diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 69112d1b0f8..e48b5cc096d 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ endif
 .PHONY: test-e2e-desktop
 test-e2e-desktop: install build ## Run the desktop e2e tests
 ifdef E2E_GREP
-	npm run test:e2e:desktop -- --grep="$(E2E_GREP)" --max-failures=$(E2E_FAILURES) $(PW_ARGS)
+	npm run test:e2e:desktop -- --grep="$(E2E_GREP)" --max-failures=$(E2E_FAILURES) --retries 5 $(PW_ARGS)
 else
 	npm run test:e2e:desktop -- --workers='100%' $(PW_ARGS)
 endif
diff --git a/e2e/playwright/fixtures/toolbarFixture.ts b/e2e/playwright/fixtures/toolbarFixture.ts
index e5306832cbf..0e50a9aee9e 100644
--- a/e2e/playwright/fixtures/toolbarFixture.ts
+++ b/e2e/playwright/fixtures/toolbarFixture.ts
@@ -108,6 +108,27 @@ export class ToolbarFixture {
   startSketchPlaneSelection = async () =>
     doAndWaitForImageDiff(this.page, () => this.startSketchBtn.click(), 500)
 
+  selectDefaultPlane = async (
+    plane: 'Front plane' | 'Top plane' | 'Right plane'
+  ) => {
+    const isFtOpen = await this.checkIfFeatureTreePaneIsOpen()
+    if (!isFtOpen) {
+      await this.openFeatureTreePane()
+    }
+    await this.page.getByRole('button', { name: plane }).click()
+    if (!isFtOpen) {
+      await this.closeFeatureTreePane()
+    }
+    await this.page.waitForTimeout(1000)
+  }
+
+  startSketchOnDefaultPlane = async (
+    plane: 'Front plane' | 'Top plane' | 'Right plane'
+  ) => {
+    await this.startSketchPlaneSelection()
+    await this.selectDefaultPlane(plane)
+  }
+
   waitUntilSketchingReady = async () => {
     await expect(this.gizmoDisabled).toBeVisible()
   }
diff --git a/e2e/playwright/point-click.spec.ts b/e2e/playwright/point-click.spec.ts
index 280b66241b9..d4b8f50f0dc 100644
--- a/e2e/playwright/point-click.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/playwright/point-click.spec.ts
@@ -789,8 +789,7 @@ openSketch = startSketchOn(XY)
         highlightedHeaderArg: 'plane',
         commandName: 'Offset plane',
       })
-      const xz = await toolbar.getFeatureTreeOperation('Front plane', 0)
-      await xz.click()
+      await toolbar.selectDefaultPlane('Front plane')
       await cmdBar.expectState({
         stage: 'arguments',
         currentArgKey: 'offset',
diff --git a/e2e/playwright/sketch-tests.spec.ts b/e2e/playwright/sketch-tests.spec.ts
index 5df82663a6d..c1aaced76b6 100644
--- a/e2e/playwright/sketch-tests.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/playwright/sketch-tests.spec.ts
@@ -198,8 +198,7 @@ test.describe('Sketch tests', () => {
 
     await test.step('Open feature tree and select Front plane (XZ)', async () => {
       await toolbar.openFeatureTreePane()
-
-      await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Front plane' }).click()
+      await toolbar.selectDefaultPlane('Front plane')
 
       await page.waitForTimeout(600)
 
@@ -1033,8 +1032,6 @@ profile001 = startProfile(sketch001, at=[0, 0])
       page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Start Sketch' })
     ).not.toBeDisabled()
 
-    const [selectXZPlane] = scene.makeMouseHelpers(650, 150)
-
     const [startProfile1] = scene.makeMouseHelpers(568, 150)
     const [endLineStartTanArc] = scene.makeMouseHelpers(701, 158)
     const [endArcStartLine] = scene.makeMouseHelpers(745, 189)
@@ -1087,8 +1084,7 @@ profile001 = startProfile(sketch001, at=[0, 0])
       306
     )
 
