diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/acceptance/AbstractCodeOwnersTest.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/acceptance/AbstractCodeOwnersTest.java
index 61a34f5..0ed3041 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/acceptance/AbstractCodeOwnersTest.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/acceptance/AbstractCodeOwnersTest.java
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.restapi.RestApiException;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.JgitPath;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.acceptance.testsuite.CodeOwnerConfigOperations;
+import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.acceptance.testsuite.TestCodeOwnerConfigCreation.Builder;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.config.CodeOwnersPluginConfiguration;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.config.StatusConfig;
 import com.google.inject.Inject;
@@ -245,6 +246,54 @@
   }
 
   /**
+   * Creates a default code owner config with the given test accounts as code owners.
+   *
+   * @param testAccounts the accounts of the users that should be code owners
+   */
+  protected void setAsDefaultCodeOwners(TestAccount... testAccounts) {
+    setAsCodeOwners(RefNames.REFS_CONFIG, "/", testAccounts);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Creates a root code owner config with the given test accounts as code owners.
+   *
+   * @param testAccounts the accounts of the users that should be code owners
+   */
+  protected void setAsRootCodeOwners(TestAccount... testAccounts) {
+    setAsCodeOwners("/", testAccounts);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Creates a code owner config at the given path with the given test accounts as code owners.
+   *
+   * @param path the path of the code owner config file
+   * @param testAccounts the accounts of the users that should be code owners
+   */
+  protected void setAsCodeOwners(String path, TestAccount... testAccounts) {
+    setAsCodeOwners("master", path, testAccounts);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Creates a code owner config at the given path with the given test accounts as code owners.
+   *
+   * @param branchName the name of the branch in which the code owner config should be created
+   * @param path the path of the code owner config file
+   * @param testAccounts the accounts of the users that should be code owners
+   */
+  private void setAsCodeOwners(String branchName, String path, TestAccount... testAccounts) {
+    Builder newCodeOwnerConfigBuilder =
+        codeOwnerConfigOperations
+            .newCodeOwnerConfig()
+            .project(project)
+            .branch(branchName)
+            .folderPath(path);
+    for (TestAccount testAccount : testAccounts) {
+      newCodeOwnerConfigBuilder.addCodeOwnerEmail(testAccount.email());
+    }
+    newCodeOwnerConfigBuilder.create();
+  }
+
+  /**
    * Creates a new change for the given test account.
    *
    * @param testAccount the account that should own the new change
diff --git a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/CodeOwnerApprovalCheckTest.java b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/CodeOwnerApprovalCheckTest.java
index 34c7d80..3adaaab 100644
--- a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/CodeOwnerApprovalCheckTest.java
+++ b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/CodeOwnerApprovalCheckTest.java
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.testsuite.request.RequestScopeOperations;
 import com.google.gerrit.entities.BranchNameKey;
 import com.google.gerrit.entities.Change;
-import com.google.gerrit.entities.RefNames;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.api.changes.ReviewInput;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.api.projects.DeleteBranchesInput;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.common.LabelDefinitionInput;
@@ -225,13 +224,7 @@
   public void getStatusForFileAddition_pending() throws Exception {
     TestAccount user2 = accountCreator.user2();
 
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(user);
 
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
     String changeId =
@@ -263,13 +256,7 @@
   public void getStatusForFileModification_pending() throws Exception {
     TestAccount user2 = accountCreator.user2();
 
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(user);
 
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
     createChange("Test Change", JgitPath.of(path).get(), "file content").getChangeId();
@@ -303,13 +290,7 @@
   public void getStatusForFileDeletion_pending() throws Exception {
     TestAccount user2 = accountCreator.user2();
 
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(user);
 
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
     String changeId = createChangeWithFileDeletion(path);
@@ -340,13 +321,7 @@
   public void getStatusForFileRename_pendingOldPath() throws Exception {
     TestAccount user2 = accountCreator.user2();
 
