diff --git a/t/README b/t/README
index bdfac4cceb..3e155011de 100644
--- a/t/README
+++ b/t/README
@@ -1098,6 +1098,12 @@ see test-lib-functions.sh for the full list and their options.
    the symbolic link in the file system and a part that does; then only
    the latter part need be protected by a SYMLINKS prerequisite (see below).
 
+ - test_path_is_executable
+
+   This tests whether a file is executable and prints an error message
+   if not. This must be used only under the POSIXPERM prerequisite
+   (see below).
+
  - test_oid_init
 
    This function loads facts and useful object IDs related to the hash
diff --git a/t/test-lib-functions.sh b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
index 6e19ebc922..2ef579edf3 100644
--- a/t/test-lib-functions.sh
+++ b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
@@ -901,6 +901,15 @@ test_path_is_symlink () {
 	fi
 }
 
+test_path_is_executable () {
+	test "$#" -ne 1 && BUG "1 param"
+	if ! test -x "$1"
+	then
+		echo "$1 is not executable"
+		false
+	fi
+}
+
 # Check if the directory exists and is empty as expected, barf otherwise.
 test_dir_is_empty () {
 	test "$#" -ne 1 && BUG "1 param"