diff --git a/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py b/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py
index d6fe7d62675..bddcdadfeee 100644
--- a/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py
+++ b/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import operator
 import weakref
 import test.support
 import test.support.script_helper
+from test import support
 
 
 # Skip tests if _multiprocessing wasn't built.
@@ -72,6 +73,12 @@ def close_queue(queue):
         queue.join_thread()
 
 
+def join_process(process, timeout):
+    # Since multiprocessing.Process has the same API than threading.Thread
+    # (join() and is_alive(), the support function can be reused
+    support.join_thread(process, timeout)
+
+
 #
 # Constants
 #
@@ -477,7 +484,7 @@ class _TestProcess(BaseTestCase):
         for p in procs:
             p.start()
         for p in procs:
-            p.join(timeout=10)
+            join_process(p, timeout=10)
         for p in procs:
             self.assertEqual(p.exitcode, 0)
 
@@ -489,7 +496,7 @@ class _TestProcess(BaseTestCase):
         for p in procs:
             p.terminate()
         for p in procs:
-            p.join(timeout=10)
+            join_process(p, timeout=10)
         if os.name != 'nt':
             for p in procs:
                 self.assertEqual(p.exitcode, -signal.SIGTERM)
@@ -652,7 +659,7 @@ class _TestSubclassingProcess(BaseTestCase):
             p = self.Process(target=self._test_sys_exit, args=(reason, testfn))
             p.daemon = True
             p.start()
-            p.join(5)
+            join_process(p, timeout=5)
             self.assertEqual(p.exitcode, 1)
 
             with open(testfn, 'r') as f:
@@ -665,7 +672,7 @@ class _TestSubclassingProcess(BaseTestCase):
             p = self.Process(target=sys.exit, args=(reason,))
             p.daemon = True
             p.start()
-            p.join(5)
+            join_process(p, timeout=5)
             self.assertEqual(p.exitcode, reason)
 
 #
@@ -1254,8 +1261,7 @@ class _TestCondition(BaseTestCase):
                 state.value += 1
                 cond.notify()
 
-        p.join(5)
-        self.assertFalse(p.is_alive())
+        join_process(p, timeout=5)
         self.assertEqual(p.exitcode, 0)
 
     @classmethod
@@ -1291,7 +1297,7 @@ class _TestCondition(BaseTestCase):
                 state.value += 1
                 cond.notify()
 
-        p.join(5)
+        join_process(p, timeout=5)
         self.assertTrue(success.value)
 
     @classmethod
@@ -4005,7 +4011,7 @@ class TestTimeouts(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertEqual(conn.recv(), 456)
             conn.close()
             l.close()
-            p.join(10)
+            join_process(p, timeout=10)
         finally:
             socket.setdefaulttimeout(old_timeout)
 
@@ -4041,7 +4047,7 @@ class TestForkAwareThreadLock(unittest.TestCase):
             p = multiprocessing.Process(target=cls.child, args=(n-1, conn))
             p.start()
             conn.close()
-            p.join(timeout=5)
+            join_process(p, timeout=5)
         else:
             conn.send(len(util._afterfork_registry))
         conn.close()
@@ -4054,7 +4060,7 @@ class TestForkAwareThreadLock(unittest.TestCase):
         p.start()
         w.close()
         new_size = r.recv()
-        p.join(timeout=5)
+        join_process(p, timeout=5)
         self.assertLessEqual(new_size, old_size)
 
 #
@@ -4109,7 +4115,7 @@ class TestCloseFds(unittest.TestCase):
             p.start()
             writer.close()
             e = reader.recv()
-            p.join(timeout=5)
+            join_process(p, timeout=5)
         finally:
             self.close(fd)
             writer.close()
diff --git a/Lib/test/support/__init__.py b/Lib/test/support/__init__.py
index 63f7a910710..b2e45605b9e 100644
--- a/Lib/test/support/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/test/support/__init__.py
@@ -2107,6 +2107,16 @@ def wait_threads_exit(timeout=60.0):
             gc_collect()
 
 
+def join_thread(thread, timeout=30.0):
+    """Join a thread. Raise an AssertionError if the thread is still alive
+    after timeout seconds.
+    """
+    thread.join(timeout)
+    if thread.is_alive():
+        msg = f"failed to join the thread in {timeout:.1f} seconds"
+        raise AssertionError(msg)
+
+
 def reap_children():
     """Use this function at the end of test_main() whenever sub-processes
     are started.  This will help ensure that no extra children (zombies)
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_asynchat.py b/Lib/test/test_asynchat.py
index 2362834b85f..1d147c74196 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_asynchat.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_asynchat.py
@@ -123,9 +123,7 @@ class TestAsynchat(unittest.TestCase):
         c.push(b"I'm not dead yet!" + term)
         c.push(SERVER_QUIT)
         asyncore.loop(use_poll=self.usepoll, count=300, timeout=.01)
-        s.join(timeout=TIMEOUT)
-        if s.is_alive():
-            self.fail("join() timed out")
+        support.join_thread(s, timeout=TIMEOUT)
 
         self.assertEqual(c.contents, [b"hello world", b"I'm not dead yet!"])
 