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/bar/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsCodeOwners("/foo/bar/", user);
 
     Path oldPath = Paths.get("/foo/bar/abc.txt");
     Path newPath = Paths.get("/foo/baz/abc.txt");
@@ -383,13 +358,7 @@
   public void getStatusForFileRename_pendingNewPath() throws Exception {
     TestAccount user2 = accountCreator.user2();
 
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/baz/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsCodeOwners("/foo/baz/", user);
 
     Path oldPath = Paths.get("/foo/bar/abc.txt");
     Path newPath = Paths.get("/foo/baz/abc.txt");
@@ -424,13 +393,7 @@
 
   @Test
   public void getStatusForFileAddition_approved() throws Exception {
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(user);
 
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
     String changeId =
@@ -457,13 +420,7 @@
 
   @Test
   public void getStatusForFileModification_approved() throws Exception {
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(user);
 
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
     createChange("Test Change", JgitPath.of(path).get(), "file content").getChangeId();
@@ -492,13 +449,7 @@
 
   @Test
   public void getStatusForFileDeletion_approved() throws Exception {
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(user);
 
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
     String changeId = createChangeWithFileDeletion(path);
@@ -524,13 +475,7 @@
 
   @Test
   public void getStatusForFileRename_approvedOldPath() throws Exception {
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/bar/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsCodeOwners("/foo/bar/", user);
 
     Path oldPath = Paths.get("/foo/bar/abc.txt");
     Path newPath = Paths.get("/foo/baz/abc.txt");
@@ -563,13 +508,7 @@
 
   @Test
   public void getStatusForFileRename_approvedNewPath() throws Exception {
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/baz/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsCodeOwners("/foo/baz/", user);
 
     Path oldPath = Paths.get("/foo/bar/abc.txt");
     Path newPath = Paths.get("/foo/baz/abc.txt");
@@ -615,13 +554,7 @@
 
   private void testImplicitApprovalByPatchSetUploaderOnGetStatusForFileAddition(
       boolean implicitApprovalsEnabled) throws Exception {
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(user);
 
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
     String changeId =
@@ -662,13 +595,7 @@
 
   private void testImplicitApprovalByPatchSetUploaderOnGetStatusForFileModification(
       boolean implicitApprovalsEnabled) throws Exception {
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(user);
 
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
     createChange("Test Change", JgitPath.of(path).get(), "file content").getChangeId();
@@ -710,13 +637,7 @@
 
   private void testImplicitApprovalByPatchSetUploaderOnGetStatusForFileDeletion(
       boolean implicitApprovalsEnabled) throws Exception {
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(user);
 
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
     String changeId = createChangeWithFileDeletion(path);
@@ -757,13 +678,7 @@
 
   private void testImplicitApprovalByPatchSetUploaderOnStatusForFileRenameOnOldPath(
       boolean implicitApprovalsEnabled) throws Exception {
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/bar/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsCodeOwners("/foo/bar/", user);
 
     Path oldPath = Paths.get("/foo/bar/abc.txt");
     Path newPath = Paths.get("/foo/baz/abc.txt");
@@ -810,13 +725,7 @@
 
   private void testImplicitApprovalByPatchSetUploaderOnStatusForFileRenameOnNewPath(
       boolean implicitApprovalsEnabled) throws Exception {
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/baz/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsCodeOwners("/foo/baz/", user);
 
     Path oldPath = Paths.get("/foo/bar/abc.txt");
     Path newPath = Paths.get("/foo/baz/abc.txt");
@@ -849,13 +758,7 @@
   @Test
   @GerritConfig(name = "plugin.code-owners.enableImplicitApprovals", value = "true")
   public void getStatusForFileAddition_noImplicitlyApprovalByChangeOwner() throws Exception {
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(admin.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(admin);
 
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
     String changeId =
@@ -883,13 +786,7 @@
       throws Exception {
     TestAccount user2 = accountCreator.user2();
 
