diff --git a/tests/frontend/helper/methods.js b/tests/frontend/helper/methods.js
index 39245ea63..4c7fe1204 100644
--- a/tests/frontend/helper/methods.js
+++ b/tests/frontend/helper/methods.js
@@ -219,3 +219,20 @@ helper.timesliderTextLines = function () {
     return $(this).text();
   }).get();
 };
+
+helper.padIsEmpty = () => (
+  !helper.padInner$.document.getSelection().isCollapsed ||
+  (helper.padInner$('div').length === 1 && helper.padInner$('div').first().html() === '<br>'));
+
+helper.clearPad = async () => {
+  if (helper.padIsEmpty()) return;
+  const commitsBefore = helper.commits.length;
+  const lines = helper.linesDiv();
+  helper.selectLines(lines[0], lines[lines.length - 1]);
+  await helper.waitForPromise(() => !helper.padInner$.document.getSelection().isCollapsed);
+  const e = new helper.padInner$.Event(helper.evtType);
+  e.keyCode = 8; // delete key
+  helper.padInner$('#innerdocbody').trigger(e);
+  await helper.waitForPromise(helper.padIsEmpty);
+  await helper.waitForPromise(() => helper.commits.length > commitsBefore);
+};
diff --git a/tests/frontend/specs/timeslider_follow.js b/tests/frontend/specs/timeslider_follow.js
index be9bc8125..e2432fa98 100644
--- a/tests/frontend/specs/timeslider_follow.js
+++ b/tests/frontend/specs/timeslider_follow.js
@@ -38,18 +38,7 @@ describe('timeslider follow', function () {
    *
    */
   it('only to lines that exist in the current pad view, see #4389', async function () {
-    // Select everything and clear via delete key
-    const e = helper.padInner$.Event(helper.evtType);
-    e.keyCode = 8; // delete key
-    const lines = helper.linesDiv();
-    helper.selectLines(lines[0], lines[lines.length - 1]); // select all lines
-    // probably unnecessary, but wait for the selection to be Range not Caret
-    await helper.waitForPromise(() => !helper.padInner$.document.getSelection().isCollapsed
-        // only supported in FF57+
-        // return helper.padInner$.document.getSelection().type === 'Range';
-    );
-    helper.padInner$('#innerdocbody').trigger(e);
-    await helper.waitForPromise(() => helper.commits.length === 1);
+    await helper.clearPad();
     await helper.edit('Test line\n\n');
     await helper.edit('Another test line', 3);