diff --git a/tests/test_inbox.py b/tests/test_inbox.py
index 3db3d6f..5033bb2 100644
--- a/tests/test_inbox.py
+++ b/tests/test_inbox.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import respx
 import httpx
 from uuid import uuid4
 from tests import factories
+from tests.utils import build_remote_actor
 
 from unittest import mock
 from app.main import app
@@ -25,14 +26,8 @@ def test_inbox_follow_request(
 ) -> None:
 
     # build test actor
-    ra = factories.RemoteActorFactory(
-        base_url="https://example.com",
-        username="test",
-        public_key="pk",
-    )
-
+    ra = build_remote_actor()
     ap_id = ra.ap_id # type: ignore
-    app.dependency_overrides[precheck.inbox_prechecker] = factories.inbox_prechecker
 
     # mock request
     respx_mock.get(ap_id).mock(return_value=httpx.Response(200,json=ra.ap_actor))
@@ -99,11 +94,7 @@ def test_inbox_announce_request(
 ) -> None:
 
     # build test actor
-    ra = factories.RemoteActorFactory(
-        base_url="https://example.com",
-        username="test",
-        public_key="pk",
-    )
+    ra = build_remote_actor()
 
     ap_id = ra.ap_id # type: ignore
     app.dependency_overrides[precheck.inbox_prechecker] = factories.inbox_prechecker
diff --git a/tests/test_outbox.py b/tests/test_outbox.py
index f85d341..51f094e 100644
--- a/tests/test_outbox.py
+++ b/tests/test_outbox.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import respx
 import httpx
 from uuid import uuid4
 from tests import factories
+from tests.utils import build_remote_actor
 
 from unittest import mock
 from app.main import app
@@ -24,15 +25,8 @@ async def test_outbox_send_follow_request(
     respx_mock: respx.MockRouter,
 ) -> None:
     # build test actor
-    ra = factories.RemoteActorFactory(
-        base_url="https://example.com",
-        username="test",
-        public_key="pk",
-    )
-
+    ra = build_remote_actor()
     remote_ap_id = ra.ap_id # type: ignore
-    app.dependency_overrides[precheck.inbox_prechecker] = \
-        factories.inbox_prechecker
 
     # mock request
     respx_mock.get(remote_ap_id).mock(
@@ -59,15 +53,8 @@ async def test_outbox_send_create_activity(
     respx_mock: respx.MockRouter,
 ) -> None:
     # build test actor
-    ra = factories.RemoteActorFactory(
-        base_url="https://example.com",
-        username="test",
-        public_key="pk",
-    )
-
+    ra = build_remote_actor()
     remote_ap_id = ra.ap_id # type: ignore
-    app.dependency_overrides[precheck.inbox_prechecker] = \
-        factories.inbox_prechecker
 
     # mock request
     respx_mock.get(remote_ap_id).mock(
diff --git a/tests/utils.py b/tests/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..258cc3a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+from tests import factories
+from app.main import app
+from app.utils import precheck
+
+
+
+def build_remote_actor():
+    ra = factories.RemoteActorFactory(
+        base_url="https://example.com",
+        username="test",
+        public_key="pk",
+    )
+
+    app.dependency_overrides[precheck.inbox_prechecker] = \
+        factories.inbox_prechecker
+
+    return ra