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(user);
 
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
     String changeId =
@@ -1405,28 +1302,9 @@
     TestAccount user3 =
         accountCreator.create("user3", "user3@example.com", "User3", /* displayName= */ null);
 
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user2.email())
-        .create();
-
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/bar/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user3.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsCodeOwners("/", user);
+    setAsCodeOwners("/foo/", user2);
+    setAsCodeOwners("/foo/bar/", user3);
 
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar/baz.txt");
     String changeId =
@@ -1600,21 +1478,8 @@
   public void isSubmittable() throws Exception {
     TestAccount user2 = accountCreator.user2();
 
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
-
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/bar/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user2.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsCodeOwners("/foo/", user);
+    setAsCodeOwners("/bar/", user2);
 
     String changeId =
         pushFactory
@@ -2055,14 +1920,7 @@
   public void approvedByStickyApprovalOnOldPatchSet() throws Exception {
     TestAccount user2 = accountCreator.user2();
 
-    // Create a code owner config file with 'user' as code owner
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(user);
 
     // Create a change as a user that is not a code owner.
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
@@ -2133,14 +1991,7 @@
   public void codeReviewPlus2CountsAsApprovalIfCodeReviewPlus1IsRequired() throws Exception {
     TestAccount user2 = accountCreator.user2();
 
-    // Create a code owner config file with 'user' as code owner
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(user);
 
     // Create a change as 'user2' that is not a code owner.
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
@@ -2202,14 +2053,7 @@
 
     TestAccount user2 = accountCreator.user2();
 
-    // Create a code owner config file with 'admin' as code owner
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(admin.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(admin);
 
     // Create a change as 'user' that is not a code owner.
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
@@ -2249,14 +2093,7 @@
   public void noBootstrappingIfDefaultCodeOwnerConfigExists() throws Exception {
     TestAccount user2 = accountCreator.user2();
 
-    // Create default code owner config file in refs/meta/config.
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch(RefNames.REFS_CONFIG)
-        .folderPath("/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsDefaultCodeOwners(user);
 
     // Create a change as a user that is neither a code owner nor a project owner.
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
@@ -2316,14 +2153,7 @@
   public void approvedByDefaultCodeOwner() throws Exception {
     TestAccount user2 = accountCreator.user2();
 
-    // Create default code owner config file in refs/meta/config.
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch(RefNames.REFS_CONFIG)
-        .folderPath("/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsDefaultCodeOwners(user);
 
     // Create a change as a user that is not a code owner.
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
@@ -2377,14 +2207,7 @@
 
   private void testImplicitlyApprovedByDefaultCodeOwner(boolean implicitApprovalsEnabled)
       throws Exception {
-    // Create default code owner config file in refs/meta/config.
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch(RefNames.REFS_CONFIG)
-        .folderPath("/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsDefaultCodeOwners(user);
 
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
     String changeId =
@@ -2410,14 +2233,7 @@
   public void defaultCodeOwnerAsReviewer() throws Exception {
     TestAccount user2 = accountCreator.user2();
 
-    // Create default code owner config file in refs/meta/config.
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch(RefNames.REFS_CONFIG)
-        .folderPath("/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(user.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsDefaultCodeOwners(user);
 
     // Create a change as a user that is not a code owner.
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
diff --git a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/CodeOwnerApprovalCheckWithAllUsersAsFallbackCodeOwnersTest.java b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/CodeOwnerApprovalCheckWithAllUsersAsFallbackCodeOwnersTest.java
index e087873..d2d2c5b 100644
--- a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/CodeOwnerApprovalCheckWithAllUsersAsFallbackCodeOwnersTest.java
+++ b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/CodeOwnerApprovalCheckWithAllUsersAsFallbackCodeOwnersTest.java
@@ -69,14 +69,7 @@
     TestAccount codeOwner =
         accountCreator.create(
             "codeOwner", "codeOwner@example.com", "CodeOwner", /* displayName= */ null);
-
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(codeOwner.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(codeOwner);
 
