(create));
-	if (igt_ioctl(fd, DRM_IOCTL_I915_GEM_CONTEXT_CREATE, &create)) {
-		int err = -errno;
-		igt_skip_on(err == -ENODEV || errno == -EINVAL);
-		igt_assert_eq(err, 0);
-	}
-	igt_assert(create.ctx_id != 0);
-	errno = 0;
+	igt_assert_eq(__gem_context_create(fd, &ctx_id), 0);
+	igt_assert(ctx_id != 0);
+
+	return ctx_id;
+}
 
-	return create.ctx_id;
+/**
+ * gem_has_contexts:
+ * @fd: open i915 drm file descriptor
+ *
+ * Queries whether context creation is supported or not.
+ *
+ * Returns: Context creation availability.
+ */
+bool gem_has_contexts(int fd)
+{
+	uint32_t ctx_id = 0;
+
+	__gem_context_create(fd, &ctx_id);
+	if (ctx_id)
+		gem_context_destroy(fd, ctx_id);
+
+	return ctx_id;
+}
+
+/**
+ * gem_require_contexts:
+ * @fd: open i915 drm file descriptor
+ *
+ * This helper will automatically skip the test on platforms where context
+ * support is not available.
+ */
+void gem_require_contexts(int fd)
+{
+	igt_require(gem_has_contexts(fd));
 }
 
 int __gem_context_destroy(int fd, uint32_t ctx_id)
diff --git a/lib/i915/gem_context.h b/lib/i915/gem_context.h
index a2339c4b..efff96b6 100644
--- a/lib/i915/gem_context.h
+++ b/lib/i915/gem_context.h
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #ifndef GEM_CONTEXT_H
 #define GEM_CONTEXT_H
 
+int __gem_context_create(int fd, uint32_t *ctx_id);
 uint32_t gem_context_create(int fd);
 void gem_context_destroy(int fd, uint32_t ctx_id);
 int __gem_context_destroy(int fd, uint32_t ctx_id);
@@ -38,6 +39,8 @@ struct local_i915_gem_context_param {
 #define LOCAL_CONTEXT_PARAM_BANNABLE	0x5
 	uint64_t value;
 };
+bool gem_has_contexts(int fd);
+void gem_require_contexts(int fd);
 void gem_context_require_bannable(int fd);
 void gem_context_require_param(int fd, uint64_t param);
 void gem_context_get_param(int fd, struct local_i915_gem_context_param *p);
diff --git a/tests/gem_ctx_create.c b/tests/gem_ctx_create.c
index ae0825a1..abe9a32e 100644
--- a/tests/gem_ctx_create.c
+++ b/tests/gem_ctx_create.c
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ static unsigned all_nengine;
 static unsigned ppgtt_engines[16];
 static unsigned ppgtt_nengine;
 
-static int __gem_context_create(int fd, struct drm_i915_gem_context_create *arg)
+static int __gem_context_create_local(int fd, struct drm_i915_gem_context_create *arg)
 {
 	int ret = 0;
 	if (drmIoctl(fd, DRM_IOCTL_I915_GEM_CONTEXT_CREATE, arg))
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ static void maximum(int fd, int ncpus, unsigned mode)
 
 		err = -ENOMEM;
 		if (avail_mem > (count + 1) * ctx_size)
-			err = __gem_context_create(fd, &create);
+			err = __gem_context_create_local(fd, &create);
 		if (err) {
 			igt_info("Created %lu contexts, before failing with '%s' [%d]\n",
 				 count, strerror(-err), -err);
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ igt_main
 		igt_require_gem(fd);
 
 		memset(&create, 0, sizeof(create));
-		igt_require(__gem_context_create(fd, &create) == 0);
+		igt_require(__gem_context_create_local(fd, &create) == 0);
 		gem_context_destroy(fd, create.ctx_id);
 
