diff --git a/deltachat-rpc-client/src/deltachat_rpc_client/account.py b/deltachat-rpc-client/src/deltachat_rpc_client/account.py
index e65246c98..d0f87ee2f 100644
--- a/deltachat-rpc-client/src/deltachat_rpc_client/account.py
+++ b/deltachat-rpc-client/src/deltachat_rpc_client/account.py
@@ -87,6 +87,14 @@ class Account:
         """Configure an account."""
         yield self._rpc.configure.future(self.id)
 
+    def bring_online(self):
+        """Start I/O and wait until IMAP becomes IDLE."""
+        self.start_io()
+        while True:
+            event = self.wait_for_event()
+            if event.kind == EventType.IMAP_INBOX_IDLE:
+                break
+
     def create_contact(self, obj: Union[int, str, Contact], name: Optional[str] = None) -> Contact:
         """Create a new Contact or return an existing one.
 
diff --git a/deltachat-rpc-client/src/deltachat_rpc_client/pytestplugin.py b/deltachat-rpc-client/src/deltachat_rpc_client/pytestplugin.py
index e8c4885d8..cbc933654 100644
--- a/deltachat-rpc-client/src/deltachat_rpc_client/pytestplugin.py
+++ b/deltachat-rpc-client/src/deltachat_rpc_client/pytestplugin.py
@@ -54,11 +54,7 @@ class ACFactory:
     @futuremethod
     def get_online_account(self):
         account = yield self.new_configured_account.future()
-        account.start_io()
-        while True:
-            event = account.wait_for_event()
-            if event.kind == EventType.IMAP_INBOX_IDLE:
-                break
+        account.bring_online()
         return account
 
     def get_online_accounts(self, num: int) -> List[Account]: