diff --git a/tests/functional2/conftest.py b/tests/functional2/conftest.py
index 03983e475..8893fd5c0 100644
--- a/tests/functional2/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/functional2/conftest.py
@@ -3,4 +3,5 @@ pytest_plugins = (
     "functional2.testlib.fixtures.formatter",
     "functional2.testlib.fixtures.logger",
     "functional2.testlib.fixtures.nix",
+    "functional2.testlib.fixtures.snapshot",
 )
diff --git a/tests/functional2/testlib/fixtures/snapshot.py b/tests/functional2/testlib/fixtures/snapshot.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f2ddd14d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functional2/testlib/fixtures/snapshot.py
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+import os
+from collections.abc import Callable
+from logging import Logger
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any
+
+import pytest
+from _pytest.fixtures import FixtureRequest
+
+
+def pytest_addoption(parser: pytest.Parser) -> None:
+    """
+    Adds an --accept-tests flag to pytest, which updates .exp files handled by snapshots
+    :param parser: pytest parser, which handles the arguments
+    """
+    group = parser.getgroup("snapshots")
+    group.addoption(
+        "--accept-tests",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="if expected output should be updated",
+        dest="accept-tests",
+    )
+
+
+class Snapshot:
+    def __init__(self, expected_output_path: Path, do_update: bool, logger: Logger):
+        """
+        A snapshot keeps track of the expected output within the given file.
+        If the given file does not exist, an empty string will be assumed as the expected output
+        If the `--accept-tests` flag is set or (for legacy reasons) the `_NIX_TEST_ACCEPT` environment variable is set
+        The expected output will be updated with the current actual output
+        The snapshot must be the **left hand operator** of the equal check.
+        Example usage: `snapshot("eval_out.exp") == actual_out`
+        :param expected_output_path: where the expected output file is located
+        :param do_update: if the output should be updated
+        :param logger: logger for debugging stuff, provided by pytest
+        """
+        self.expected_output_path = expected_output_path
+        # assume empty string, if there is no expected output file (yet)
+        self.content = expected_output_path.read_text() if expected_output_path.exists() else ""
+        self.do_update = do_update
+        self.logger = logger
+
+    def __eq__(self, other: Any) -> bool:
+        """
+        Checks if the expected output equals the actual output.
+        If the `--accept-tests` flag is set to `1`, the expected output will be updated with the actual output
+        :param other: value to compare against, must survive the str() operator
+        :return: True if equals or were updated, False if unequal
+        """
+        are_equal = self.content == str(other)
+        if self.do_update and not are_equal:
+            self.expected_output_path.write_text(str(other))
+            if not self.expected_output_path.is_symlink():
+                self.logger.warning(
+                    "snapshot didn't propagate, the updated file can be found here: %s",
+                    self.expected_output_path.absolute(),
+                )
+            return True
+        return are_equal
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        return f"{self.content!r}"
+
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
+        return self.content
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def snapshot(request: FixtureRequest, logger: Logger, tmp_path: Path) -> Callable[[str], Snapshot]:
+    """
+    create a snapshot for the given output file
+    the snapshot must be the **left hand operator** of the equal check.
+    Example usage: `snapshot("eval_out.exp") == actual_out`
+
+    When either the `--accept-tests` flag or the `_NIX_TEST_ACCEPT` environment variable is set,
+    the snapshot will update the expected output with the actual output.
+
+    The given path is relative to the temporary test dir (provided by either `files` or `tmp_path`)
+    It is recommended to make the file a symlink back to the file within functional2
+    as otherwise the expected output won't be updated.
+    :return: a snapshot object which one can use `==` on
+    """
+
+    def create_snapshot(expected_output_path: str) -> Snapshot:
+        exp_path = tmp_path / expected_output_path
+        if not exp_path.is_symlink():
+            logger.warning(
+                "expected output file isn't a symlink. When accepting the tests output, the update might not propagate"
+            )
+        return Snapshot(
+            exp_path,
+            request.config.getoption("accept-tests")
+            or os.environ.get("_NIX_TEST_ACCEPT") is not None,
+            logger,
+        )
+
+    return create_snapshot