 		for_each_engine(fd, engine) {
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ igt_main
 		memset(&create, 0, sizeof(create));
 		create.ctx_id = rand();
 		create.pad = 0;
-		igt_assert_eq(__gem_context_create(fd, &create), 0);
+		igt_assert_eq(__gem_context_create_local(fd, &create), 0);
 		igt_assert(create.ctx_id != 0);
 		gem_context_destroy(fd, create.ctx_id);
 	}
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ igt_main
 		memset(&create, 0, sizeof(create));
 		create.ctx_id = rand();
 		create.pad = 1;
-		igt_assert_eq(__gem_context_create(fd, &create), -EINVAL);
+		igt_assert_eq(__gem_context_create_local(fd, &create), -EINVAL);
 	}
 
 	igt_subtest("maximum-mem")
diff --git a/tests/gem_ctx_switch.c b/tests/gem_ctx_switch.c
index fdd67202..285fc1a1 100644
--- a/tests/gem_ctx_switch.c
+++ b/tests/gem_ctx_switch.c
@@ -45,19 +45,6 @@
 
 #define INTERRUPTIBLE 1
 
-static int __gem_context_create(int fd, uint32_t *ctx_id)
-{
-	struct drm_i915_gem_context_create arg;
-	int ret = 0;
-
-	memset(&arg, 0, sizeof(arg));
-	if (drmIoctl(fd, DRM_IOCTL_I915_GEM_CONTEXT_CREATE, &arg))
-		ret = -errno;
-
-	*ctx_id = arg.ctx_id;
-	return ret;
-}
-
 static double elapsed(const struct timespec *start, const struct timespec *end)
 {
 	return ((end->tv_sec - start->tv_sec) +
diff --git a/tests/gem_eio.c b/tests/gem_eio.c
index 2d4c95f4..bc1cfcd8 100644
--- a/tests/gem_eio.c
+++ b/tests/gem_eio.c
@@ -252,17 +252,6 @@ static void test_inflight_suspend(int fd)
 	trigger_reset(fd);
 }
 
-static uint32_t __gem_context_create(int fd)
-{
-	struct drm_i915_gem_context_create create;
-
-	memset(&create, 0, sizeof(create));
-	if (ioctl(fd, DRM_IOCTL_I915_GEM_CONTEXT_CREATE, &create))
-		return 0;
-
-	return create.ctx_id;
-}
-
 static void test_inflight_contexts(int fd)
 {
 	struct drm_i915_gem_execbuffer2 execbuf;
@@ -274,7 +263,7 @@ static void test_inflight_contexts(int fd)
 
 	igt_require(gem_has_exec_fence(fd));
 
-	ctx[0] = __gem_context_create(fd);
+	ctx[0] = gem_context_create(fd);
 	igt_require(ctx[0]);
 	for (unsigned int n = 1; n < ARRAY_SIZE(ctx); n++)
 		ctx[n] = gem_context_create(fd);
diff --git a/tests/gem_exec_await.c b/tests/gem_exec_await.c
index 9c446792..ca0badaa 100644
--- a/tests/gem_exec_await.c
+++ b/tests/gem_exec_await.c
@@ -55,15 +55,6 @@ static bool ignore_engine(int fd, unsigned engine)
 	return false;
 }
 
-static uint32_t __gem_context_create(int fd)
-{
-	struct drm_i915_gem_context_create arg;
-
-	memset(&arg, 0, sizeof(arg));
-	drmIoctl(fd, DRM_IOCTL_I915_GEM_CONTEXT_CREATE, &arg);
-	return arg.ctx_id;
-}
-
 static void xchg_obj(void *array, unsigned i, unsigned j)
 {
 	struct drm_i915_gem_exec_object2 *obj = array;
@@ -130,8 +121,7 @@ static void wide(int fd, int ring_size, int timeout, unsigned int flags)
 					 LOCAL_I915_EXEC_HANDLE_LUT);
 
 		if (flags & CONTEXTS) {
-			exec[e].execbuf.rsvd1 = __gem_context_create(fd);
-			igt_require(exec[e].execbuf.rsvd1);
+			exec[e].execbuf.rsvd1 = gem_context_create(fd);
 		}
 
 		exec[e].exec[0].handle = gem_create(fd, 4096);
@@ -174,7 +164,7 @@ static void wide(int fd, int ring_size, int timeout, unsigned int flags)
 
