diff --git a/doc/source/f2py/f2py-testing.rst b/doc/source/f2py/f2py-testing.rst
index 687b414975ee..7b16a0f6ff7f 100644
--- a/doc/source/f2py/f2py-testing.rst
+++ b/doc/source/f2py/f2py-testing.rst
@@ -23,12 +23,12 @@ The directory of the test suite looks like the following::
 	├── test_array_from_pyobj.py
 	├── // ... several test files
 	├── test_symbolic.py
-	└── util.py
+	testutils.py
 
 Files starting with ``test_`` contain tests for various aspects of f2py from parsing
 Fortran files to checking modules' documentation. ``src`` directory contains the
-Fortran source files upon which we do the testing. ``util.py`` contains utility 
-functions for building and importing Fortran modules during test time using a 
+Fortran source files upon which we do the testing. ``testutils.py`` contains utility
+functions for building and importing Fortran modules during test time using a
 temporary location.
 
 Adding a test
@@ -36,14 +36,14 @@ Adding a test
 
 F2PY's current test suite predates ``pytest`` and therefore does not use fixtures.
 Instead, the test files contain test classes that inherit from ``F2PyTest``
-class present in ``util.py``.
+class present in ``testutils.py``.
 
-.. literalinclude:: ../../../numpy/f2py/tests/util.py
+.. literalinclude:: ../../../numpy/f2py/testutils.py
    :language: python
    :lines:  327-336
    :linenos:
 
-This class many helper functions for parsing and compiling test source files. Its child 
+This class many helper functions for parsing and compiling test source files. Its child
 classes can override its ``sources`` data member to provide their own source files.
 This superclass will then compile the added source files upon object creation and their
 functions will be appended to ``self.module`` data member. Thus, the child classes will
@@ -70,13 +70,13 @@ Consider the following subroutines, contained in a file named :file:`add-test.f`
    :language: fortran
 
 The first routine `addb` simply takes an array and increases its elements by 1.
-The second subroutine `addc` assigns a new array `k` with elements greater that 
+The second subroutine `addc` assigns a new array `k` with elements greater that
 the elements of the input array `w` by 1.
 
 A test can be implemented as follows::
 
-	class TestAdd(util.F2PyTest):
-	    sources = [util.getpath("add-test.f")]
+	class TestAdd(testutils.F2PyTest):
+	    sources = [testutils.getpath("add-test.f")]
 
 	    def test_module(self):
 	        k = np.array([1, 2, 3], dtype=np.float64)
diff --git a/numpy/_core/tests/_locales.py b/numpy/_core/_testutils_locales.py
similarity index 100%
rename from numpy/_core/tests/_locales.py
rename to numpy/_core/_testutils_locales.py
diff --git a/numpy/_core/tests/_natype.py b/numpy/_core/_testutils_natype.py
similarity index 100%
rename from numpy/_core/tests/_natype.py
rename to numpy/_core/_testutils_natype.py
diff --git a/numpy/_core/meson.build b/numpy/_core/meson.build
index 6098986618e4..f51669d6aa3f 100644
--- a/numpy/_core/meson.build
+++ b/numpy/_core/meson.build
@@ -1394,6 +1394,8 @@ python_sources = [
   '_simd.pyi',
   '_string_helpers.py',
   '_string_helpers.pyi',
+  '_testutils_locales.py',
+  '_testutils_natype.py',
   '_type_aliases.py',
   '_type_aliases.pyi',
   '_ufunc_config.py',
diff --git a/numpy/_core/tests/test_longdouble.py b/numpy/_core/tests/test_longdouble.py
index f7edd9774573..d8b24886ab7f 100644
--- a/numpy/_core/tests/test_longdouble.py
+++ b/numpy/_core/tests/test_longdouble.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 import pytest
 
 import numpy as np
-from numpy._core.tests._locales import CommaDecimalPointLocale
+from numpy._core._testutils_locales import CommaDecimalPointLocale
 from numpy.testing import (
     IS_MUSL,
     assert_,
diff --git a/numpy/_core/tests/test_multiarray.py b/numpy/_core/tests/test_multiarray.py
index 0faf35c64b98..f0df318774c3 100644
--- a/numpy/_core/tests/test_multiarray.py
+++ b/numpy/_core/tests/test_multiarray.py
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@
 import numpy as np
 import numpy._core._multiarray_tests as _multiarray_tests
 from numpy._core._rational_tests import rational
+from numpy._core._testutils_locales import CommaDecimalPointLocale
 from numpy._core.multiarray import _get_ndarray_c_version, dot
-from numpy._core.tests._locales import CommaDecimalPointLocale
 from numpy.exceptions import AxisError, ComplexWarning
 from numpy.lib import stride_tricks
 from numpy.lib.recfunctions import repack_fields
diff --git a/numpy/_core/tests/test_print.py b/numpy/_core/tests/test_print.py
index d99b2794d7ca..659c695d262d 100644
--- a/numpy/_core/tests/test_print.py
+++ b/numpy/_core/tests/test_print.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 import pytest
 
 import numpy as np
-from numpy._core.tests._locales import CommaDecimalPointLocale
+from numpy._core._testutils_locales import CommaDecimalPointLocale
 from numpy.testing import IS_MUSL, assert_, assert_equal
 
 _REF = {np.inf: 'inf', -np.inf: '-inf', np.nan: 'nan'}
diff --git a/numpy/_core/tests/test_stringdtype.py b/numpy/_core/tests/test_stringdtype.py
index 9bab810d4421..1328f9c8de2f 100644
--- a/numpy/_core/tests/test_stringdtype.py
+++ b/numpy/_core/tests/test_stringdtype.py
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@
 import pytest
 
 import numpy as np
-from numpy._core.tests._natype import get_stringdtype_dtype as get_dtype
-from numpy._core.tests._natype import pd_NA
+from numpy._core._testutils_natype import get_stringdtype_dtype as get_dtype
+from numpy._core._testutils_natype import pd_NA
 from numpy.dtypes import StringDType
 from numpy.testing import IS_PYPY, assert_array_equal
 
diff --git a/numpy/conftest.py b/numpy/conftest.py
index fde4defc926d..e8519563044e 100644
--- a/numpy/conftest.py
+++ b/numpy/conftest.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 import numpy
 import numpy as np
 from numpy._core._multiarray_tests import get_fpu_mode
-from numpy._core.tests._natype import get_stringdtype_dtype, pd_NA
+from numpy._core._testutils_natype import get_stringdtype_dtype, pd_NA
 from numpy.testing._private.utils import NOGIL_BUILD
 
 try:
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/__init__.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/conftest.py
similarity index 100%
rename from numpy/f2py/tests/__init__.py
rename to numpy/f2py/tests/conftest.py
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_abstract_interface.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_abstract_interface.py
index 21e77db3e8d3..9c1deb559dd9 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_abstract_interface.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_abstract_interface.py
@@ -1,15 +1,13 @@
 import pytest
 
-from numpy.f2py import crackfortran
+from numpy.f2py import crackfortran, testutils
 from numpy.testing import IS_WASM
 
-from . import util
-
 
 @pytest.mark.skipif(IS_WASM, reason="Cannot start subprocess")
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestAbstractInterface(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "abstract_interface", "foo.f90")]
+class TestAbstractInterface(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "abstract_interface", "foo.f90")]
 
     skip = ["add1", "add2"]
 
@@ -18,7 +16,7 @@ def test_abstract_interface(self):
 
     def test_parse_abstract_interface(self):
         # Test gh18403
-        fpath = util.getpath("tests", "src", "abstract_interface",
+        fpath = testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "abstract_interface",
                              "gh18403_mod.f90")
         mod = crackfortran.crackfortran([str(fpath)])
         assert len(mod) == 1
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_array_from_pyobj.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_array_from_pyobj.py
index a8f952752cf4..38f92a5fa326 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_array_from_pyobj.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_array_from_pyobj.py
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 from numpy._core._type_aliases import c_names_dict as _c_names_dict
-
-from . import util
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 
 wrap = None
 