-    await toolbar.startSketchPlaneSelection()
-    await selectXZPlane()
+    await toolbar.startSketchOnDefaultPlane('Front plane')
     // timeout wait for engine animation is unavoidable
     await page.waitForTimeout(600)
     await editor.expectEditor.toContain('sketch001 = startSketchOn(XZ)')
@@ -1399,8 +1395,7 @@ extrude001 = extrude(profile003, length = 5)
     await scene.settled(cmdBar)
 
     await toolbar.openFeatureTreePane()
-    await toolbar.startSketchPlaneSelection()
-    await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Front plane' }).click()
+    await toolbar.startSketchOnDefaultPlane('Front plane')
 
     // timeout wait for engine animation is unavoidable
     await page.waitForTimeout(600)
diff --git a/e2e/playwright/snap-to-grid.spec.ts b/e2e/playwright/snap-to-grid.spec.ts
index a3377758aed..ce952e94747 100644
--- a/e2e/playwright/snap-to-grid.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/playwright/snap-to-grid.spec.ts
@@ -12,9 +12,7 @@ test.describe('Snap to Grid', () => {
     await homePage.goToModelingScene()
 
     // Enter sketch mode and select a default axis from the Feature Tree
-    await toolbar.startSketchBtn.click()
-    await toolbar.openFeatureTreePane()
-    await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Front plane' }).click()
+    await toolbar.startSketchOnDefaultPlane('Front plane')
     await page.waitForTimeout(600)
 
     // Ensure the line tool is equipped
diff --git a/e2e/playwright/snapshot-tests.spec.ts b/e2e/playwright/snapshot-tests.spec.ts
index eb144921910..84d4a22190c 100644
--- a/e2e/playwright/snapshot-tests.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/playwright/snapshot-tests.spec.ts
@@ -134,15 +134,7 @@ test(
     await u.waitForAuthSkipAppStart()
 
     // Start a sketch
-    await u.doAndWaitForImageDiff(
-      () => page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Start Sketch' }).click(),
-      200
-    )
-
-    // Select a plane
-    await toolbar.openFeatureTreePane()
-    await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Front plane' }).click()
-    await toolbar.closeFeatureTreePane()
+    await toolbar.startSketchOnDefaultPlane('Front plane')
     await editor.expectEditor.toContain(`sketch001 = startSketchOn(XZ)`)
 
     // Equip the rectangle tool
diff --git a/e2e/playwright/test-network-and-connection-issues.spec.ts b/e2e/playwright/test-network-and-connection-issues.spec.ts
index 6c416b7b430..fdc17643cb4 100644
--- a/e2e/playwright/test-network-and-connection-issues.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/playwright/test-network-and-connection-issues.spec.ts
@@ -104,14 +104,7 @@ test.describe('Test network related behaviors', () => {
 
       await u.openDebugPanel()
       // click on "Start Sketch" button
-      await u.clearCommandLogs()
-      await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Start Sketch' }).click()
-      await page.waitForTimeout(100)
-
-      // select a plane
-      await toolbar.openFeatureTreePane()
-      await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Front plane' }).click()
-      await toolbar.closeFeatureTreePane()
+      await toolbar.startSketchOnDefaultPlane('Front plane')
 
       await expect(page.locator('.cm-content')).toHaveText(
         `@settings(defaultLengthUnit = in)sketch001 = startSketchOn(XZ)`
diff --git a/e2e/playwright/testing-selections.spec.ts b/e2e/playwright/testing-selections.spec.ts
index 23f6486c67c..c77edf9aad8 100644
--- a/e2e/playwright/testing-selections.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/playwright/testing-selections.spec.ts
@@ -264,16 +264,7 @@ test.describe('Testing selections', () => {
     ).toBeVisible()
 
     // click on "Start Sketch" button
-    await u.clearCommandLogs()
-    await u.doAndWaitForImageDiff(
-      () => page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Start Sketch' }).click(),
-      200
-    )
-
-    // Clicks the XZ Plane
-    await toolbar.openFeatureTreePane()
-    await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Front plane' }).click()
-    await toolbar.closeFeatureTreePane()
+    await toolbar.startSketchOnDefaultPlane('Front plane')
 
     await expect(page.locator('.cm-content')).toHaveText(
       `@settings(defaultLengthUnit = in)sketch001 = startSketchOn(XZ)`