diff --git a/test/litest.c b/test/litest.c
index 9f441704..65a57e46 100644
--- a/test/litest.c
+++ b/test/litest.c
@@ -3505,21 +3505,30 @@ litest_assert_tablet_button_event(struct libinput *li, unsigned int button,
 	libinput_event_destroy(event);
 }
 
-void litest_assert_tablet_proximity_event(struct libinput *li,
-					  enum libinput_tablet_tool_proximity_state state)
+
+struct libinput_event_tablet_tool *
+litest_is_proximity_event(struct libinput_event *event,
+			  enum libinput_tablet_tool_proximity_state state)
 {
-	struct libinput_event *event;
 	struct libinput_event_tablet_tool *tev;
 	enum libinput_event_type type = LIBINPUT_EVENT_TABLET_TOOL_PROXIMITY;
 
-	litest_wait_for_event(li);
-	event = libinput_get_event(li);
-
 	litest_assert_notnull(event);
 	litest_assert_event_type(event, type);
 	tev = libinput_event_get_tablet_tool_event(event);
 	litest_assert_int_eq(libinput_event_tablet_tool_get_proximity_state(tev),
 			     state);
+	return tev;
+}
+
+void litest_assert_tablet_proximity_event(struct libinput *li,
+					  enum libinput_tablet_tool_proximity_state state)
+{
+	struct libinput_event *event;
+
+	litest_wait_for_event(li);
+	event = libinput_get_event(li);
+	litest_is_proximity_event(event, state);
 	libinput_event_destroy(event);
 }
 
diff --git a/test/litest.h b/test/litest.h
index 67cec9bc..ab2633bc 100644
--- a/test/litest.h
+++ b/test/litest.h
@@ -762,6 +762,10 @@ litest_is_switch_event(struct libinput_event *event,
 		       enum libinput_switch sw,
 		       enum libinput_switch_state state);
 
+struct libinput_event_tablet_tool *
+litest_is_proximity_event(struct libinput_event *event,
+			  enum libinput_tablet_tool_proximity_state state);
+
 void
 litest_assert_key_event(struct libinput *li, unsigned int key,
 			enum libinput_key_state state);