@@ -34,7 +33,7 @@ def setup_module():
         src = [
             get_testdir() / "wrapmodule.c",
         ]
-        wrap = util.build_meson(src, module_name="test_array_from_pyobj_ext")
+        wrap = testutils.build_meson(src, module_name="test_array_from_pyobj_ext")
 
 
 def flags_info(arr):
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_assumed_shape.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_assumed_shape.py
index cf75644d40ee..b072e9ac28e0 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_assumed_shape.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_assumed_shape.py
@@ -3,16 +3,16 @@
 
 import pytest
 
-from . import util
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 
 
-class TestAssumedShapeSumExample(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestAssumedShapeSumExample(testutils.F2PyTest):
     sources = [
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "assumed_shape", "foo_free.f90"),
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "assumed_shape", "foo_use.f90"),
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "assumed_shape", "precision.f90"),
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "assumed_shape", "foo_mod.f90"),
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "assumed_shape", ".f2py_f2cmap"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "assumed_shape", "foo_free.f90"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "assumed_shape", "foo_use.f90"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "assumed_shape", "precision.f90"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "assumed_shape", "foo_mod.f90"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "assumed_shape", ".f2py_f2cmap"),
     ]
 
     @pytest.mark.slow
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_block_docstring.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_block_docstring.py
index ba255a1b473c..54218daf226b 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_block_docstring.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_block_docstring.py
@@ -2,14 +2,13 @@
 
 import pytest
 
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 from numpy.testing import IS_PYPY
 
-from . import util
-
 
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestBlockDocString(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "block_docstring", "foo.f")]
+class TestBlockDocString(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "block_docstring", "foo.f")]
 
     @pytest.mark.skipif(sys.platform == "win32",
                         reason="Fails with MinGW64 Gfortran (Issue #9673)")
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_callback.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_callback.py
index 6614efb16db8..eae69b2ba4b4 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_callback.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_callback.py
@@ -9,13 +9,12 @@
 import pytest
 
 import numpy as np
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 from numpy.testing import IS_PYPY
 
-from . import util
 
-
-class TestF77Callback(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "callback", "foo.f")]
+class TestF77Callback(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "callback", "foo.f")]
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("name", ["t", "t2"])
     @pytest.mark.slow
@@ -206,8 +205,8 @@ class TestF77CallbackPythonTLS(TestF77Callback):
     options = ["-DF2PY_USE_PYTHON_TLS"]
 
 
-class TestF90Callback(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "callback", "gh17797.f90")]
+class TestF90Callback(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "callback", "gh17797.f90")]
 
     @pytest.mark.slow
     def test_gh17797(self):
@@ -219,13 +218,13 @@ def incr(x):
         assert r == 123 + 1 + 2 + 3
 
 
-class TestGH18335(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestGH18335(testutils.F2PyTest):
     """The reproduction of the reported issue requires specific input that
     extensions may break the issue conditions, so the reproducer is
     implemented as a separate test class. Do not extend this test with
     other tests!
     """
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "callback", "gh18335.f90")]
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "callback", "gh18335.f90")]
 
     @pytest.mark.slow
     def test_gh18335(self):
@@ -236,9 +235,9 @@ def foo(x):
         assert r == 123 + 1
 
 
-class TestGH25211(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "callback", "gh25211.f"),
-               util.getpath("tests", "src", "callback", "gh25211.pyf")]
+class TestGH25211(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "callback", "gh25211.f"),
+               testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "callback", "gh25211.pyf")]
     module_name = "callback2"
 
     def test_gh25211(self):
@@ -253,8 +252,8 @@ def bar(x):
 @pytest.mark.xfail(condition=(platform.system().lower() == 'darwin'),
                    run=False,
                    reason="Callback aborts cause CI failures on macOS")
-class TestCBFortranCallstatement(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "callback", "gh26681.f90")]
+class TestCBFortranCallstatement(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "callback", "gh26681.f90")]
     options = ['--lower']
 
     def test_callstatement_fortran(self):
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_character.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_character.py
index 74868a6f09f7..93f09ff28623 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_character.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_character.py
@@ -3,12 +3,12 @@
 import pytest
 
 import numpy as np
-from numpy.f2py.tests import util
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 from numpy.testing import assert_array_equal, assert_equal, assert_raises
 
 
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestCharacterString(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestCharacterString(testutils.F2PyTest):
     # options = ['--debug-capi', '--build-dir', '/tmp/test-build-f2py']
     suffix = '.f90'
     fprefix = 'test_character_string'
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ def test_2d_array_input(self, length):
         assert_array_equal(f(a), expected)
 
 
-class TestCharacter(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestCharacter(testutils.F2PyTest):
     # options = ['--debug-capi', '--build-dir', '/tmp/test-build-f2py']
     suffix = '.f90'
     fprefix = 'test_character'
@@ -432,7 +432,7 @@ def test_optional(self):
         assert_equal(f(b'B'), b"B")
 
 
-class TestMiscCharacter(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestMiscCharacter(testutils.F2PyTest):
     # options = ['--debug-capi', '--build-dir', '/tmp/test-build-f2py']
     suffix = '.f90'
     fprefix = 'test_misc_character'
@@ -575,8 +575,8 @@ def test_character_bc(self, state):
         assert_raises(Exception, lambda: f(b'c'))
 
 
-class TestStringScalarArr(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "string", "scalar_string.f90")]
+class TestStringScalarArr(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "string", "scalar_string.f90")]
 
     def test_char(self):
         for out in (self.module.string_test.string,
@@ -594,15 +594,15 @@ def test_char_arr(self):
             expected = '|S12'
             assert out.dtype == expected
 
-class TestStringAssumedLength(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "string", "gh24008.f")]
+class TestStringAssumedLength(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "string", "gh24008.f")]
 
     def test_gh24008(self):
         self.module.greet("joe", "bob")
 
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestStringOptionalInOut(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "string", "gh24662.f90")]
+class TestStringOptionalInOut(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "string", "gh24662.f90")]
 
     def test_gh24662(self):
         self.module.string_inout_optional()
@@ -615,11 +615,11 @@ def test_gh24662(self):
 
 
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestNewCharHandling(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestNewCharHandling(testutils.F2PyTest):
     # from v1.24 onwards, gh-19388
     sources = [
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "string", "gh25286.pyf"),
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "string", "gh25286.f90")
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "string", "gh25286.pyf"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "string", "gh25286.f90")
     ]
     module_name = "_char_handling_test"
 
@@ -628,11 +628,11 @@ def test_gh25286(self):
         assert info == 2
 
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestBCCharHandling(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestBCCharHandling(testutils.F2PyTest):
     # SciPy style, "incorrect" bindings with a hook
     sources = [
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "string", "gh25286_bc.pyf"),
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "string", "gh25286.f90")
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "string", "gh25286_bc.pyf"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "string", "gh25286.f90")
     ]
     module_name = "_char_handling_test"
 
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_common.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_common.py
index b9fbd84d52fb..1f97e2210e2f 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_common.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_common.py
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 import pytest
 
 import numpy as np
-
-from . import util
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 
 
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestCommonBlock(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "common", "block.f")]
+class TestCommonBlock(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "common", "block.f")]
 
     def test_common_block(self):
         self.module.initcb()
@@ -16,8 +15,8 @@ def test_common_block(self):
         assert self.module.block.ok == np.array(3, dtype=np.int32)
 
 
-class TestCommonWithUse(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "common", "gh19161.f90")]
+class TestCommonWithUse(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "common", "gh19161.f90")]
 
     def test_common_gh19161(self):
         assert self.module.data.x == 0
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_crackfortran.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_crackfortran.py
index c3967cfb967b..8121118d67c8 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_crackfortran.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_crackfortran.py
@@ -7,16 +7,14 @@
 import pytest
 
 import numpy as np
-from numpy.f2py import crackfortran
+from numpy.f2py import crackfortran, testutils
 from numpy.f2py.crackfortran import markinnerspaces, nameargspattern
 