 			if (flags & CONTEXTS) {
 				gem_context_destroy(fd, exec[e].execbuf.rsvd1);
-				exec[e].execbuf.rsvd1 = __gem_context_create(fd);
+				exec[e].execbuf.rsvd1 = gem_context_create(fd);
 			}
 
 			exec[e].reloc.presumed_offset = exec[e].exec[1].offset;
diff --git a/tests/gem_exec_nop.c b/tests/gem_exec_nop.c
index c9280795..c917ea55 100644
--- a/tests/gem_exec_nop.c
+++ b/tests/gem_exec_nop.c
@@ -358,19 +358,6 @@ static void xchg(void *array, unsigned i, unsigned j)
 	u[j] = tmp;
 }
 
-static int __gem_context_create(int fd, uint32_t *ctx_id)
-{
-	struct drm_i915_gem_context_create arg;
-	int ret = 0;
-
-	memset(&arg, 0, sizeof(arg));
-	if (drmIoctl(fd, DRM_IOCTL_I915_GEM_CONTEXT_CREATE, &arg))
-		ret = -errno;
-
-	*ctx_id = arg.ctx_id;
-	return ret;
-}
-
 static void sequential(int fd, uint32_t handle, unsigned flags, int timeout)
 {
 	const int ncpus = flags & FORKED ? sysconf(_SC_NPROCESSORS_ONLN) : 1;
diff --git a/tests/gem_exec_parallel.c b/tests/gem_exec_parallel.c
index 1c53bd64..5c0b027b 100644
--- a/tests/gem_exec_parallel.c
+++ b/tests/gem_exec_parallel.c
@@ -55,20 +55,11 @@ static void check_bo(int fd, uint32_t handle, int pass)
 	munmap(map, 4096);
 }
 
-static uint32_t __gem_context_create(int fd)
-{
-	struct drm_i915_gem_context_create arg;
-
-	memset(&arg, 0, sizeof(arg));
-	if (drmIoctl(fd, DRM_IOCTL_I915_GEM_CONTEXT_CREATE, &arg) == 0)
-		gem_context_destroy(fd, arg.ctx_id);
-
-	return arg.ctx_id;
-}
-
 static void gem_require_context(int fd)
 {
-	igt_require(__gem_context_create(fd));
+	uint32_t ctx_id = 0;
+	__gem_context_create(fd, &ctx_id);
+	igt_require(ctx_id);
 }
 
 static bool ignore_engine(int fd, unsigned engine)
diff --git a/tests/gem_exec_reuse.c b/tests/gem_exec_reuse.c
index 4e3907cf..11185de1 100644
--- a/tests/gem_exec_reuse.c
+++ b/tests/gem_exec_reuse.c
@@ -56,19 +56,6 @@ static void noop(struct noop *n,
 	gem_execbuf(n->fd, &execbuf);
 }
 
-static int __gem_context_create(int fd, uint32_t *ctx_id)
-{
-	struct drm_i915_gem_context_create arg;
-	int ret = 0;
-
-	memset(&arg, 0, sizeof(arg));
-	if (drmIoctl(fd, DRM_IOCTL_I915_GEM_CONTEXT_CREATE, &arg))
-		ret = -errno;
-
-	*ctx_id = arg.ctx_id;
-	return ret;
-}
-
 static int fls(uint64_t x)
 {
 	int t;
diff --git a/tests/gem_exec_whisper.c b/tests/gem_exec_whisper.c
index 51921ba3..90527b54 100644
--- a/tests/gem_exec_whisper.c
+++ b/tests/gem_exec_whisper.c
@@ -79,19 +79,6 @@ static void verify_reloc(int fd, uint32_t handle,
 	}
 }
 
-static int __gem_context_create(int fd, uint32_t *ctx_id)
-{
-	struct drm_i915_gem_context_create arg;
-	int ret = 0;
-
-	memset(&arg, 0, sizeof(arg));
-	if (drmIoctl(fd, DRM_IOCTL_I915_GEM_CONTEXT_CREATE, &arg))
-		ret = -errno;
-
-	*ctx_id = arg.ctx_id;
-	return ret;
-}
-
 static bool ignore_engine(int fd, unsigned engine)
 {
 	if (engine == 0)
