diff --git a/bin/tests/system/isctest/__init__.py b/bin/tests/system/isctest/__init__.py
index 047ca7762a..e0014adbba 100644
--- a/bin/tests/system/isctest/__init__.py
+++ b/bin/tests/system/isctest/__init__.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ from . import check
 from . import instance
 from . import query
 from . import rndc
+from . import run
 from . import log
 
 # isctest.mark module is intentionally NOT imported, because it relies on
diff --git a/bin/tests/system/isctest/run.py b/bin/tests/system/isctest/run.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2efb39d137
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/tests/system/isctest/run.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+# Copyright (C) Internet Systems Consortium, Inc. ("ISC")
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0
+#
+# This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
+# License, v. 2.0.  If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
+# file, you can obtain one at https://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
+#
+# See the COPYRIGHT file distributed with this work for additional
+# information regarding copyright ownership.
+
+import time
+
+
+def retry_with_timeout(func, timeout, delay=1, msg=None):
+    start_time = time.time()
+    while time.time() < start_time + timeout:
+        if func():
+            return
+        time.sleep(delay)
+    if msg is None:
+        msg = f"{func.__module__}.{func.__qualname__} timed out after {timeout} s"
+    assert False, msg