-from . import util
 
-
-class TestNoSpace(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestNoSpace(testutils.F2PyTest):
     # issue gh-15035: add handling for endsubroutine, endfunction with no space
     # between "end" and the block name
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "gh15035.f")]
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "gh15035.f")]
 
     def test_module(self):
         k = np.array([1, 2, 3], dtype=np.float64)
@@ -30,7 +28,7 @@ def test_module(self):
 
 class TestPublicPrivate:
     def test_defaultPrivate(self):
-        fpath = util.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "privatemod.f90")
+        fpath = testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "privatemod.f90")
         mod = crackfortran.crackfortran([str(fpath)])
         assert len(mod) == 1
         mod = mod[0]
@@ -42,7 +40,7 @@ def test_defaultPrivate(self):
         assert "public" in mod["vars"]["seta"]["attrspec"]
 
     def test_defaultPublic(self, tmp_path):
-        fpath = util.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "publicmod.f90")
+        fpath = testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "publicmod.f90")
         mod = crackfortran.crackfortran([str(fpath)])
         assert len(mod) == 1
         mod = mod[0]
@@ -52,7 +50,7 @@ def test_defaultPublic(self, tmp_path):
         assert "public" in mod["vars"]["seta"]["attrspec"]
 
     def test_access_type(self, tmp_path):
-        fpath = util.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "accesstype.f90")
+        fpath = testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "accesstype.f90")
         mod = crackfortran.crackfortran([str(fpath)])
         assert len(mod) == 1
         tt = mod[0]['vars']
@@ -61,7 +59,7 @@ def test_access_type(self, tmp_path):
         assert set(tt['c']['attrspec']) == {'public'}
 
     def test_nowrap_private_proceedures(self, tmp_path):
-        fpath = util.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "gh23879.f90")
+        fpath = testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "gh23879.f90")
         mod = crackfortran.crackfortran([str(fpath)])
         assert len(mod) == 1
         pyf = crackfortran.crack2fortran(mod)
@@ -69,7 +67,7 @@ def test_nowrap_private_proceedures(self, tmp_path):
 
 class TestModuleProcedure:
     def test_moduleOperators(self, tmp_path):
-        fpath = util.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "operators.f90")
+        fpath = testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "operators.f90")
         mod = crackfortran.crackfortran([str(fpath)])
         assert len(mod) == 1
         mod = mod[0]
@@ -87,7 +85,7 @@ def test_moduleOperators(self, tmp_path):
             ["get_int", "get_real"]
 
     def test_notPublicPrivate(self, tmp_path):
-        fpath = util.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "pubprivmod.f90")
+        fpath = testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "pubprivmod.f90")
         mod = crackfortran.crackfortran([str(fpath)])
         assert len(mod) == 1
         mod = mod[0]
@@ -96,9 +94,9 @@ def test_notPublicPrivate(self, tmp_path):
         assert mod['vars']['seta']['attrspec'] == ['public', ]
 
 
-class TestExternal(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestExternal(testutils.F2PyTest):
     # issue gh-17859: add external attribute support
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "gh17859.f")]
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "gh17859.f")]
 
     def test_external_as_statement(self):
         def incr(x):
@@ -115,10 +113,10 @@ def incr(x):
         assert r == 123
 
 
-class TestCrackFortran(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestCrackFortran(testutils.F2PyTest):
     # gh-2848: commented lines between parameters in subroutine parameter lists
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "gh2848.f90"),
-               util.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "common_with_division.f")
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "gh2848.f90"),
+               testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "common_with_division.f")
               ]
 
     def test_gh2848(self):
@@ -149,7 +147,7 @@ def test_multiple_relevant_spaces(self):
         assert markinnerspaces(r'a "b c" "d e"') == r'a "b@_@c" "d@_@e"'
 
 
-class TestDimSpec(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestDimSpec(testutils.F2PyTest):
     """This test suite tests various expressions that are used as dimension
     specifications.
 
@@ -254,13 +252,13 @@ def test_inv_array_size(self, dimspec):
 
 class TestModuleDeclaration:
     def test_dependencies(self, tmp_path):
-        fpath = util.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "foo_deps.f90")
+        fpath = testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "foo_deps.f90")
         mod = crackfortran.crackfortran([str(fpath)])
         assert len(mod) == 1
         assert mod[0]["vars"]["abar"]["="] == "bar('abar')"
 
 
-class TestEval(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestEval(testutils.F2PyTest):
     def test_eval_scalar(self):
         eval_scalar = crackfortran._eval_scalar
 
@@ -270,7 +268,7 @@ def test_eval_scalar(self):
         assert eval_scalar('"123"', {}) == "'123'"
 
 
-class TestFortranReader(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestFortranReader(testutils.F2PyTest):
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("encoding",
                              ['ascii', 'utf-8', 'utf-16', 'utf-32'])
     def test_input_encoding(self, tmp_path, encoding):
@@ -286,8 +284,8 @@ def test_input_encoding(self, tmp_path, encoding):
 
 
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestUnicodeComment(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "unicode_comment.f90")]
+class TestUnicodeComment(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "unicode_comment.f90")]
 
     @pytest.mark.skipif(
         (importlib.util.find_spec("charset_normalizer") is None),
@@ -333,8 +331,8 @@ def test_nameargspattern_backtracking(self, adversary):
             good_version_of_adversary = repeated_adversary + '@)@'
             assert nameargspattern.search(good_version_of_adversary)
 
-class TestFunctionReturn(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "gh23598.f90")]
+class TestFunctionReturn(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "gh23598.f90")]
 
     @pytest.mark.slow
     def test_function_rettype(self):
@@ -342,10 +340,10 @@ def test_function_rettype(self):
         assert self.module.intproduct(3, 4) == 12
 
 
-class TestFortranGroupCounters(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestFortranGroupCounters(testutils.F2PyTest):
     def test_end_if_comment(self):
         # gh-23533
-        fpath = util.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "gh23533.f")
+        fpath = testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "gh23533.f")
         try:
             crackfortran.crackfortran([str(fpath)])
         except Exception as exc:
@@ -354,7 +352,7 @@ def test_end_if_comment(self):
 
 class TestF77CommonBlockReader:
     def test_gh22648(self, tmp_path):
-        fpath = util.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "gh22648.pyf")
+        fpath = testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "gh22648.pyf")
         with contextlib.redirect_stdout(io.StringIO()) as stdout_f2py:
             mod = crackfortran.crackfortran([str(fpath)])
         assert "Mismatch" not in stdout_f2py.getvalue()
@@ -412,8 +410,8 @@ def test_param_eval_too_many_dims(self):
                       dimspec=dimspec)
 
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestLowerF2PYDirective(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "gh27697.f90")]
+class TestLowerF2PYDirective(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "gh27697.f90")]
     options = ['--lower']
 
     def test_no_lower_fail(self):
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_data.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_data.py
index 0cea5561bd6c..ff9dcc303a0d 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_data.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_data.py
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 import pytest
 
 import numpy as np
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 from numpy.f2py.crackfortran import crackfortran
 
-from . import util
 
-
-class TestData(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "data_stmts.f90")]
+class TestData(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "data_stmts.f90")]
 
     # For gh-23276
     @pytest.mark.slow
@@ -35,8 +34,8 @@ def test_crackedlines(self):
         assert mod[0]['vars']['my_array']['='] == '(/(1.0d0, 2.0d0), (-3.0d0, 4.0d0)/)'
         assert mod[0]['vars']['z']['='] == '(/3.5,  7.0/)'
 
-class TestDataF77(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "data_common.f")]
+class TestDataF77(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "data_common.f")]
 
     # For gh-23276
     def test_data_stmts(self):
@@ -48,8 +47,8 @@ def test_crackedlines(self):
         assert mod[0]['vars']['mydata']['='] == '0'
 
 
-class TestDataMultiplierF77(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "data_multiplier.f")]
+class TestDataMultiplierF77(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "data_multiplier.f")]
 
