diff --git a/tests/functional/qemu_test/utils.py b/tests/functional/qemu_test/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4eb5e5d5e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functional/qemu_test/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+# Utilities for python-based QEMU tests
+#
+# Copyright 2024 Red Hat, Inc.
+#
+# Authors:
+#  Thomas Huth <thuth@redhat.com>
+#
+# This work is licensed under the terms of the GNU GPL, version 2 or
+# later.  See the COPYING file in the top-level directory.
+
+import tarfile
+
+def archive_extract(archive, dest_dir, member=None):
+    with tarfile.open(archive) as tf:
+        if hasattr(tarfile, 'data_filter'):
+            tf.extraction_filter = getattr(tarfile, 'data_filter',
+                                           (lambda member, path: member))
+        if member:
+            tf.extract(member=member, path=dest_dir)
+        else:
+            tf.extractall(path=dest_dir)