diff --git a/internal/testutil/testutil.go b/internal/testutil/testutil.go
index 4295b92..1a3addd 100644
--- a/internal/testutil/testutil.go
+++ b/internal/testutil/testutil.go
@@ -64,6 +64,18 @@ func (sn Snake) Check(data []byte) (ok bool, n int) {
 	return true, n
 }
 
+// Flatten returns the snake flattened to a byte array. The result of this
+// function always satisfies the snake.
+func (sn Snake) Flatten() []byte {
+	flat := []byte { }
+	for _, sector := range sn {
+		for _, variation := range sector {
+			flat = append(flat, variation...)
+		}
+	}
+	return flat
+}
+
 func (sn Snake) String() string {
 	if len(sn) == 0 || len(sn[0]) == 0 || len(sn[0][0]) == 0 {
 		return "EMPTY"