     # For gh-23276
     def test_data_stmts(self):
@@ -60,8 +59,8 @@ def test_data_stmts(self):
         assert self.module.mycom.evar5 == 0
 
 
-class TestDataWithCommentsF77(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "data_with_comments.f")]
+class TestDataWithCommentsF77(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "data_with_comments.f")]
 
     # For gh-23276
     def test_data_stmts(self):
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_docs.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_docs.py
index 5d9aaac9f15b..54c05d7ffdcb 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_docs.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_docs.py
@@ -3,10 +3,9 @@
 import pytest
 
 import numpy as np
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 from numpy.testing import assert_array_equal, assert_equal
 
-from . import util
-
 
 def get_docdir():
     parents = Path(__file__).resolve().parents
@@ -33,7 +32,7 @@ def _path(*args):
     return get_docdir().joinpath(*args)
 
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestDocAdvanced(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestDocAdvanced(testutils.F2PyTest):
     # options = ['--debug-capi', '--build-dir', '/tmp/build-f2py']
     sources = [_path('asterisk1.f90'), _path('asterisk2.f90'),
                _path('ftype.f')]
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_f2cmap.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_f2cmap.py
index a35320ccc18a..4bc36091717c 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_f2cmap.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_f2cmap.py
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 import numpy as np
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 
-from . import util
 
-
-class TestF2Cmap(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestF2Cmap(testutils.F2PyTest):
     sources = [
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "f2cmap", "isoFortranEnvMap.f90"),
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "f2cmap", ".f2py_f2cmap")
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "f2cmap", "isoFortranEnvMap.f90"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "f2cmap", ".f2py_f2cmap")
     ]
 
     # gh-15095
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_f2py2e.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_f2py2e.py
index 2f91eb77c4bd..5099de1957ba 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_f2py2e.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_f2py2e.py
@@ -9,11 +9,10 @@
 
 import pytest
 
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 from numpy.f2py.f2py2e import main as f2pycli
 from numpy.testing._private.utils import NOGIL_BUILD
 
-from . import util
-
 #######################
 # F2PY Test utilities #
 ######################
@@ -21,7 +20,7 @@
 # Tests for CLI commands which call meson will fail if no compilers are present, these are to be skipped
 
 def compiler_check_f2pycli():
-    if not util.has_fortran_compiler():
+    if not testutils.has_fortran_compiler():
         pytest.skip("CLI command needs a Fortran compiler")
     else:
         f2pycli()
@@ -76,7 +75,7 @@ def get_io_paths(fname_inp, mname="untitled"):
 @pytest.fixture(scope="session")
 def hello_world_f90(tmpdir_factory):
     """Generates a single f90 file for testing"""
-    fdat = util.getpath("tests", "src", "cli", "hiworld.f90").read_text()
+    fdat = testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "cli", "hiworld.f90").read_text()
     fn = tmpdir_factory.getbasetemp() / "hello.f90"
     fn.write_text(fdat, encoding="ascii")
     return fn
@@ -85,7 +84,7 @@ def hello_world_f90(tmpdir_factory):
 @pytest.fixture(scope="session")
 def gh23598_warn(tmpdir_factory):
     """F90 file for testing warnings in gh23598"""
-    fdat = util.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "gh23598Warn.f90").read_text()
+    fdat = testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "crackfortran", "gh23598Warn.f90").read_text()
     fn = tmpdir_factory.getbasetemp() / "gh23598Warn.f90"
     fn.write_text(fdat, encoding="ascii")
     return fn
@@ -94,7 +93,7 @@ def gh23598_warn(tmpdir_factory):
 @pytest.fixture(scope="session")
 def gh22819_cli(tmpdir_factory):
     """F90 file for testing disallowed CLI arguments in ghff819"""
-    fdat = util.getpath("tests", "src", "cli", "gh_22819.pyf").read_text()
+    fdat = testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "cli", "gh_22819.pyf").read_text()
     fn = tmpdir_factory.getbasetemp() / "gh_22819.pyf"
     fn.write_text(fdat, encoding="ascii")
     return fn
@@ -103,7 +102,7 @@ def gh22819_cli(tmpdir_factory):
 @pytest.fixture(scope="session")
 def hello_world_f77(tmpdir_factory):
     """Generates a single f77 file for testing"""
-    fdat = util.getpath("tests", "src", "cli", "hi77.f").read_text()
+    fdat = testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "cli", "hi77.f").read_text()
     fn = tmpdir_factory.getbasetemp() / "hello.f"
     fn.write_text(fdat, encoding="ascii")
     return fn
@@ -112,7 +111,7 @@ def hello_world_f77(tmpdir_factory):
 @pytest.fixture(scope="session")
 def retreal_f77(tmpdir_factory):
     """Generates a single f77 file for testing"""
-    fdat = util.getpath("tests", "src", "return_real", "foo77.f").read_text()
+    fdat = testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "return_real", "foo77.f").read_text()
     fn = tmpdir_factory.getbasetemp() / "foo.f"
     fn.write_text(fdat, encoding="ascii")
     return fn
@@ -120,8 +119,8 @@ def retreal_f77(tmpdir_factory):
 @pytest.fixture(scope="session")
 def f2cmap_f90(tmpdir_factory):
     """Generates a single f90 file for testing"""
-    fdat = util.getpath("tests", "src", "f2cmap", "isoFortranEnvMap.f90").read_text()
-    f2cmap = util.getpath("tests", "src", "f2cmap", ".f2py_f2cmap").read_text()
+    fdat = testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "f2cmap", "isoFortranEnvMap.f90").read_text()
+    f2cmap = testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "f2cmap", ".f2py_f2cmap").read_text()
     fn = tmpdir_factory.getbasetemp() / "f2cmap.f90"
     fmap = tmpdir_factory.getbasetemp() / "mapfile"
     fn.write_text(fdat, encoding="ascii")
@@ -142,7 +141,7 @@ def test_gh22819_cli(capfd, gh22819_cli, monkeypatch):
     """
     ipath = Path(gh22819_cli)
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv", f"f2py -m blah {ipath}".split())
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         gen_paths = [item.name for item in ipath.parent.rglob("*") if item.is_file()]
         assert "blahmodule.c" not in gen_paths  # shouldn't be generated
@@ -158,7 +157,7 @@ def test_gh22819_many_pyf(capfd, gh22819_cli, monkeypatch):
     """
     ipath = Path(gh22819_cli)
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv", f"f2py -m blah {ipath} hello.pyf".split())
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Only one .pyf file per call"):
             f2pycli()
 
