diff --git a/tests/frontend/helper.js b/tests/frontend/helper.js
index 7a8d19b60..800dfb293 100644
--- a/tests/frontend/helper.js
+++ b/tests/frontend/helper.js
@@ -56,6 +56,22 @@ var helper = {};
     window.document.cookie = "";
   }
 
+  // Functionality for knowing what key event type is required for tests
+  var evtType = "keydown";
+  // if it's IE require keypress
+  if(window.navigator.userAgent.indexOf("MSIE") > -1){
+    evtType = "keypress";
+  }
+  // Edge also requires keypress.
+  if(window.navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Edge") > -1){
+    evtType = "keypress";
+  }
+  // Opera also requires keypress.
+  if(window.navigator.userAgent.indexOf("OPR") > -1){
+    evtType = "keypress";
+  }
+  helper.evtType = evtType;
+
   helper.newPad = function(cb, padName){
     //build opts object
     var opts = {clearCookies: true}
@@ -216,4 +232,4 @@ var helper = {};
 
     _it(name, func);
   }
-})()
\ No newline at end of file
+})()
diff --git a/tests/frontend/specs/bold.js b/tests/frontend/specs/bold.js
index 2d77d1680..94e3a9b5b 100644
--- a/tests/frontend/specs/bold.js
+++ b/tests/frontend/specs/bold.js
@@ -44,18 +44,7 @@ describe("bold button", function(){
     //select this text element
     $firstTextElement.sendkeys('{selectall}');
 
-    if(inner$(window)[0].bowser.modernIE){ // if it's IE
-      var evtType = "keypress";
-    }else{
-      // Edge also requires keypress.
-      if(window.navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Edge") > -1){
-        var evtType = "keypress";
-      }else{
-        var evtType = "keydown";
-      }
-    }
-
-    var e = inner$.Event(evtType);
+    var e = inner$.Event(helper.evtType);
     e.ctrlKey = true; // Control key
     e.which = 66; // b
     inner$("#innerdocbody").trigger(e);
diff --git a/tests/frontend/specs/caret.js b/tests/frontend/specs/caret.js
index e35ad0e9a..45c2eb3be 100644
--- a/tests/frontend/specs/caret.js
+++ b/tests/frontend/specs/caret.js
@@ -297,20 +297,8 @@ function prepareDocument(n, target){ // generates a random document with random
 }
 
 function keyEvent(target, charCode, ctrl, shift){ // sends a charCode to the window
-  if(inner$(window)[0].bowser.firefox || inner$(window)[0].bowser.modernIE){ // if it's IE
-    var evtType = "keypress";
-  }else{
-    // Edge also requires keypress.
-    if(window.navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Edge") > -1){
-      var evtType = "keypress";
-    }else{
-      var evtType = "keydown";
-    }
-  }
 
-
-  var e = target.Event(evtType);
-  console.log(e);
+  var e = target.Event(helper.evtType);
   if(ctrl){
     e.ctrlKey = true; // Control key
   }
diff --git a/tests/frontend/specs/indentation.js b/tests/frontend/specs/indentation.js
index 1b9732ef3..2173f9e07 100644
--- a/tests/frontend/specs/indentation.js
+++ b/tests/frontend/specs/indentation.js
@@ -15,18 +15,7 @@ describe("indentation button", function(){
     //select this text element
     $firstTextElement.sendkeys('{selectall}');
 
-    if(inner$(window)[0].bowser.modernIE){ // if it's IE
-      var evtType = "keypress";
-    }else{
-      // Edge also requires keypress.
-      if(window.navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Edge") > -1){
-        var evtType = "keypress";
-      }else{
-        var evtType = "keydown";
-      }
-    }
-
-    var e = inner$.Event(evtType);
+    var e = inner$.Event(helper.evtType);
     e.keyCode = 9; // tab :|
     inner$("#innerdocbody").trigger(e);
 
@@ -330,12 +319,7 @@ describe("indentation button", function(){
 
 function pressEnter(){
   var inner$ = helper.padInner$;
-  if(inner$(window)[0].bowser.modernIE){ // if it's IE
-    var evtType = "keypress";
-  }else{
-    var evtType = "keydown";
-  }
-  var e = inner$.Event(evtType);
+  var e = inner$.Event(helper.evtType);
   e.keyCode = 13; // enter :|
   inner$("#innerdocbody").trigger(e);
 }
diff --git a/tests/frontend/specs/italic.js b/tests/frontend/specs/italic.js
index b56887ea9..3c62e00e8 100644
--- a/tests/frontend/specs/italic.js
+++ b/tests/frontend/specs/italic.js
@@ -44,18 +44,7 @@ describe("italic some text", function(){
     //select this text element
     $firstTextElement.sendkeys('{selectall}');
 
