diff --git a/test/pfb_test_case.py b/test/pfb_test_case.py
index b15b3bec0..96b942ae3 100644
--- a/test/pfb_test_case.py
+++ b/test/pfb_test_case.py
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 import json
+from pathlib import (
+    Path,
+)
 
 import fastavro
 
@@ -15,14 +18,15 @@ def _assert_pfb_schema(self, schema):
         with self.assertRaises(KeyError):
             fastavro.parse_schema({'this': 'is not', 'an': 'avro schema'})
 
-        def to_json(records):
-            return json.dumps(records, indent=4, sort_keys=True)
+        actual = json.dumps(schema, indent=4, sort_keys=True)
+        expected = self._data_path('service', 'manifest', 'terra', 'pfb_manifest.schema.json')
+        self._assert_or_create_json_can(expected, actual)
 
-        results_file = self._data_path('service', 'manifest', 'terra', 'pfb_manifest.schema.json')
-        if results_file.exists():
-            with open(results_file, 'r') as f:
-                expected_records = json.load(f)
-            self.assertEqual(expected_records, json.loads(to_json(schema)))
+    def _assert_or_create_json_can(self, expected: Path, actual: str):
+        if expected.exists():
+            with open(expected, 'r') as f:
+                expected = json.load(f)
+            self.assertEqual(expected, json.loads(actual))
         else:
-            with open(results_file, 'w') as f:
-                f.write(to_json(schema))
+            with open(expected, 'w') as f:
+                f.write(actual)
diff --git a/test/service/test_manifest.py b/test/service/test_manifest.py
index 5ed52e321..8a204a682 100644
--- a/test/service/test_manifest.py
+++ b/test/service/test_manifest.py
@@ -340,10 +340,6 @@ def test_terra_pfb_manifest(self):
         shared_file_bundle = self._shared_file_bundle(new_bundle_fqid)
         self._index_bundle(shared_file_bundle, delete=False)
 
-        def to_json(records):
-            # 'default' is specified to handle the conversion of datetime values
-            return json.dumps(records, indent=4, sort_keys=True, default=str)
-
         # We write entities differently depending on debug so we test both cases
         for debug in (1, 0):
             with self.subTest(debug=debug):
@@ -355,14 +351,10 @@ def to_json(records):
                     schema = reader.writer_schema
                     self._assert_pfb_schema(schema)
                     records = list(reader)
-                    results_file = self._canned_manifest_path('terra', 'pfb_manifest.results.json')
-                    if results_file.exists():
-                        with open(results_file, 'r') as f:
-                            expected_records = json.load(f)
-                        self.assertEqual(expected_records, json.loads(to_json(records)))
-                    else:
-                        with open(results_file, 'w') as f:
-                            f.write(to_json(records))
+                    expected = self._canned_manifest_path('terra', 'pfb_manifest.results.json')
+                    # 'default' is specified to handle the conversion of datetime values
+                    actual = json.dumps(records, indent=4, sort_keys=True, default=str)
+                    self._assert_or_create_json_can(expected, actual)
 
     def _shared_file_bundle(self, bundle):
         """