diff --git a/share/mk/plain.test.mk b/share/mk/plain.test.mk
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..2515feb476a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/share/mk/plain.test.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+# $FreeBSD$
+#
+# Logic to build and install plain test programs.  A plain test programs it not
+# supposed to use any specific testing framework: all it does is run some code
+# and report the test's pass or fail status via a 0 or 1 exit code.
+
+.include <bsd.init.mk>
+
+# List of C, C++ and shell test programs to build.
+#
+# Programs listed here are built according to the semantics of bsd.prog.mk for
+# PROGS, PROGS_CXX and SCRIPTS, respectively.
+#
+# Test programs registered in this manner are set to be installed into TESTSDIR
+# (which should be overriden by the Makefile) and are not required to provide a
+# manpage.
+PLAIN_TESTS_C?=
+PLAIN_TESTS_CXX?=
+PLAIN_TESTS_SH?=
+
+.if !empty(PLAIN_TESTS_C)
+PROGS+= ${PLAIN_TESTS_C}
+_TESTS+= ${PLAIN_TESTS_C}
+.for _T in ${PLAIN_TESTS_C}
+BINDIR.${_T}= ${TESTSDIR}
+MAN.${_T}?= # empty
+TEST_INTERFACE.${_T}= plain
+.endfor
+.endif
+
+.if !empty(PLAIN_TESTS_CXX)
+PROGS_CXX+= ${PLAIN_TESTS_CXX}
+PROGS+= ${PLAIN_TESTS_CXX}
+_TESTS+= ${PLAIN_TESTS_CXX}
+.for _T in ${PLAIN_TESTS_CXX}
+BINDIR.${_T}= ${TESTSDIR}
+MAN.${_T}?= # empty
+TEST_INTERFACE.${_T}= plain
+.endfor
+.endif
+
+.if !empty(PLAIN_TESTS_SH)
+SCRIPTS+= ${PLAIN_TESTS_SH}
+_TESTS+= ${PLAIN_TESTS_SH}
+.for _T in ${PLAIN_TESTS_SH}
+SCRIPTSDIR_${_T}= ${TESTSDIR}
+TEST_INTERFACE.${_T}= plain
+.endfor
+.endif
+
+.include <bsd.test.mk>