diff --git a/util/helper_mod/init.lua b/util/helper_mod/init.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4da832ed7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/util/helper_mod/init.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+local mode = core.settings:get("helper_mode")
+
+if mode == "devtest" then
+
+	-- Provide feedback to script by creating files in world path
+	core.after(0, function()
+		io.close(io.open(core.get_worldpath() .. "/startup", "w"))
+	end)
+	local function callback(test_ok)
+		if not test_ok then
+			io.close(io.open(core.get_worldpath() .. "/test_failure", "w"))
+		end
+		io.close(io.open(core.get_worldpath() .. "/done", "w"))
+		core.request_shutdown("", false, 2)
+	end
+	-- If tests are enabled exit when they're done, otherwise exit on player join
+	if core.settings:get_bool("devtest_unittests_autostart") and core.global_exists("unittests") then
+		unittests.on_finished = callback
+	else
+		core.register_on_joinplayer(function() callback(true) end)
+	end
+
+elseif mode == "mapgen" then
+
+	-- Stress-test mapgen by constantly generating new area
+	local csize = tonumber(core.settings:get("chunksize")) * core.MAP_BLOCKSIZE
+	local MINP, MAXP = vector.new(0, -csize, 0), vector.new(csize*3, csize*2, csize)
+	local DIR = "x"
+	local pstart = vector.new(0, 0, 0)
+	local next_, callback
+	next_ = function(arg)
+		print("emerging " .. core.pos_to_string(pstart))
+		core.emerge_area(
+			vector.add(pstart, MINP), vector.add(pstart, MAXP),
+			callback, arg
+		)
+	end
+	local trig = {}
+	callback = function(blockpos, action, calls_rem, n)
+		if action == core.EMERGE_CANCELLED or action == core.EMERGE_ERRORED then
+			return
+		end
+		if calls_rem <= 20 and not trig[n] then
+			trig[n] = true
+			pstart[DIR] = pstart[DIR] + (MAXP[DIR] - MINP[DIR])
+			next_(n + 1)
+		end
+	end
+	core.after(0, next_, 1)
+
+end
diff --git a/util/helper_mod/mod.conf b/util/helper_mod/mod.conf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..efdd9eaf3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/util/helper_mod/mod.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+name = helper_mod
+description = Helper used by various test scripts
+optional_depends = unittests
diff --git a/util/stress_mapgen.sh b/util/stress_mapgen.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..ba152dd80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/util/stress_mapgen.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+dir="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" && pwd )"
+gameid=${gameid:-devtest}
+minetest=$dir/../bin/minetest
+testspath=$dir/../tests
+conf_server=$testspath/server.conf
+worldpath=$testspath/world
+
+run () {
+	if [ -n "$PERF" ]; then
+		perf record -z --call-graph dwarf -- "$@"
+	else
+		"$@"
+	fi
+}
+
+[ -e $minetest ] || { echo "executable $minetest missing"; exit 1; }
+
+rm -rf $worldpath
+mkdir -p $worldpath/worldmods
+
+settings=(sqlite_synchronous=0 helper_mode=mapgen)
+[ -n "$PROFILER" ] && settings+=(profiler_print_interval=15)
+printf '%s\n' "${settings[@]}" >$testspath/server.conf \
+
+ln -s $dir/helper_mod $worldpath/worldmods/
+
+args=(--config $conf_server --world $worldpath --gameid $gameid)
+[ -n "$PROFILER" ] && args+=(--verbose)
+run $minetest --server "${args[@]}"
diff --git a/util/test_multiplayer.sh b/util/test_multiplayer.sh
index 5ffc044e0..e0d0ec742 100755
--- a/util/test_multiplayer.sh
+++ b/util/test_multiplayer.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 dir="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" && pwd )"
-gameid=devtest
+gameid=${gameid:-devtest}
 minetest=$dir/../bin/minetest
 testspath=$dir/../tests
 conf_client1=$testspath/client1.conf
@@ -26,34 +26,17 @@ gdbrun () {
 [ -e $minetest ] || { echo "executable $minetest missing"; exit 1; }
 
 rm -rf $worldpath
-mkdir -p $worldpath/worldmods/test
+mkdir -p $worldpath/worldmods
 
 printf '%s\n' >$testspath/client1.conf \
 	video_driver=null name=client1 viewing_range=10 \
 	enable_{sound,minimap,shaders}=false
 
 printf '%s\n' >$testspath/server.conf \
-	max_block_send_distance=1 devtest_unittests_autostart=true
+	max_block_send_distance=1 devtest_unittests_autostart=true \
+	helper_mode=devtest
 
-cat >$worldpath/worldmods/test/init.lua <<"LUA"
-core.after(0, function()
-	io.close(io.open(core.get_worldpath() .. "/startup", "w"))
-end)
-local function callback(test_ok)
-	if not test_ok then
-		io.close(io.open(core.get_worldpath() .. "/test_failure", "w"))
-	end
-	io.close(io.open(core.get_worldpath() .. "/done", "w"))
-	core.request_shutdown("", false, 2)
-end
-if core.settings:get_bool("devtest_unittests_autostart") then
-	unittests.on_finished = callback
-else
-	core.register_on_joinplayer(function() callback(true) end)
-end
-LUA
-printf '%s\n' >$worldpath/worldmods/test/mod.conf \
-	name=test optional_depends=unittests
+ln -s $dir/helper_mod $worldpath/worldmods/
 
 echo "Starting server"
 gdbrun $minetest --server --config $conf_server --world $worldpath --gameid $gameid 2>&1 | sed -u 's/^/(server) /' &