diff --git a/tests/helpers.py b/tests/helpers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2f5c275
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/helpers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+"""Shared test helpers.
+
+issue_code() requires a live agent session, so tests that mint codes have to
+prove key possession the same way production does rather than reaching past the
+boundary. These helpers do that so the tests stay readable.
+"""
+
+import base64
+
+from sigil import identity, keys, viewcodes
+from sigil.store import Store
+
+
+def enrol(store, agent="bigpickle"):
+    """Enrol agent with a fresh key. Returns (private, public)."""
+    private, public = keys.generate()
+    secret = identity.seed_bootstrap(store, agent)
+    identity.enrol(store, agent, keys.export_public_b64(public), secret)
+    return private, public
+
+
+def sign(private, nonce):
+    return base64.b64encode(private.sign(nonce.encode())).decode()
+
+
+def agent_token(store, private, agent="bigpickle", limit=5000, window=60):
+    """Full challenge-response, ending in a live agent session token.
+
+    The rate limit is opened wide by default: tests that legitimately mint many
+    codes should not trip the production quota. The quota itself is asserted in
+    test_hardening.TestRateLimits.
+    """
+    chal = identity.challenge(store, agent, limit=limit, window=window)
+    sig = sign(private, chal["nonce"])
+    return identity.verify(
+        store, chal["nonce"], sig, limit=limit, window=window
+    )["token"]
+
+
+def issue(store, private, agent="bigpickle", **kw):
+    """Mint a view code the way production does: authenticate, then ask.
+
+    `limit`/`window` tune both the challenge quota and the code quota, since a
+    test that mints many codes trips both.
+    """
+    quota = {k: kw[k] for k in ("limit", "window") if k in kw}
+    token = agent_token(store, private, agent, **quota)
+    return viewcodes.issue_code(store, token, **kw)
+
+
+def fresh(agent="bigpickle"):
+    store = Store(":memory:")
+    private, _ = enrol(store, agent)
+    return store, private
\ No newline at end of file