diff --git a/src/frontend/tests/helpers.ts b/src/frontend/tests/helpers.ts
index f768625921..c39abded1d 100644
--- a/src/frontend/tests/helpers.ts
+++ b/src/frontend/tests/helpers.ts
@@ -81,3 +81,13 @@ export const navigate = async (page, url: string) => {
 
   await page.goto(url, { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded' });
 };
+
+/**
+ * Perform a 'global search' on the provided page, for the provided query text
+ */
+export const globalSearch = async (page, query) => {
+  await page.getByLabel('open-search').click();
+  await page.getByLabel('global-search-input').clear();
+  await page.getByPlaceholder('Enter search text').fill(query);
+  await page.waitForTimeout(300);
+};
diff --git a/src/frontend/tests/pages/pui_sales_order.spec.ts b/src/frontend/tests/pages/pui_sales_order.spec.ts
index 75754b36e4..ab766899b5 100644
--- a/src/frontend/tests/pages/pui_sales_order.spec.ts
+++ b/src/frontend/tests/pages/pui_sales_order.spec.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { test } from '../baseFixtures.ts';
 import {
   clearTableFilters,
+  globalSearch,
   navigate,
   setTableChoiceFilter
 } from '../helpers.ts';
@@ -182,13 +183,7 @@ test('Sales Orders - Shipments', async ({ page }) => {
   await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Cancel' }).click();
 
   // Search for shipment by tracking number
-  await page.getByLabel('open-search').click();
-
-  await page.getByLabel('global-search-input').clear();
-
-  await page.waitForTimeout(250);
-  await page.getByLabel('global-search-input').fill('TRK-002');
-  await page.waitForTimeout(250);
+  await globalSearch(page, 'TRK-002');
 
   await page
     .getByText(/SO0009/)
@@ -196,13 +191,7 @@ test('Sales Orders - Shipments', async ({ page }) => {
     .click();
 
   // Search for shipment by invoice number
-  await page.getByLabel('open-search').click();
-
-  await page.getByLabel('global-search-input').clear();
-
-  await page.waitForTimeout(250);
-  await page.getByLabel('global-search-input').fill('INV-123');
-  await page.waitForTimeout(250);
+  await globalSearch(page, 'INV-123');
 
   await page
     .getByText(/SO0025/)