diff --git a/test/vpp_papi_exceptions.py b/test/vpp_papi_exceptions.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2f7da96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/vpp_papi_exceptions.py
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+class CliFailedCommandError(Exception):
+    """ cli command failed."""
+
+
+class CliSyntaxError(Exception):
+    """ cli command had a syntax error."""
+
+
+class UnexpectedApiReturnValueError(Exception):
+    """ exception raised when the API return value is unexpected """
+
+    def __init__(self, retval, message):
+        self.retval = retval
+        self.message = message
+        super().__init__(message)