diff --git a/systemtest/src/test/java/io/strimzi/systemtest/upgrade/regular/StrimziUpgradeST.java b/systemtest/src/test/java/io/strimzi/systemtest/upgrade/regular/StrimziUpgradeST.java
index daae82dfc0..cbf6f00eca 100644
--- a/systemtest/src/test/java/io/strimzi/systemtest/upgrade/regular/StrimziUpgradeST.java
+++ b/systemtest/src/test/java/io/strimzi/systemtest/upgrade/regular/StrimziUpgradeST.java
@@ -109,54 +109,19 @@ void testUpgradeAcrossVersionsWithUnsupportedKafkaVersion() throws IOException {
         final TestStorage testStorage = new TestStorage(ResourceManager.getTestContext());
         UpgradeKafkaVersion upgradeKafkaVersion = UpgradeKafkaVersion.getKafkaWithVersionFromUrl(acrossUpgradeData.getFromKafkaVersionsUrl(), acrossUpgradeData.getStartingKafkaVersion());
 
-        // Setup env
         setupEnvAndUpgradeClusterOperator(acrossUpgradeData, testStorage, upgradeKafkaVersion, TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE);
-
-        // Make snapshots of all Pods
         makeSnapshots();
 
-        // Check if UTO is used before changing the CO -> used for check for KafkaTopics
-        boolean wasUTOUsedBefore = StUtils.isUnidirectionalTopicOperatorUsed(TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE, eoSelector);
-
-        // Upgrade CO
-        changeClusterOperator(acrossUpgradeData, TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE);
-        logPodImages(TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE);
-        //  Upgrade kafka
-        changeKafkaAndLogFormatVersion(acrossUpgradeData);
-        logPodImages(TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE);
-        checkAllImages(acrossUpgradeData, TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE);
-        // Verify that Pods are stable
-        PodUtils.verifyThatRunningPodsAreStable(TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE, clusterName);
-        // Verify upgrade
-        verifyProcedure(acrossUpgradeData, testStorage.getContinuousProducerName(), testStorage.getContinuousConsumerName(), TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE, wasUTOUsedBefore);
+        performUpgradeAcrossVersions(testStorage);
     }
 
     @Test
     void testUpgradeAcrossVersionsWithNoKafkaVersion() throws IOException {
         final TestStorage testStorage = new TestStorage(ResourceManager.getTestContext());
-        // Setup env
-        setupEnvAndUpgradeClusterOperator(acrossUpgradeData, testStorage, null, TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE);
-
-        // Check if UTO is used before changing the CO -> used for check for KafkaTopics
-        boolean wasUTOUsedBefore = StUtils.isUnidirectionalTopicOperatorUsed(TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE, eoSelector);
 
-        // Upgrade CO
-        changeClusterOperator(acrossUpgradeData, TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE);
-        // Wait till first upgrade finished
-        controllerPods = RollingUpdateUtils.waitTillComponentHasRolledAndPodsReady(TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE, controllerSelector, 3, controllerPods);
-        brokerPods = RollingUpdateUtils.waitTillComponentHasRolledAndPodsReady(TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE, brokerSelector, 3, brokerPods);
-        eoPods = DeploymentUtils.waitTillDepHasRolled(TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE, KafkaResources.entityOperatorDeploymentName(clusterName), 1, eoPods);
+        setupEnvAndUpgradeClusterOperator(acrossUpgradeData, testStorage, null, TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE);
 
-        LOGGER.info("Rolling to new images has finished!");
-        logPodImages(TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE);
-        //  Upgrade kafka
-        changeKafkaAndLogFormatVersion(acrossUpgradeData);
-        logPodImages(TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE);
-        checkAllImages(acrossUpgradeData, TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE);
-        // Verify that Pods are stable
-        PodUtils.verifyThatRunningPodsAreStable(TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE, clusterName);
-        // Verify upgrade
-        verifyProcedure(acrossUpgradeData, testStorage.getContinuousProducerName(), testStorage.getContinuousConsumerName(), TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE, wasUTOUsedBefore);
+        performUpgradeAcrossVersions(testStorage);
     }
 
     @MicroShiftNotSupported("Due to lack of Kafka Connect build feature")
@@ -201,6 +166,32 @@ private void performUpgrade(BundleVersionModificationData upgradeData) throws IO
         verifyProcedure(upgradeData, testStorage.getContinuousProducerName(), testStorage.getContinuousConsumerName(), TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE, wasUTOUsedBefore);
     }
 
+    private void performUpgradeAcrossVersions(TestStorage testStorage) throws IOException {
+        // Check if UTO is used before changing the CO -> used for check for KafkaTopics
+        boolean wasUTOUsedBefore = StUtils.isUnidirectionalTopicOperatorUsed(TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE, eoSelector);
+
+        // Upgrade CO
+        changeClusterOperator(acrossUpgradeData, TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE);
+
+        // Wait till first upgrade finished
+        controllerPods = RollingUpdateUtils.waitTillComponentHasRolledAndPodsReady(TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE, controllerSelector, 3, controllerPods);
+        brokerPods = RollingUpdateUtils.waitTillComponentHasRolledAndPodsReady(TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE, brokerSelector, 3, brokerPods);
+        eoPods = DeploymentUtils.waitTillDepHasRolled(TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE, KafkaResources.entityOperatorDeploymentName(clusterName), 1, eoPods);
+
+        LOGGER.info("Rolling to new images has finished!");
+        logPodImages(TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE);
+
+        // Upgrade kafka
+        changeKafkaAndLogFormatVersion(acrossUpgradeData);
+        logPodImages(TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE);
+        checkAllImages(acrossUpgradeData, TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE);
+
+        // Verify that Pods are stable
+        PodUtils.verifyThatRunningPodsAreStable(TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE, clusterName);
+        // Verify upgrade
+        verifyProcedure(acrossUpgradeData, testStorage.getContinuousProducerName(), testStorage.getContinuousConsumerName(), TestConstants.CO_NAMESPACE, wasUTOUsedBefore);
+    }
+
     @BeforeEach
     void setupEnvironment() {
         NamespaceManager.getInstance().createNamespaceAndPrepare(CO_NAMESPACE);