diff --git a/zerver/lib/event_schema.py b/zerver/lib/event_schema.py
index c9e5c50772..3e0eb62b5c 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/event_schema.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/event_schema.py
@@ -293,6 +293,51 @@ message_event = event_dict_type(
 )
 check_message = make_checker(message_event)
 
+presence_type = DictType(
+    required_keys=[
+        ("status", EnumType(["active", "idle"])),
+        ("timestamp", int),
+        ("client", str),
+        ("pushable", bool),
+    ]
+)
+
+presence_event = event_dict_type(
+    required_keys=[
+        ("type", Equals("presence")),
+        ("user_id", int),
+        ("server_timestamp", NumberType()),
+        ("presence", StringDictType(presence_type)),
+    ],
+    optional_keys=[
+        # force vertical
+        ("email", str),
+    ],
+)
+_check_presence = make_checker(presence_event)
+
+
+def check_presence(
+    var_name: str,
+    event: Dict[str, object],
+    has_email: bool,
+    presence_key: str,
+    status: str,
+) -> None:
+    _check_presence(var_name, event)
+
+    assert ("email" in event) == has_email
+
+    assert isinstance(event["presence"], dict)
+
+    # Our tests only have one presence value.
+    assert len(event["presence"]) == 1
+
+    assert list(event["presence"].keys())[0] == presence_key
+
+    assert list(event["presence"].values())[0]["status"] == status
+
+
 # We will eventually just send user_ids.
 reaction_user_type = DictType(
     required_keys=[
diff --git a/zerver/tests/test_events.py b/zerver/tests/test_events.py
index 32ab6dd344..448fba6fa7 100644
--- a/zerver/tests/test_events.py
+++ b/zerver/tests/test_events.py
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ from zerver.lib.event_schema import (
     check_invites_changed,
     check_message,
     check_muted_topics,
+    check_presence,
     check_reaction,
     check_realm_bot_add,
     check_realm_bot_delete,
@@ -144,7 +145,6 @@ from zerver.lib.topic import TOPIC_NAME
 from zerver.lib.validator import (
     check_bool,
     check_dict_only,
-    check_float,
     check_int,
     check_list,
     check_none_or,
@@ -703,22 +703,6 @@ class NormalActionsTest(BaseAction):
         )
 
     def test_presence_events(self) -> None:
-        fields = [
-            ('type', equals('presence')),
-            ('user_id', check_int),
-            ('server_timestamp', check_float),
-            ('presence', check_dict_only([
-                ('website', check_dict_only([
-                    ('status', equals('active')),
-                    ('timestamp', check_int),
-                    ('client', check_string),
-                    ('pushable', check_bool),
-                ])),
-            ])),
-        ]
-
-        email_field = ('email', check_string)
-
         events = self.verify_action(
             lambda: do_update_user_presence(
                 self.user_profile,
@@ -726,8 +710,14 @@ class NormalActionsTest(BaseAction):
                 timezone_now(),
                 UserPresence.ACTIVE),
             slim_presence=False)
-        schema_checker = check_events_dict([*fields, email_field])
-        schema_checker('events[0]', events[0])
+
+        check_presence(
+            "events[0]",
+            events[0],
+            has_email=True,
+            presence_key="website",
+            status="active",
+        )
 
         events = self.verify_action(
             lambda: do_update_user_presence(
@@ -736,25 +726,16 @@ class NormalActionsTest(BaseAction):
                 timezone_now(),
                 UserPresence.ACTIVE),
             slim_presence=True)
-        schema_checker = check_events_dict(fields)
-        schema_checker('events[0]', events[0])
+
+        check_presence(
+            "events[0]",
+            events[0],
+            has_email=False,
+            presence_key="website",
+            status="active",
+        )
 
     def test_presence_events_multiple_clients(self) -> None:
-        schema_checker_android = check_events_dict([
-            ('type', equals('presence')),
-            ('email', check_string),
-            ('user_id', check_int),
-            ('server_timestamp', check_float),
-            ('presence', check_dict_only([
-                ('ZulipAndroid/1.0', check_dict_only([
-                    ('status', equals('idle')),
-                    ('timestamp', check_int),
-                    ('client', check_string),
-                    ('pushable', check_bool),
-                ])),
-            ])),
-        ])
-
         self.api_post(self.user_profile, "/api/v1/users/me/presence", {'status': 'idle'},
                       HTTP_USER_AGENT="ZulipAndroid/1.0")
         self.verify_action(
@@ -769,7 +750,14 @@ class NormalActionsTest(BaseAction):
                 get_client("ZulipAndroid/1.0"),
                 timezone_now(),
                 UserPresence.IDLE))
-        schema_checker_android('events[0]', events[0])
+
+        check_presence(
+            "events[0]",
+            events[0],
+            has_email=True,
+            presence_key="ZulipAndroid/1.0",
+            status="idle",
+        )
 
     def test_register_events(self) -> None:
         realm_user_add_checker = check_events_dict([