@@ -170,7 +169,7 @@ def test_gh23598_warn(capfd, gh23598_warn, monkeypatch):
         sys, "argv",
         f'f2py {ipath} -m test'.split())
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()  # Generate files
         wrapper = foutl.wrap90.read_text()
         assert "intproductf2pywrap, intpr" not in wrapper
@@ -184,7 +183,7 @@ def test_gen_pyf(capfd, hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
     opath = Path(hello_world_f90).stem + ".pyf"
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv", f'f2py -h {opath} {ipath}'.split())
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()  # Generate wrappers
         out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
         assert "Saving signatures to file" in out
@@ -197,7 +196,7 @@ def test_gen_pyf_stdout(capfd, hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
     """
     ipath = Path(hello_world_f90)
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv", f'f2py -h stdout {ipath}'.split())
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
         assert "Saving signatures to file" in out
@@ -211,7 +210,7 @@ def test_gen_pyf_no_overwrite(capfd, hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
     ipath = Path(hello_world_f90)
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv", f'f2py -h faker.pyf {ipath}'.split())
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         Path("faker.pyf").write_text("Fake news", encoding="ascii")
         with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
             f2pycli()  # Refuse to overwrite
@@ -227,7 +226,7 @@ def test_untitled_cli(capfd, hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
     """
     ipath = Path(hello_world_f90)
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv", f"f2py --backend meson -c {ipath}".split())
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         compiler_check_f2pycli()
         out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
         assert "untitledmodule.c" in out
@@ -244,14 +243,14 @@ def test_no_py312_distutils_fcompiler(capfd, hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr(
         sys, "argv", f"f2py {ipath} -c --fcompiler=gfortran -m {MNAME}".split()
     )
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         compiler_check_f2pycli()
         out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
         assert "--fcompiler cannot be used with meson" in out
     monkeypatch.setattr(
         sys, "argv", ["f2py", "--help-link"]
     )
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
         assert "Use --dep for meson builds" in out
@@ -259,7 +258,7 @@ def test_no_py312_distutils_fcompiler(capfd, hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr(
         sys, "argv", f"f2py {ipath} -c -m {MNAME} --backend distutils".split()
     )
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
         assert "Cannot use distutils backend with Python>=3.12" in out
@@ -278,7 +277,7 @@ def test_f2py_skip(capfd, retreal_f77, monkeypatch):
         sys, "argv",
         f'f2py {ipath} -m test skip: {toskip}'.split())
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         out, err = capfd.readouterr()
         for skey in toskip.split():
@@ -301,7 +300,7 @@ def test_f2py_only(capfd, retreal_f77, monkeypatch):
         sys, "argv",
         f'f2py {ipath} -m test only: {tokeep}'.split())
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         out, err = capfd.readouterr()
         for skey in toskip.split():
@@ -331,7 +330,7 @@ def test_file_processing_switch(capfd, hello_world_f90, retreal_f77,
         ),
     )
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         out, err = capfd.readouterr()
         for skey in toskip.split():
@@ -350,7 +349,7 @@ def test_mod_gen_f77(capfd, hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
     foutl = get_io_paths(hello_world_f90, mname=MNAME)
     ipath = foutl.f90inp
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv", f'f2py {ipath} -m {MNAME}'.split())
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
 
     # Always generate C module
@@ -368,7 +367,7 @@ def test_mod_gen_gh25263(capfd, hello_world_f77, monkeypatch):
     foutl = get_io_paths(hello_world_f77, mname=MNAME)
     ipath = foutl.finp
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv", f'f2py {ipath} -m {MNAME} -h hi.pyf'.split())
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         with Path('hi.pyf').open() as hipyf:
             pyfdat = hipyf.read()
@@ -386,7 +385,7 @@ def test_lower_cmod(capfd, hello_world_f77, monkeypatch):
     capslo = re.compile(r"hi\(\)")
     # Case I: --lower is passed
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv", f'f2py {ipath} -m test --lower'.split())
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
         assert capslo.search(out) is not None
@@ -394,7 +393,7 @@ def test_lower_cmod(capfd, hello_world_f77, monkeypatch):
     # Case II: --no-lower is passed
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv",
                         f'f2py {ipath} -m test --no-lower'.split())
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
         assert capslo.search(out) is None
@@ -419,7 +418,7 @@ def test_lower_sig(capfd, hello_world_f77, monkeypatch):
         f'f2py {ipath} -h {foutl.pyf} -m test --overwrite-signature'.split(),
     )
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
         assert capslo.search(out) is not None
@@ -433,7 +432,7 @@ def test_lower_sig(capfd, hello_world_f77, monkeypatch):
         .split(),
     )
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
         assert capslo.search(out) is None
@@ -451,7 +450,7 @@ def test_build_dir(capfd, hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv",
                         f'f2py -m {mname} {ipath} --build-dir {odir}'.split())
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
         assert f"Wrote C/API module \"{mname}\"" in out
@@ -467,7 +466,7 @@ def test_overwrite(capfd, hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
         sys, "argv",
         f'f2py -h faker.pyf {ipath} --overwrite-signature'.split())
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         Path("faker.pyf").write_text("Fake news", encoding="ascii")
         f2pycli()
         out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
@@ -484,7 +483,7 @@ def test_latexdoc(capfd, hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv",
                         f'f2py -m {mname} {ipath} --latex-doc'.split())
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
         assert "Documentation is saved to file" in out
@@ -502,7 +501,7 @@ def test_nolatexdoc(capfd, hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv",
                         f'f2py -m {mname} {ipath} --no-latex-doc'.split())
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
         assert "Documentation is saved to file" not in out
@@ -522,7 +521,7 @@ def test_shortlatex(capfd, hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
         f'f2py -m {mname} {ipath} --latex-doc --short-latex'.split(),
     )
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
         assert "Documentation is saved to file" in out
@@ -540,7 +539,7 @@ def test_restdoc(capfd, hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv",
                         f'f2py -m {mname} {ipath} --rest-doc'.split())
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
         assert "ReST Documentation is saved to file" in out
@@ -558,7 +557,7 @@ def test_norestexdoc(capfd, hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv",
                         f'f2py -m {mname} {ipath} --no-rest-doc'.split())
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
         assert "ReST Documentation is saved to file" not in out
@@ -574,7 +573,7 @@ def test_debugcapi(capfd, hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv",
                         f'f2py -m {mname} {ipath} --debug-capi'.split())
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         with Path(f"./{mname}module.c").open() as ocmod:
             assert r"#define DEBUGCFUNCS" in ocmod.read()
@@ -591,7 +590,7 @@ def test_debugcapi_bld(hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv",
                         f'f2py -m {mname} {ipath} -c --debug-capi'.split())
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         cmd_run = shlex.split(f"{sys.executable} -c \"import blah; blah.hi()\"")
         rout = subprocess.run(cmd_run, capture_output=True, encoding='UTF-8')
@@ -620,7 +619,7 @@ def test_wrapfunc_def(capfd, hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
     mname = "blah"
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv", f'f2py -m {mname} {ipath}'.split())
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
     out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
     assert r"Fortran 77 wrappers are saved to" in out
@@ -629,7 +628,7 @@ def test_wrapfunc_def(capfd, hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv",
                         f'f2py -m {mname} {ipath} --wrap-functions'.split())
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
         assert r"Fortran 77 wrappers are saved to" in out
@@ -645,7 +644,7 @@ def test_nowrapfunc(capfd, hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv",
                         f'f2py -m {mname} {ipath} --no-wrap-functions'.split())
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
         assert r"Fortran 77 wrappers are saved to" not in out
@@ -666,7 +665,7 @@ def test_inclheader(capfd, hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
         split(),
     )
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         with Path(f"./{mname}module.c").open() as ocmod:
             ocmr = ocmod.read()
@@ -700,7 +699,7 @@ def test_f2cmap(capfd, f2cmap_f90, monkeypatch):
     ipath = Path(f2cmap_f90)
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv", f'f2py -m blah {ipath} --f2cmap mapfile'.split())
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
         assert "Reading f2cmap from 'mapfile' ..." in out
@@ -718,7 +717,7 @@ def test_quiet(capfd, hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
     ipath = Path(hello_world_f90)
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv", f'f2py -m blah {ipath} --quiet'.split())
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
         assert len(out) == 0
@@ -732,7 +731,7 @@ def test_verbose(capfd, hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
     ipath = Path(hello_world_f90)
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv", f'f2py -m blah {ipath} --verbose'.split())
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         out, _ = capfd.readouterr()
         assert "analyzeline" in out
@@ -760,7 +759,7 @@ def test_npdistop(hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
     ipath = Path(hello_world_f90)
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv", f'f2py -m blah {ipath} -c'.split())
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         f2pycli()
         cmd_run = shlex.split(f"{sys.executable} -c \"import blah; blah.hi()\"")
         rout = subprocess.run(cmd_run, capture_output=True, encoding='UTF-8')
@@ -777,7 +776,7 @@ def test_no_freethreading_compatible(hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
     ipath = Path(hello_world_f90)
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv", f'f2py -m blah {ipath} -c --no-freethreading-compatible'.split())
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         compiler_check_f2pycli()
         cmd = f"{sys.executable} -c \"import blah; blah.hi();"
         if NOGIL_BUILD:
@@ -802,7 +801,7 @@ def test_freethreading_compatible(hello_world_f90, monkeypatch):
     ipath = Path(hello_world_f90)
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv", f'f2py -m blah {ipath} -c --freethreading-compatible'.split())
 
