diff --git a/src/dstack/_internal/server/testing/common.py b/src/dstack/_internal/server/testing/common.py
index eb325ad156..640a3932dd 100644
--- a/src/dstack/_internal/server/testing/common.py
+++ b/src/dstack/_internal/server/testing/common.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 from uuid import UUID
 
 import gpuhunt
+from sqlalchemy import select
 from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncSession
 
 from dstack._internal.core.backends.base.compute import (
@@ -90,6 +91,7 @@
     BackendModel,
     ComputeGroupModel,
     DecryptedString,
+    EventModel,
     FileArchiveModel,
     FleetModel,
     GatewayComputeModel,
@@ -1111,6 +1113,11 @@ async def create_secret(
     return secret_model
 
 
+async def list_events(session: AsyncSession) -> list[EventModel]:
+    res = await session.execute(select(EventModel).order_by(EventModel.recorded_at, EventModel.id))
+    return list(res.scalars().all())
+
+
 def get_private_key_string() -> str:
     return """
 -----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----
diff --git a/src/tests/_internal/server/background/tasks/test_process_events.py b/src/tests/_internal/server/background/tasks/test_process_events.py
index 899f2946e8..21043e0bae 100644
--- a/src/tests/_internal/server/background/tasks/test_process_events.py
+++ b/src/tests/_internal/server/background/tasks/test_process_events.py
@@ -3,14 +3,12 @@
 
 import pytest
 from freezegun import freeze_time
-from sqlalchemy import select
 from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncSession
 
 from dstack._internal.server import settings
 from dstack._internal.server.background.tasks.process_events import delete_events
-from dstack._internal.server.models import EventModel
 from dstack._internal.server.services import events
-from dstack._internal.server.testing.common import create_user
+from dstack._internal.server.testing.common import create_user, list_events
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
@@ -27,8 +25,7 @@ async def test_deletes_old_events(test_db, session: AsyncSession) -> None:
             )
     await session.commit()
 
-    res = await session.execute(select(EventModel))
-    all_events = res.scalars().all()
+    all_events = await list_events(session)
     assert len(all_events) == 10
 
     with (
@@ -37,8 +34,7 @@ async def test_deletes_old_events(test_db, session: AsyncSession) -> None:
     ):
         await delete_events()
 
-    res = await session.execute(select(EventModel).order_by(EventModel.recorded_at))
-    remaining_events = res.scalars().all()
+    remaining_events = await list_events(session)
     assert len(remaining_events) == 5
     assert [e.message for e in remaining_events] == [
         "Event 5",
diff --git a/src/tests/_internal/server/services/test_instances.py b/src/tests/_internal/server/services/test_instances.py
index 9e4cb02e3a..ca6432d61e 100644
--- a/src/tests/_internal/server/services/test_instances.py
+++ b/src/tests/_internal/server/services/test_instances.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import uuid
 
 import pytest
-from sqlalchemy import select
 from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncSession
 
 import dstack._internal.server.services.instances as instances_services
@@ -15,13 +14,14 @@
     Resources,
 )
 from dstack._internal.core.models.profiles import Profile
-from dstack._internal.server.models import EventModel, InstanceModel
+from dstack._internal.server.models import InstanceModel
 from dstack._internal.server.testing.common import (
     create_instance,
     create_project,
     create_user,
     get_volume,
     get_volume_configuration,
+    list_events,
 )
 from dstack._internal.utils.common import get_current_datetime
 
@@ -41,8 +41,7 @@ async def test_includes_termination_reason_in_event_messages_only_once(
         instances_services.switch_instance_status(session, instance, InstanceStatus.TERMINATING)
         instances_services.switch_instance_status(session, instance, InstanceStatus.TERMINATED)
 
-        res = await session.execute(select(EventModel))
-        events = res.scalars().all()
+        events = await list_events(session)
         assert len(events) == 2
         assert {e.message for e in events} == {
             "Instance status changed PENDING -> TERMINATING. Termination reason: ERROR (Some err)",
@@ -63,8 +62,7 @@ async def test_includes_termination_reason_in_event_message_when_switching_direc
         instance.termination_reason_message = "Some err"
         instances_services.switch_instance_status(session, instance, InstanceStatus.TERMINATED)
 
-        res = await session.execute(select(EventModel))
-        events = res.scalars().all()
+        events = await list_events(session)
         assert len(events) == 1
         assert events[0].message == (
             "Instance status changed PENDING -> TERMINATED. Termination reason: ERROR (Some err)"