diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/lib.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/lib.sh
index 158d59ffee4062f5f45b3819359225ebbd17a740..81e36157bf169f46e07ff47952ef4a8107af6495 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/lib.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/net/forwarding/lib.sh
@@ -62,15 +62,18 @@ if [[ "$CHECK_TC" = "yes" ]]; then
 	check_tc_version
 fi
 
-if [[ ! -x "$(command -v jq)" ]]; then
-	echo "SKIP: jq not installed"
-	exit 1
-fi
+require_command()
+{
+	local cmd=$1; shift
 
-if [[ ! -x "$(command -v $MZ)" ]]; then
-	echo "SKIP: $MZ not installed"
-	exit 1
-fi
+	if [[ ! -x "$(command -v "$cmd")" ]]; then
+		echo "SKIP: $cmd not installed"
+		exit 1
+	fi
+}
+
+require_command jq
+require_command $MZ
 
 if [[ ! -v NUM_NETIFS ]]; then
 	echo "SKIP: importer does not define \"NUM_NETIFS\""