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
     String changeId =
@@ -130,14 +123,7 @@
     TestAccount codeOwner =
         accountCreator.create(
             "codeOwner", "codeOwner@example.com", "CodeOwner", /* displayName= */ null);
-
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(codeOwner.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(codeOwner);
 
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
     String changeId =
diff --git a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/CodeOwnerApprovalCheckWithSelfApprovalsIgnoredTest.java b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/CodeOwnerApprovalCheckWithSelfApprovalsIgnoredTest.java
index 66c3958..9ba465a 100644
--- a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/CodeOwnerApprovalCheckWithSelfApprovalsIgnoredTest.java
+++ b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/plugins/codeowners/backend/CodeOwnerApprovalCheckWithSelfApprovalsIgnoredTest.java
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.common.LabelDefinitionInput;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.JgitPath;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.acceptance.AbstractCodeOwnersTest;
-import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.acceptance.testsuite.CodeOwnerConfigOperations;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.api.CodeOwnerStatus;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.config.OverrideApprovalConfig;
 import com.google.gerrit.plugins.codeowners.testing.FileCodeOwnerStatusSubject;
@@ -43,7 +42,6 @@
   @Inject private RequestScopeOperations requestScopeOperations;
 
   private CodeOwnerApprovalCheck codeOwnerApprovalCheck;
-  private CodeOwnerConfigOperations codeOwnerConfigOperations;
 
   /** Returns a {@code gerrit.config} that configures all users as fallback code owners. */
   @ConfigSuite.Default
@@ -57,8 +55,6 @@
   @Before
   public void setUpCodeOwnersPlugin() throws Exception {
     codeOwnerApprovalCheck = plugin.getSysInjector().getInstance(CodeOwnerApprovalCheck.class);
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations =
-        plugin.getSysInjector().getInstance(CodeOwnerConfigOperations.class);
   }
 
   @Before
@@ -79,14 +75,7 @@
     TestAccount codeOwner =
         accountCreator.create(
             "codeOwner", "codeOwner@example.com", "CodeOwner", /* displayName= */ null);
-
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(codeOwner.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(codeOwner);
 
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
     String changeId =
@@ -125,14 +114,7 @@
     TestAccount changeOwner =
         accountCreator.create(
             "changeOwner", "changeOwner@example.com", "ChangeOwner", /* displayName= */ null);
-
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(changeOwner.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(changeOwner);
 
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
     String changeId =
@@ -175,17 +157,11 @@
     TestAccount changeOwner =
         accountCreator.create(
             "changeOwner", "changeOwner@example.com", "ChangeOwner", /* displayName= */ null);
+
     TestAccount codeOwner =
         accountCreator.create(
             "codeOwner", "codeOwner@example.com", "CodeOwner", /* displayName= */ null);
-
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(codeOwner.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(codeOwner);
 
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
     String changeId =
@@ -243,14 +219,7 @@
     TestAccount codeOwner =
         accountCreator.create(
             "codeOwner", "codeOwner@example.com", "CodeOwner", /* displayName= */ null);
-
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(codeOwner.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(codeOwner);
 
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
     String changeId =
@@ -276,17 +245,11 @@
     TestAccount changeOwner =
         accountCreator.create(
             "changeOwner", "changeOwner@example.com", "ChangeOwner", /* displayName= */ null);
+
     TestAccount codeOwner =
         accountCreator.create(
             "codeOwner", "codeOwner@example.com", "CodeOwner", /* displayName= */ null);
-
-    codeOwnerConfigOperations
-        .newCodeOwnerConfig()
-        .project(project)
-        .branch("master")
-        .folderPath("/foo/")
-        .addCodeOwnerEmail(codeOwner.email())
-        .create();
+    setAsRootCodeOwners(codeOwner);
 
     Path path = Paths.get("/foo/bar.baz");
     String changeId =