diff --git a/frontend_tests/casper_tests/03-narrow.js b/frontend_tests/casper_tests/03-narrow.js
index 4daab3c258..b835d59965 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/casper_tests/03-narrow.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/casper_tests/03-narrow.js
@@ -447,15 +447,35 @@ casper.waitWhileVisible('#stream_filters [data-stream-name="Denmark"]', function
 
 un_narrow();
 
+function assert_in_list(name) {
+    casper.test.assertExists(
+        '#user_presences li [data-name="' + name + '"]',
+        'User ' + name + ' is IN buddy list'
+    );
+}
+
+function assert_selected(name) {
+    casper.test.assertExists(
+        '#user_presences li.highlighted_user [data-name="' + name + '"]',
+        'User ' + name + ' is SELECTED IN buddy list'
+    );
+}
+
+function assert_not_selected(name) {
+    assert_in_list(name);
+    casper.test.assertDoesntExist(
+        '#user_presences li.highlighted_user [data-name="' + name + '"]',
+        'User ' + name + ' is NOT SELECTED buddy list'
+    );
+}
+
+
 // User search at the right sidebar
 casper.then(function () {
     casper.test.info('Search users using right sidebar');
-    casper.test.assertExists('#user_presences li [data-name="Cordelia Lear"]',
-                             'User Cordelia Lear exists');
-    casper.test.assertExists('#user_presences li [data-name="King Hamlet"]',
-                             'User King Hamlet exists');
-    casper.test.assertExists('#user_presences li [data-name="aaron"]',
-                             'User aaron exists');
+    assert_in_list('Cordelia Lear');
+    assert_in_list('King Hamlet');
+    assert_in_list('aaron');
 });
 
 // Enter the search box and test selected suggestion navigation
@@ -470,12 +490,9 @@ casper.then(function () {
 
 casper.waitForSelector('#user_presences .highlighted_user', function () {
     casper.test.info('Suggestion highlighting - initial situation');
-    casper.test.assertExist('#user_presences li.highlighted_user [data-name="Cordelia Lear"]',
-                            'User Cordelia Lear is selected');
-    casper.test.assertDoesntExist('#user_presences li.highlighted_user [data-name="King Hamlet"]',
-                                  'User King Hamlet is not selected');
-    casper.test.assertDoesntExist('#user_presences li.highlighted_user [data-name="aaron"]',
-                                  'User aaron is not selected');
+    assert_selected('Cordelia Lear');
+    assert_not_selected('King Hamlet');
+    assert_not_selected('aaron');
 });
 
 // Use arrow keys to navigate through suggestions
@@ -493,10 +510,8 @@ casper.then(function () {
 
 casper.waitForSelector('#user_presences li.highlighted_user [data-name="King Hamlet"]', function () {
     casper.test.info('Suggestion highlighting - after arrow key navigation');
-    casper.test.assertDoesntExist('#user_presences li.highlighted_user [data-name="Cordelia Lear"]',
-                                  'User Cordelia Lear not is selected');
-    casper.test.assertExist('#user_presences li.highlighted_user [data-name="King Hamlet"]',
-                            'User King Hamlet is selected');
+    assert_not_selected('Cordelia Lear');
+    assert_selected('King Hamlet');
 });
 
 common.then_log_out();