diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/ftracetest b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/ftracetest
index f15c0da..c6381a9 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/ftracetest
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/ftracetest
@@ -235,6 +235,9 @@
   fi
 }
 
+# load in the helper functions
+. $TEST_DIR/functions
+
 # Main loop
 for t in $TEST_CASES; do
   run_test $t
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/functions b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/functions
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5d8cd06
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/test.d/functions
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+
+clear_trace() { # reset trace output
+    echo > trace
+}
+
+disable_tracing() { # stop trace recording
+    echo 0 > tracing_on
+}
+
+enable_tracing() { # start trace recording
+    echo 1 > tracing_on
+}
+
+reset_tracer() { # reset the current tracer
+    echo nop > current_tracer
+}