-    if(inner$(window)[0].bowser.modernIE){ // if it's IE
-      var evtType = "keypress";
-    }else{
-      // Edge also requires keypress.
-      if(window.navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Edge") > -1){
-        var evtType = "keypress";
-      }else{
-        var evtType = "keydown";
-      }
-    }
-
-    var e = inner$.Event(evtType);
+    var e = inner$.Event(helper.evtType);
     e.ctrlKey = true; // Control key
     e.which = 105; // i
     inner$("#innerdocbody").trigger(e);
diff --git a/tests/frontend/specs/ordered_list.js b/tests/frontend/specs/ordered_list.js
index ec9694904..f4aa57273 100644
--- a/tests/frontend/specs/ordered_list.js
+++ b/tests/frontend/specs/ordered_list.js
@@ -111,17 +111,7 @@ describe("assign ordered list", function(){
 
   var triggerCtrlShiftShortcut = function(shortcutChar) {
     var inner$ = helper.padInner$;
-    if(inner$(window)[0].bowser.modernIE){ // if it's IE
-      var evtType = "keypress";
-    }else{
-      // Edge also requires keypress.
-      if(window.navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Edge") > -1){
-        var evtType = "keypress";
-      }else{
-        var evtType = "keydown";
-      }
-    }
-    var e = inner$.Event(evtType);
+    var e = inner$.Event(helper.evtType);
     e.ctrlKey = true;
     e.shiftKey = true;
     e.which = shortcutChar.toString().charCodeAt(0);
diff --git a/tests/frontend/specs/redo.js b/tests/frontend/specs/redo.js
index 63406c3b6..4f7c43f1e 100644
--- a/tests/frontend/specs/redo.js
+++ b/tests/frontend/specs/redo.js
@@ -47,18 +47,7 @@ describe("undo button then redo button", function(){
     var modifiedValue = $firstTextElement.text(); // get the modified value
     expect(modifiedValue).not.to.be(originalValue); // expect the value to change
 
-    if(inner$(window)[0].bowser.firefox || inner$(window)[0].bowser.modernIE){ // if it's IE
-      var evtType = "keypress";
-    }else{
-      // Edge also requires keypress.
-      if(window.navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Edge") > -1){
-        var evtType = "keypress";
-      }else{
-        var evtType = "keydown";
-      }
-    }
-
-    var e = inner$.Event(evtType);
+    var e = inner$.Event(helper.evtType);
     e.ctrlKey = true; // Control key
     e.which = 90; // z
     inner$("#innerdocbody").trigger(e);
diff --git a/tests/frontend/specs/scroll.js b/tests/frontend/specs/scroll.js
index 2c46cdfba..3d88b0445 100644
--- a/tests/frontend/specs/scroll.js
+++ b/tests/frontend/specs/scroll.js
@@ -512,20 +512,7 @@ describe('scroll when focus line is out of viewport', function () {
 
   var pressKey = function(keyCode, shiftIsPressed){
     var inner$ = helper.padInner$;
-    var evtType;
-
-    if(inner$(window)[0].bowser.modernIE){ // if it's IE
-      var evtType = "keypress";
-    }else{
-      // Edge also requires keypress.
-      if(window.navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Edge") > -1){
-        var evtType = "keypress";
-      }else{
-        var evtType = "keydown";
-      }
-    }
-
-    var e = inner$.Event(evtType);
+    var e = inner$.Event(helper.evtType);
     e.shiftKey = shiftIsPressed;
     e.keyCode = keyCode;
     e.which = keyCode; // etherpad listens to 'which'
diff --git a/tests/frontend/specs/select_formatting_buttons.js b/tests/frontend/specs/select_formatting_buttons.js
index 15b17da04..572858957 100644
--- a/tests/frontend/specs/select_formatting_buttons.js
+++ b/tests/frontend/specs/select_formatting_buttons.js
@@ -88,18 +88,7 @@ describe("select formatting buttons when selection has style applied", function(
     //select this text element
     $firstTextElement.sendkeys('{selectall}');
 
-    if(inner$(window)[0].bowser.modernIE){ // if it's IE
-      var evtType = "keypress";
-    }else{
-      // Edge also requires keypress.
-      if(window.navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Edge") > -1){
-        var evtType = "keypress";
-      }else{
-        var evtType = "keydown";
-      }
-    }
-
-    var e = inner$.Event(evtType);
+    var e = inner$.Event(helper.evtType);
     e.ctrlKey = true; // Control key
     e.which = key.charCodeAt(0); // I, U, B, 5
     inner$("#innerdocbody").trigger(e);
diff --git a/tests/frontend/specs/undo.js b/tests/frontend/specs/undo.js
index b41a895c2..172a2b81e 100644
--- a/tests/frontend/specs/undo.js
+++ b/tests/frontend/specs/undo.js
@@ -42,18 +42,7 @@ describe("undo button", function(){
     var modifiedValue = $firstTextElement.text(); // get the modified value
     expect(modifiedValue).not.to.be(originalValue); // expect the value to change
 
-    if(inner$(window)[0].bowser.modernIE){ // if it's IE
-      var evtType = "keypress";
-    }else{
-      // Edge also requires keypress.
-      if(window.navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Edge") > -1){
-        var evtType = "keypress";
-      }else{
-        var evtType = "keydown";
-      }
-    }
-
-    var e = inner$.Event(evtType);
+    var e = inner$.Event(helper.evtType);
     e.ctrlKey = true; // Control key
     e.which = 90; // z
     inner$("#innerdocbody").trigger(e);