@@ -156,9 +154,7 @@ class TestAsynchat(unittest.TestCase):
         c.push(data)
         c.push(SERVER_QUIT)
         asyncore.loop(use_poll=self.usepoll, count=300, timeout=.01)
-        s.join(timeout=TIMEOUT)
-        if s.is_alive():
-            self.fail("join() timed out")
+        support.join_thread(s, timeout=TIMEOUT)
 
         self.assertEqual(c.contents, [data[:termlen]])
 
@@ -178,9 +174,7 @@ class TestAsynchat(unittest.TestCase):
         c.push(data)
         c.push(SERVER_QUIT)
         asyncore.loop(use_poll=self.usepoll, count=300, timeout=.01)
-        s.join(timeout=TIMEOUT)
-        if s.is_alive():
-            self.fail("join() timed out")
+        support.join_thread(s, timeout=TIMEOUT)
 
         self.assertEqual(c.contents, [])
         self.assertEqual(c.buffer, data)
@@ -192,9 +186,7 @@ class TestAsynchat(unittest.TestCase):
         p = asynchat.simple_producer(data+SERVER_QUIT, buffer_size=8)
         c.push_with_producer(p)
         asyncore.loop(use_poll=self.usepoll, count=300, timeout=.01)
-        s.join(timeout=TIMEOUT)
-        if s.is_alive():
-            self.fail("join() timed out")
+        support.join_thread(s, timeout=TIMEOUT)
 
         self.assertEqual(c.contents, [b"hello world", b"I'm not dead yet!"])
 
@@ -204,9 +196,7 @@ class TestAsynchat(unittest.TestCase):
         data = b"hello world\nI'm not dead yet!\n"
         c.push_with_producer(data+SERVER_QUIT)
         asyncore.loop(use_poll=self.usepoll, count=300, timeout=.01)
-        s.join(timeout=TIMEOUT)
-        if s.is_alive():
-            self.fail("join() timed out")
+        support.join_thread(s, timeout=TIMEOUT)
 
         self.assertEqual(c.contents, [b"hello world", b"I'm not dead yet!"])
 
@@ -217,9 +207,7 @@ class TestAsynchat(unittest.TestCase):
         c.push(b"hello world\n\nI'm not dead yet!\n")
         c.push(SERVER_QUIT)
         asyncore.loop(use_poll=self.usepoll, count=300, timeout=.01)
-        s.join(timeout=TIMEOUT)
-        if s.is_alive():
-            self.fail("join() timed out")
+        support.join_thread(s, timeout=TIMEOUT)
 
         self.assertEqual(c.contents,
                          [b"hello world", b"", b"I'm not dead yet!"])
@@ -238,9 +226,7 @@ class TestAsynchat(unittest.TestCase):
         # where the server echoes all of its data before we can check that it
         # got any down below.
         s.start_resend_event.set()
-        s.join(timeout=TIMEOUT)
-        if s.is_alive():
-            self.fail("join() timed out")
+        support.join_thread(s, timeout=TIMEOUT)
 
         self.assertEqual(c.contents, [])
         # the server might have been able to send a byte or two back, but this
@@ -261,7 +247,7 @@ class TestAsynchat(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertRaises(TypeError, c.push, 'unicode')
         c.push(SERVER_QUIT)
         asyncore.loop(use_poll=self.usepoll, count=300, timeout=.01)
-        s.join(timeout=TIMEOUT)
+        support.join_thread(s, timeout=TIMEOUT)
         self.assertEqual(c.contents, [b'bytes', b'bytes', b'bytes'])
 
 
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_asyncio/test_events.py b/Lib/test/test_asyncio/test_events.py
index 27781a2d91b..33421ce4c37 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_asyncio/test_events.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_asyncio/test_events.py
@@ -808,7 +808,7 @@ class EventLoopTestsMixin:
         proto.transport.close()
         lsock.close()
 
-        thread.join(1)
+        support.join_thread(thread, timeout=1)
         self.assertFalse(thread.is_alive())
         self.assertEqual(proto.state, 'CLOSED')
         self.assertEqual(proto.nbytes, len(message))
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_asyncore.py b/Lib/test/test_asyncore.py
index c8e97276ff6..ee0c3b371f8 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_asyncore.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_asyncore.py
@@ -360,9 +360,7 @@ class DispatcherWithSendTests(unittest.TestCase):
 
             self.assertEqual(cap.getvalue(), data*2)
         finally:
-            t.join(timeout=TIMEOUT)
-            if t.is_alive():
-                self.fail("join() timed out")
+            support.join_thread(t, timeout=TIMEOUT)
 