-    with util.switchdir(ipath.parent):
+    with testutils.switchdir(ipath.parent):
         compiler_check_f2pycli()
         cmd = f"{sys.executable} -c \"import blah; blah.hi();"
         if NOGIL_BUILD:
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_isoc.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_isoc.py
index f3450f15fead..bbc698b9e62f 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_isoc.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_isoc.py
@@ -1,14 +1,13 @@
 import pytest
 
 import numpy as np
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 from numpy.testing import assert_allclose
 
-from . import util
 
-
-class TestISOC(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestISOC(testutils.F2PyTest):
     sources = [
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "isocintrin", "isoCtests.f90"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "isocintrin", "isoCtests.f90"),
     ]
 
     # gh-24553
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_kind.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_kind.py
index ce223a555456..4357b40d14c6 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_kind.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_kind.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 import pytest
 
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 from numpy.f2py.crackfortran import (
     _selected_int_kind_func as selected_int_kind,
 )
@@ -10,11 +11,9 @@
     _selected_real_kind_func as selected_real_kind,
 )
 
-from . import util
 
-
-class TestKind(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "kind", "foo.f90")]
+class TestKind(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "kind", "foo.f90")]
 
     @pytest.mark.skipif(sys.maxsize < 2 ** 31 + 1,
                         reason="Fails for 32 bit machines")
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_mixed.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_mixed.py
index 07f43e2bcfaa..5c67dda94cc7 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_mixed.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_mixed.py
@@ -2,16 +2,15 @@
 
 import pytest
 
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 from numpy.testing import IS_PYPY
 
-from . import util
 
-
-class TestMixed(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestMixed(testutils.F2PyTest):
     sources = [
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "mixed", "foo.f"),
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "mixed", "foo_fixed.f90"),
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "mixed", "foo_free.f90"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "mixed", "foo.f"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "mixed", "foo_fixed.f90"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "mixed", "foo_free.f90"),
     ]
 
     @pytest.mark.slow
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_modules.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_modules.py
index 96d5ffc66093..fc9725864d7a 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_modules.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_modules.py
@@ -2,15 +2,14 @@
 
 import pytest
 
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 from numpy.testing import IS_PYPY
 
-from . import util
-
 
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestModuleFilterPublicEntities(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestModuleFilterPublicEntities(testutils.F2PyTest):
     sources = [
-        util.getpath(
+        testutils.getpath(
             "tests", "src", "modules", "gh26920",
             "two_mods_with_one_public_routine.f90"
         )
@@ -24,9 +23,9 @@ def test_gh26920(self):
 
 
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestModuleWithoutPublicEntities(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestModuleWithoutPublicEntities(testutils.F2PyTest):
     sources = [
-        util.getpath(
+        testutils.getpath(
             "tests", "src", "modules", "gh26920",
             "two_mods_with_no_public_entities.f90"
         )
@@ -39,8 +38,8 @@ def test_gh26920(self):
 
 
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestModuleDocString(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "modules", "module_data_docstring.f90")]
+class TestModuleDocString(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "modules", "module_data_docstring.f90")]
 
     @pytest.mark.xfail(IS_PYPY, reason="PyPy cannot modify tp_doc after PyType_Ready")
     def test_module_docstring(self):
@@ -56,11 +55,11 @@ def test_module_docstring(self):
 
 
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestModuleAndSubroutine(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestModuleAndSubroutine(testutils.F2PyTest):
     module_name = "example"
     sources = [
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "modules", "gh25337", "data.f90"),
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "modules", "gh25337", "use_data.f90"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "modules", "gh25337", "data.f90"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "modules", "gh25337", "use_data.f90"),
     ]
 
     def test_gh25337(self):
@@ -69,10 +68,10 @@ def test_gh25337(self):
 
 
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestUsedModule(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestUsedModule(testutils.F2PyTest):
     module_name = "fmath"
     sources = [
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "modules", "use_modules.f90"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "modules", "use_modules.f90"),
     ]
 
     def test_gh25867(self):
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_parameter.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_parameter.py
index 513d021002b7..846f82a495be 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_parameter.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_parameter.py
@@ -1,19 +1,18 @@
 import pytest
 
 import numpy as np
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 
-from . import util
 
-
-class TestParameters(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestParameters(testutils.F2PyTest):
     # Check that intent(in out) translates as intent(inout)
     sources = [
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "parameter", "constant_real.f90"),
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "parameter", "constant_integer.f90"),
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "parameter", "constant_both.f90"),
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "parameter", "constant_compound.f90"),
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "parameter", "constant_non_compound.f90"),
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "parameter", "constant_array.f90"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "parameter", "constant_real.f90"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "parameter", "constant_integer.f90"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "parameter", "constant_both.f90"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "parameter", "constant_compound.f90"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "parameter", "constant_non_compound.f90"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "parameter", "constant_array.f90"),
     ]
 
     @pytest.mark.slow
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_quoted_character.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_quoted_character.py
index 3cbcb3c55b4f..ae4656f6f5c3 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_quoted_character.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_quoted_character.py
@@ -5,11 +5,11 @@
 
 import pytest
 
-from . import util
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 
 
-class TestQuotedCharacter(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "quoted_character", "foo.f")]
+class TestQuotedCharacter(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "quoted_character", "foo.f")]
 
     @pytest.mark.skipif(sys.platform == "win32",
                         reason="Fails with MinGW64 Gfortran (Issue #9673)")
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_regression.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_regression.py
index 93eb29e8e723..b3d9d417bb2e 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_regression.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_regression.py
@@ -5,13 +5,12 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 import numpy.testing as npt
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 
-from . import util
 
-
-class TestIntentInOut(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestIntentInOut(testutils.F2PyTest):
     # Check that intent(in out) translates as intent(inout)
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "regression", "inout.f90")]
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "regression", "inout.f90")]
 
     @pytest.mark.slow
     def test_inout(self):
@@ -25,9 +24,9 @@ def test_inout(self):
         assert np.allclose(x, [3, 1, 2])
 
 
-class TestDataOnlyMultiModule(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestDataOnlyMultiModule(testutils.F2PyTest):
     # Check that modules without subroutines work
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "regression", "datonly.f90")]
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "regression", "datonly.f90")]
 
     @pytest.mark.slow
     def test_mdat(self):
@@ -37,9 +36,9 @@ def test_mdat(self):
         assert self.module.simple_subroutine(5) == 1014
 
 
-class TestModuleWithDerivedType(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestModuleWithDerivedType(testutils.F2PyTest):
     # Check that modules with derived types work
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "regression", "mod_derived_types.f90")]
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "regression", "mod_derived_types.f90")]
 
     @pytest.mark.slow
     def test_mtypes(self):
@@ -47,9 +46,9 @@ def test_mtypes(self):
         assert self.module.type_subroutine(10) == 210
 
 
-class TestNegativeBounds(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestNegativeBounds(testutils.F2PyTest):
     # Check that negative bounds work correctly
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "negative_bounds", "issue_20853.f90")]
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "negative_bounds", "issue_20853.f90")]
 
     @pytest.mark.slow
     def test_negbound(self):
@@ -68,10 +67,10 @@ def ubound(xl, xh):
         assert np.allclose(rval, expval)
 
 
-class TestNumpyVersionAttribute(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestNumpyVersionAttribute(testutils.F2PyTest):
     # Check that th attribute __f2py_numpy_version__ is present
     # in the compiled module and that has the value np.__version__.
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "regression", "inout.f90")]
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "regression", "inout.f90")]
 
     @pytest.mark.slow
     def test_numpy_version_attribute(self):
@@ -93,10 +92,10 @@ def test_include_path():
         assert fname in fnames_in_dir
 
 
-class TestIncludeFiles(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "regression", "incfile.f90")]
-    options = [f"-I{util.getpath('tests', 'src', 'regression')}",
-               f"--include-paths {util.getpath('tests', 'src', 'regression')}"]
+class TestIncludeFiles(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "regression", "incfile.f90")]
+    options = [f"-I{testutils.getpath('tests', 'src', 'regression')}",
+               f"--include-paths {testutils.getpath('tests', 'src', 'regression')}"]
 
