diff --git a/bin/tests/system/isctest/check.py b/bin/tests/system/isctest/check.py
index 28eb16d5dd..251e87e4f3 100644
--- a/bin/tests/system/isctest/check.py
+++ b/bin/tests/system/isctest/check.py
@@ -10,23 +10,14 @@
 # information regarding copyright ownership.
 
 import shutil
-from typing import Any, Optional
+from typing import Optional
 
 import dns.rcode
 import dns.message
 import dns.zone
 
 import isctest.log
-
-# compatiblity with dnspython<2.0.0
-try:
-    # In dnspython>=2.0.0, dns.rcode.Rcode class is available
-    # pylint: disable=invalid-name
-    dns_rcode = dns.rcode.Rcode  # type: Any
-except AttributeError:
-    # In dnspython<2.0.0, selected rcodes are available as integers directly
-    # from dns.rcode
-    dns_rcode = dns.rcode
+from isctest.compat import dns_rcode
 
 
 def rcode(message: dns.message.Message, expected_rcode) -> None:
diff --git a/bin/tests/system/isctest/compat.py b/bin/tests/system/isctest/compat.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5580f1f4c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/tests/system/isctest/compat.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# 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.
+
+from typing import Any
+
+import dns.rcode
+
+# compatiblity with dnspython<2.0.0
+try:
+    # In dnspython>=2.0.0, dns.rcode.Rcode class is available
+    # pylint: disable=invalid-name
+    dns_rcode = dns.rcode.Rcode  # type: Any
+except AttributeError:
+    # In dnspython<2.0.0, selected rcodes are available as integers directly
+    # from dns.rcode
+    dns_rcode = dns.rcode
diff --git a/bin/tests/system/isctest/query.py b/bin/tests/system/isctest/query.py
index c001e063d1..3e5ed8b78b 100644
--- a/bin/tests/system/isctest/query.py
+++ b/bin/tests/system/isctest/query.py
@@ -17,16 +17,7 @@ import dns.query
 import dns.message
 
 import isctest.log
-
-# compatiblity with dnspython<2.0.0
-try:
-    # In dnspython>=2.0.0, dns.rcode.Rcode class is available
-    # pylint: disable=invalid-name
-    dns_rcode = dns.rcode.Rcode  # type: Any
-except AttributeError:
-    # In dnspython<2.0.0, selected rcodes are available as integers directly
-    # from dns.rcode
-    dns_rcode = dns.rcode
+from isctest.compat import dns_rcode
 
 QUERY_TIMEOUT = 10
 
diff --git a/bin/tests/system/isctest/run.py b/bin/tests/system/isctest/run.py
index 60703749ce..b3cb8200c0 100644
--- a/bin/tests/system/isctest/run.py
+++ b/bin/tests/system/isctest/run.py
@@ -12,24 +12,14 @@
 import os
 import subprocess
 import time
-from typing import Any, Optional
+from typing import Optional
 
 import isctest.log
+from isctest.compat import dns_rcode
 
 import dns.message
 
 
-# compatiblity with dnspython<2.0.0
-try:
-    # In dnspython>=2.0.0, dns.rcode.Rcode class is available
-    # pylint: disable=invalid-name
-    dns_rcode = dns.rcode.Rcode  # type: Any
-except AttributeError:
-    # In dnspython<2.0.0, selected rcodes are available as integers directly
-    # from dns.rcode
-    dns_rcode = dns.rcode
-
-
 def cmd(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
     args,
     cwd=None,
diff --git a/bin/tests/system/rpzextra/tests_rpzextra.py b/bin/tests/system/rpzextra/tests_rpzextra.py
index 5c2740ad63..bf2fe94c6b 100644
--- a/bin/tests/system/rpzextra/tests_rpzextra.py
+++ b/bin/tests/system/rpzextra/tests_rpzextra.py
@@ -16,21 +16,11 @@ import pytest
 
 pytest.importorskip("dns", minversion="2.0.0")
 import isctest
+from isctest.compat import dns_rcode
 
 import dns.message
 
 
-# compatiblity with dnspython<2.0.0
-try:
-    # In dnspython>=2.0.0, dns.rcode.Rcode class is available
-    # pylint: disable=invalid-name
-    dns_rcode = dns.rcode.Rcode  # type: Any
-except AttributeError:
-    # In dnspython<2.0.0, selected rcodes are available as integers directly
-    # from dns.rcode
-    dns_rcode = dns.rcode
-
-
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "qname,source,rcode",
     [