 
 @unittest.skipUnless(hasattr(asyncore, 'file_wrapper'),
@@ -794,9 +792,7 @@ class BaseTestAPI:
                 except OSError:
                     pass
         finally:
-            t.join(timeout=TIMEOUT)
-            if t.is_alive():
-                self.fail("join() timed out")
+            support.join_thread(t, timeout=TIMEOUT)
 
 class TestAPI_UseIPv4Sockets(BaseTestAPI):
     family = socket.AF_INET
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_imaplib.py b/Lib/test/test_imaplib.py
index 132c58624fe..2b62b05a594 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_imaplib.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_imaplib.py
@@ -220,7 +220,9 @@ class NewIMAPTestsMixin():
         # cleanup the server
         self.server.shutdown()
         self.server.server_close()
-        self.thread.join(3.0)
+        support.join_thread(self.thread, 3.0)
+        # Explicitly clear the attribute to prevent dangling thread
+        self.thread = None
 
     def test_EOF_without_complete_welcome_message(self):
         # http://bugs.python.org/issue5949
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_logging.py b/Lib/test/test_logging.py
index 611044d8fa8..d264d786720 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_logging.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_logging.py
@@ -791,13 +791,10 @@ class TestSMTPServer(smtpd.SMTPServer):
                         to terminate.
         """
         self.close()
-        self._thread.join(timeout)
+        support.join_thread(self._thread, timeout)
+        self._thread = None
         asyncore.close_all(map=self._map, ignore_all=True)
 
-        alive = self._thread.is_alive()
-        self._thread = None
-        if alive:
-            self.fail("join() timed out")
 
 class ControlMixin(object):
     """
@@ -847,11 +844,8 @@ class ControlMixin(object):
         """
         self.shutdown()
         if self._thread is not None:
-            self._thread.join(timeout)
-            alive = self._thread.is_alive()
+            support.join_thread(self._thread, timeout)
             self._thread = None
-            if alive:
-                self.fail("join() timed out")
         self.server_close()
         self.ready.clear()
 
@@ -2892,9 +2886,7 @@ class ConfigDictTest(BaseTest):
         finally:
             t.ready.wait(2.0)
             logging.config.stopListening()
-            t.join(2.0)
-            if t.is_alive():
-                self.fail("join() timed out")
+            support.join_thread(t, 2.0)
 
     def test_listen_config_10_ok(self):
         with support.captured_stdout() as output:
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_queue.py b/Lib/test/test_queue.py
index e501669eb6e..35466c1eae3 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_queue.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_queue.py
@@ -58,10 +58,7 @@ class BlockingTestMixin:
                           block_func)
             return self.result
         finally:
-            thread.join(10) # make sure the thread terminates
-            if thread.is_alive():
-                self.fail("trigger function '%r' appeared to not return" %
-                          trigger_func)
+            support.join_thread(thread, 10) # make sure the thread terminates
 
     # Call this instead if block_func is supposed to raise an exception.
     def do_exceptional_blocking_test(self,block_func, block_args, trigger_func,
@@ -77,10 +74,7 @@ class BlockingTestMixin:
                 self.fail("expected exception of kind %r" %
                                  expected_exception_class)
         finally:
-            thread.join(10) # make sure the thread terminates
-            if thread.is_alive():
-                self.fail("trigger function '%r' appeared to not return" %
-                                 trigger_func)
+            support.join_thread(thread, 10) # make sure the thread terminates
             if not thread.startedEvent.is_set():
                 self.fail("trigger thread ended but event never set")
 
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_sched.py b/Lib/test/test_sched.py
index 794c6374c45..3f84af2a4c2 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_sched.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_sched.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import sched
 import threading
 import time
 import unittest
+from test import support
 
 
 TIMEOUT = 10
@@ -81,8 +82,7 @@ class TestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(q.get(timeout=TIMEOUT), 5)
         self.assertTrue(q.empty())
         timer.advance(1000)
-        t.join(timeout=TIMEOUT)
-        self.assertFalse(t.is_alive())
+        support.join_thread(t, timeout=TIMEOUT)
         self.assertTrue(q.empty())
         self.assertEqual(timer.time(), 5)
 
@@ -137,8 +137,7 @@ class TestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(q.get(timeout=TIMEOUT), 4)
         self.assertTrue(q.empty())
         timer.advance(1000)
-        t.join(timeout=TIMEOUT)
-        self.assertFalse(t.is_alive())
+        support.join_thread(t, timeout=TIMEOUT)
         self.assertTrue(q.empty())
         self.assertEqual(timer.time(), 4)