     @pytest.mark.slow
     def test_gh25344(self):
@@ -104,9 +103,9 @@ def test_gh25344(self):
         res = self.module.add(3.0, 4.0)
         assert exp == res
 
-class TestF77Comments(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestF77Comments(testutils.F2PyTest):
     # Check that comments are stripped from F77 continuation lines
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "regression", "f77comments.f")]
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "regression", "f77comments.f")]
 
     @pytest.mark.slow
     def test_gh26148(self):
@@ -123,9 +122,9 @@ def test_gh26466(self):
         res = self.module.testsub2()
         npt.assert_allclose(expected, res)
 
-class TestF90Contiuation(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestF90Contiuation(testutils.F2PyTest):
     # Check that comments are stripped from F90 continuation lines
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "regression", "f90continuation.f90")]
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "regression", "f90continuation.f90")]
 
     @pytest.mark.slow
     def test_gh26148b(self):
@@ -135,9 +134,9 @@ def test_gh26148b(self):
         assert res[0] == 8
         assert res[1] == 15
 
-class TestLowerF2PYDirectives(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestLowerF2PYDirectives(testutils.F2PyTest):
     # Check variables are cased correctly
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "regression", "lower_f2py_fortran.f90")]
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "regression", "lower_f2py_fortran.f90")]
 
     @pytest.mark.slow
     def test_gh28014(self):
@@ -148,8 +147,8 @@ def test_gh28014(self):
 def test_gh26623():
     # Including libraries with . should not generate an incorrect meson.build
     try:
-        aa = util.build_module(
-            [util.getpath("tests", "src", "regression", "f90continuation.f90")],
+        aa = testutils.build_module(
+            [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "regression", "f90continuation.f90")],
             ["-lfoo.bar"],
             module_name="Blah",
         )
@@ -162,8 +161,8 @@ def test_gh26623():
 def test_gh25784():
     # Compile dubious file using passed flags
     try:
-        aa = util.build_module(
-            [util.getpath("tests", "src", "regression", "f77fixedform.f95")],
+        aa = testutils.build_module(
+            [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "regression", "f77fixedform.f95")],
             options=[
                 # Meson will collect and dedup these to pass to fortran_args:
                 "--f77flags='-ffixed-form -O2'",
@@ -176,9 +175,9 @@ def test_gh25784():
 
 
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestAssignmentOnlyModules(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestAssignmentOnlyModules(testutils.F2PyTest):
     # Ensure that variables are exposed without functions or subroutines in a module
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "regression", "assignOnlyModule.f90")]
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "regression", "assignOnlyModule.f90")]
 
     @pytest.mark.slow
     def test_gh27167(self):
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_return_character.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_return_character.py
index aae3f0f91671..8de7b760f2f6 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_return_character.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_return_character.py
@@ -3,14 +3,13 @@
 import pytest
 
 from numpy import array
-
-from . import util
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 
 IS_S390X = platform.machine() == "s390x"
 
 
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestReturnCharacter(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestReturnCharacter(testutils.F2PyTest):
     def check_function(self, t, tname):
         if tname in ["t0", "t1", "s0", "s1"]:
             assert t("23") == b"2"
@@ -33,8 +32,8 @@ def check_function(self, t, tname):
 
 class TestFReturnCharacter(TestReturnCharacter):
     sources = [
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "return_character", "foo77.f"),
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "return_character", "foo90.f90"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "return_character", "foo77.f"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "return_character", "foo90.f90"),
     ]
 
     @pytest.mark.xfail(IS_S390X, reason="callback returns ' '")
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_return_complex.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_return_complex.py
index aa3f28e679f8..9ad126946f43 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_return_complex.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_return_complex.py
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 import pytest
 
 from numpy import array
-
-from . import util
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 
 
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestReturnComplex(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestReturnComplex(testutils.F2PyTest):
     def check_function(self, t, tname):
         if tname in ["t0", "t8", "s0", "s8"]:
             err = 1e-5
@@ -53,8 +52,8 @@ def check_function(self, t, tname):
 
 class TestFReturnComplex(TestReturnComplex):
     sources = [
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "return_complex", "foo77.f"),
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "return_complex", "foo90.f90"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "return_complex", "foo77.f"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "return_complex", "foo90.f90"),
     ]
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("name", ["t0", "t8", "t16", "td", "s0", "s8", "s16", "sd"])
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_return_integer.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_return_integer.py
index 13a9f862f311..fb541b0f3fd0 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_return_integer.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_return_integer.py
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 import pytest
 
 from numpy import array
-
-from . import util
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 
 
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestReturnInteger(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestReturnInteger(testutils.F2PyTest):
     def check_function(self, t, tname):
         assert t(123) == 123
         assert t(123.6) == 123
@@ -39,8 +38,8 @@ def check_function(self, t, tname):
 
 class TestFReturnInteger(TestReturnInteger):
     sources = [
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "return_integer", "foo77.f"),
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "return_integer", "foo90.f90"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "return_integer", "foo77.f"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "return_integer", "foo90.f90"),
     ]
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("name",
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_return_logical.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_return_logical.py
index a4a339572366..64fb9745a478 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_return_logical.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_return_logical.py
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 import pytest
 
 from numpy import array
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 
-from . import util
 
-
-class TestReturnLogical(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestReturnLogical(testutils.F2PyTest):
     def check_function(self, t):
         assert t(True) == 1
         assert t(False) == 0
@@ -49,8 +48,8 @@ def check_function(self, t):
 
 class TestFReturnLogical(TestReturnLogical):
     sources = [
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "return_logical", "foo77.f"),
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "return_logical", "foo90.f90"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "return_logical", "foo77.f"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "return_logical", "foo90.f90"),
     ]
 
     @pytest.mark.slow
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_return_real.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_return_real.py
index c871ed3d4fc2..9ed1fa6b1aa8 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_return_real.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_return_real.py
@@ -3,13 +3,12 @@
 import pytest
 
 from numpy import array
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 from numpy.testing import IS_64BIT
 
-from . import util
-
 
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestReturnReal(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestReturnReal(testutils.F2PyTest):
     def check_function(self, t, tname):
         if tname in ["t0", "t4", "s0", "s4"]:
             err = 1e-5
@@ -96,8 +95,8 @@ def test_all(self, name):
 
 class TestFReturnReal(TestReturnReal):
     sources = [
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "return_real", "foo77.f"),
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "return_real", "foo90.f90"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "return_real", "foo77.f"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "return_real", "foo90.f90"),
     ]
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("name", ["t0", "t4", "t8", "td", "s0", "s4", "s8", "sd"])
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_routines.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_routines.py
index 01135dd692a6..66f81f676f3b 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_routines.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_routines.py
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 import pytest
 
-from . import util
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 
 
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestRenamedFunc(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestRenamedFunc(testutils.F2PyTest):
     sources = [
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "routines", "funcfortranname.f"),
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "routines", "funcfortranname.pyf"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "routines", "funcfortranname.f"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "routines", "funcfortranname.pyf"),
     ]
     module_name = "funcfortranname"
 
@@ -17,10 +17,10 @@ def test_gh25799(self):
 
 
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestRenamedSubroutine(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestRenamedSubroutine(testutils.F2PyTest):
     sources = [
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "routines", "subrout.f"),
-        util.getpath("tests", "src", "routines", "subrout.pyf"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "routines", "subrout.f"),
+        testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "routines", "subrout.pyf"),
     ]
     module_name = "subrout"
 
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_semicolon_split.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_semicolon_split.py
index 2a16b191beba..6aa4dda9ed4b 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_semicolon_split.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_semicolon_split.py
@@ -2,10 +2,9 @@
 
 import pytest
 
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 from numpy.testing import IS_64BIT
 
-from . import util
-
 
 @pytest.mark.skipif(
     platform.system() == "Darwin",
@@ -15,7 +14,7 @@
 @pytest.mark.skipif(
     not IS_64BIT, reason="32-bit builds are buggy"
 )
-class TestMultiline(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestMultiline(testutils.F2PyTest):
     suffix = ".pyf"
     module_name = "multiline"
     code = f"""
@@ -48,7 +47,7 @@ def test_multiline(self):
     not IS_64BIT, reason="32-bit builds are buggy"
 )
 @pytest.mark.slow
-class TestCallstatement(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestCallstatement(testutils.F2PyTest):
     suffix = ".pyf"
     module_name = "callstatement"
     code = f"""
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_size.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_size.py
index ac2eaf1413ef..049b48ffc531 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_size.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_size.py
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 import pytest
 
 import numpy as np
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 
-from . import util
 
-
-class TestSizeSumExample(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "size", "foo.f90")]
+class TestSizeSumExample(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "size", "foo.f90")]
 
     @pytest.mark.slow
     def test_all(self):
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_string.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_string.py
index f484ea3f11a9..75beb3492822 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_string.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_string.py
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 import pytest
 
 import numpy as np
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 
-from . import util
 
-
-class TestString(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "string", "char.f90")]
+class TestString(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "string", "char.f90")]
 
     @pytest.mark.slow
     def test_char(self):
@@ -19,8 +18,8 @@ def test_char(self):
         assert out == pytest.approx(expected)
 
 
-class TestDocStringArguments(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "string", "string.f")]
+class TestDocStringArguments(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "string", "string.f")]
 
     def test_example(self):
         a = np.array(b"123\0\0")
@@ -36,8 +35,8 @@ def test_example(self):
         assert d.tobytes() == b"D23"
 
 
-class TestFixedString(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "string", "fixed_string.f90")]
+class TestFixedString(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "string", "fixed_string.f90")]
 
     @staticmethod
     def _sint(s, start=0, end=None):
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_symbolic.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_symbolic.py
index ec23f522128b..b0416f605e1c 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_symbolic.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_symbolic.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import pytest
 
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 from numpy.f2py.symbolic import (
     ArithOp,
     Expr,
@@ -30,10 +31,8 @@
     normalize,
 )
 
-from . import util
 
-
-class TestSymbolic(util.F2PyTest):
+class TestSymbolic(testutils.F2PyTest):
     def test_eliminate_quotes(self):
         def worker(s):
             r, d = eliminate_quotes(s)
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_value_attrspec.py b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_value_attrspec.py
index 1afae08bfe0e..eef3b466e3aa 100644
--- a/numpy/f2py/tests/test_value_attrspec.py
+++ b/numpy/f2py/tests/test_value_attrspec.py
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 import pytest
 
-from . import util
+from numpy.f2py import testutils
 
 
-class TestValueAttr(util.F2PyTest):
-    sources = [util.getpath("tests", "src", "value_attrspec", "gh21665.f90")]
+class TestValueAttr(testutils.F2PyTest):
+    sources = [testutils.getpath("tests", "src", "value_attrspec", "gh21665.f90")]
 
     # gh-21665
     @pytest.mark.slow
diff --git a/numpy/f2py/tests/util.py b/numpy/f2py/testutils.py
similarity index 100%
rename from numpy/f2py/tests/util.py
rename to numpy/f2py/testutils.py
diff --git a/numpy/fft/meson.build b/numpy/fft/meson.build
index e18949af5e31..58ba18913ae0 100644
--- a/numpy/fft/meson.build
+++ b/numpy/fft/meson.build
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ py.install_sources(
 
 py.install_sources(
   [
-    'tests/__init__.py',
     'tests/test_helper.py',
     'tests/test_pocketfft.py',
   ],
diff --git a/numpy/fft/tests/__init__.py b/numpy/fft/tests/__init__.py
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29bb2d1..000000000000
diff --git a/numpy/lib/tests/__init__.py b/numpy/lib/tests/__init__.py
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29bb2d1..000000000000
diff --git a/numpy/linalg/meson.build b/numpy/linalg/meson.build
index e2f8136208d6..f80399502e04 100644
--- a/numpy/linalg/meson.build
+++ b/numpy/linalg/meson.build
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ py.install_sources(
 
 py.install_sources(
   [
-    'tests/__init__.py',
     'tests/test_deprecations.py',
     'tests/test_linalg.py',
     'tests/test_regression.py',
diff --git a/numpy/linalg/tests/__init__.py b/numpy/linalg/tests/__init__.py
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29bb2d1..000000000000
diff --git a/numpy/ma/tests/__init__.py b/numpy/ma/tests/__init__.py
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29bb2d1..000000000000
diff --git a/numpy/matrixlib/tests/__init__.py b/numpy/matrixlib/tests/__init__.py
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29bb2d1..000000000000
diff --git a/numpy/polynomial/tests/__init__.py b/numpy/polynomial/tests/__init__.py
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29bb2d1..000000000000
diff --git a/numpy/random/meson.build b/numpy/random/meson.build
index 16450278c846..35ec70a1ea78 100644
--- a/numpy/random/meson.build
+++ b/numpy/random/meson.build
@@ -120,7 +120,6 @@ py.install_sources(
 
 py.install_sources(
   [
-    'tests/__init__.py',
     'tests/test_direct.py',
     'tests/test_extending.py',
     'tests/test_generator_mt19937.py',
diff --git a/numpy/random/tests/__init__.py b/numpy/random/tests/__init__.py
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29bb2d1..000000000000
diff --git a/numpy/testing/tests/__init__.py b/numpy/testing/tests/__init__.py
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29bb2d1..000000000000
diff --git a/numpy/tests/__init__.py b/numpy/tests/__init__.py
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29bb2d1..000000000000
diff --git a/numpy/tests/test_public_api.py b/numpy/tests/test_public_api.py
index 6a36358c3a06..f9aa896f4cf0 100644
--- a/numpy/tests/test_public_api.py
+++ b/numpy/tests/test_public_api.py
@@ -189,6 +189,7 @@ def test_NPY_NO_EXPORT():
     "f2py.func2subr",
     "f2py.rules",
     "f2py.symbolic",
+    "f2py.testutils",
     "f2py.use_rules",
     "fft.helper",
     "lib.user_array",  # note: not in np.lib, but probably should just be deleted
diff --git a/numpy/typing/tests/__init__.py b/numpy/typing/tests/__init__.py
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29bb2d1..000000000000
diff --git a/pytest.ini b/pytest.ini
index 132af0bb78ab..e60f9d24f514 100644
--- a/pytest.ini
+++ b/pytest.ini
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [pytest]
-addopts = -l
+addopts = -l --import-mode=importlib
 norecursedirs = doc tools numpy/linalg/lapack_lite numpy/_core/code_generators numpy/_core/src/common/pythoncapi-compat
 doctest_optionflags = NORMALIZE_WHITESPACE ELLIPSIS ALLOW_UNICODE ALLOW_BYTES
 junit_family=xunit2
@@ -29,4 +29,4 @@ filterwarnings =
     ignore:`numpy.typing.mypy_plugin` is deprecated:DeprecationWarning
 # Ignore DeprecationWarning from struct module
 # see https://github.com/numpy/numpy/issues/28926
-    ignore:Due to \'_pack_\', the
\ No newline at end of file
+    ignore:Due to \'_pack_\', the
diff --git a/ruff.toml b/ruff.toml
index 7454c6c05e5b..fe99cd5388d0 100644
--- a/ruff.toml
+++ b/ruff.toml
@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@ ignore = [
 "numpy/_core/_add_newdocs.py" = ["E501"]
 "numpy/_core/_add_newdocs_scalars.py" = ["E501"]
 "numpy/_core/code_generators/generate_umath.py" = ["E501"]
-"numpy/lib/tests/test_function_base.py" = ["E501"]
 "numpy/lib/tests/test_format.py" = ["E501"]
+"numpy/lib/tests/test_function_base.py" = ["E501"]
 "numpy/lib/tests/test_io.py" = ["E501"]
 "numpy/lib/tests/test_polynomial.py" = ["E501"]
 "numpy/linalg/tests/test_linalg.py" = ["E501"]