diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+0.7.2:
+	* fix tests, so they work with the sdist tarball too
+	* added the following function to HPath.IO: createSymlink
 0.7.1:
 	* various cleanups and documentation improvements
 	* added the following functions to System.Posix.FilePath: splitSearchPath, getSearchPath, stripExtension, makeRelative, makeValid
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@
 * safe filepath manipulation, never using String as filepath, but ByteString
 * still allowing sufficient control to interact with the underlying low-level calls
 
+Note: this library was written for __posix__ systems and it will probably not support other systems.
+
 ## Differences to 'path'
 
 * doesn't attempt to fake IO-related information into the path, so whether a path points to a file or directory is up to your IO-code to decide...
diff --git a/hpath.cabal b/hpath.cabal
--- a/hpath.cabal
+++ b/hpath.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name:                hpath
-version:             0.7.1
+version:             0.7.2
 synopsis:            Support for well-typed paths
 description:         Support for well-typed paths, utilizing ByteString under the hood.
 license:             GPL-2
@@ -73,22 +73,24 @@
   Hs-Source-Dirs:       test
   Main-Is:              Main.hs
   other-modules:
-                        Spec
-                        HPath.IO.CopyDirRecursiveSpec
+                        HPath.IO.CanonicalizePathSpec
                         HPath.IO.CopyDirRecursiveOverwriteSpec
-                        HPath.IO.CopyFileSpec
+                        HPath.IO.CopyDirRecursiveSpec
                         HPath.IO.CopyFileOverwriteSpec
+                        HPath.IO.CopyFileSpec
                         HPath.IO.CreateDirSpec
                         HPath.IO.CreateRegularFileSpec
+                        HPath.IO.CreateSymlinkSpec
                         HPath.IO.DeleteDirRecursiveSpec
                         HPath.IO.DeleteDirSpec
                         HPath.IO.DeleteFileSpec
                         HPath.IO.GetDirsFilesSpec
                         HPath.IO.GetFileTypeSpec
-                        HPath.IO.MoveFileSpec
                         HPath.IO.MoveFileOverwriteSpec
+                        HPath.IO.MoveFileSpec
                         HPath.IO.RecreateSymlinkSpec
                         HPath.IO.RenameFileSpec
+                        Spec
                         Utils
   GHC-Options:          -Wall
   Build-Depends:        base
@@ -98,6 +100,7 @@
                       , hspec >= 1.3
                       , process
                       , unix
+                      , unix-bytestring
                       , utf8-string
 
 benchmark bench.hs
diff --git a/src/HPath/IO.hs b/src/HPath/IO.hs
--- a/src/HPath/IO.hs
+++ b/src/HPath/IO.hs
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
   -- * File creation
   , createRegularFile
   , createDir
+  , createSymlink
   -- * File renaming/moving
   , renameFile
   , moveFile
@@ -315,6 +316,7 @@
           RegularFile  -> copyFileOverwrite f newdest
           _            -> return ()
 
+
 -- |Recreate a symlink.
 --
 -- Throws:
@@ -625,6 +627,20 @@
 createDir :: Path Abs -> IO ()
 createDir dest = createDirectory (fromAbs dest) newDirPerms
 
+
+-- |Create a symlink.
+--
+-- Throws:
+--
+--    - `PermissionDenied` if output directory cannot be written to
+--    - `AlreadyExists` if destination file already exists
+--
+-- Note: calls `symlink`
+createSymlink :: Path Abs   -- ^ destination file
+              -> ByteString -- ^ path the symlink points to
+              -> IO ()
+createSymlink dest sympoint
+  = createSymbolicLink sympoint (fromAbs dest)
 
 
 
diff --git a/test/HPath/IO/CanonicalizePathSpec.hs b/test/HPath/IO/CanonicalizePathSpec.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/HPath/IO/CanonicalizePathSpec.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+{-# LANGUAGE OverloadedStrings #-}
+
+module HPath.IO.CanonicalizePathSpec where
+
+
+import Test.Hspec
+import System.IO.Error
+  (
+    ioeGetErrorType
+  )
+import GHC.IO.Exception
+  (
+    IOErrorType(..)
+  )
+import Utils
+import qualified Data.ByteString as BS
+import           Data.ByteString.UTF8 (toString)
+
+
+
+
+setupFiles :: IO ()
+setupFiles = do
+  createRegularFile' "file"
+  createDir' "dir"
+  createSymlink' "dirSym" "dir/"
+  createSymlink' "brokenSym" "nothing"
+  createSymlink' "fileSym" "file"
+
+cleanupFiles :: IO ()
+cleanupFiles = do
+  deleteFile' "file"
+  deleteDir' "dir"
+  deleteFile' "dirSym"
+  deleteFile' "brokenSym"
+  deleteFile' "fileSym"
+
+
+spec :: Spec
+spec = before_ setupFiles $ after_ cleanupFiles $
+  describe "HPath.IO.canonicalizePath" $ do
+
+    -- successes --
+    it "canonicalizePath, all fine" $ do
+      path <- withTmpDir "file" return
+      canonicalizePath' "file"
+        `shouldReturn` path
+
+    it "canonicalizePath, all fine" $ do
+      path <- withTmpDir "dir" return
+      canonicalizePath' "dir"
+        `shouldReturn` path
+
+    it "canonicalizePath, all fine" $ do
+      path <- withTmpDir "file" return
+      canonicalizePath' "fileSym"
+        `shouldReturn` path
+
+    it "canonicalizePath, all fine" $ do
+      path <- withTmpDir "dir" return
+      canonicalizePath' "dirSym"
+        `shouldReturn` path
+
+
+    -- posix failures --
+    it "canonicalizePath, broken symlink" $
+      canonicalizePath' "brokenSym"
+        `shouldThrow`
+        (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == NoSuchThing)
+
+    it "canonicalizePath, file does not exist" $
+      canonicalizePath' "nothingBlah"
+        `shouldThrow`
+        (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == NoSuchThing)
+
diff --git a/test/HPath/IO/CopyDirRecursiveOverwriteSpec.hs b/test/HPath/IO/CopyDirRecursiveOverwriteSpec.hs
--- a/test/HPath/IO/CopyDirRecursiveOverwriteSpec.hs
+++ b/test/HPath/IO/CopyDirRecursiveOverwriteSpec.hs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 {-# LANGUAGE OverloadedStrings #-}
 
+
 module HPath.IO.CopyDirRecursiveOverwriteSpec where
 
 
@@ -20,91 +21,149 @@
 import           Data.ByteString.UTF8 (toString)
 
 
-ba :: BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString
-ba = BS.append
 
-specDir :: BS.ByteString
-specDir = "test/HPath/IO/copyDirRecursiveOverwriteSpec/"
+setupFiles :: IO ()
+setupFiles = do
+  createRegularFile' "alreadyExists"
+  createRegularFile' "wrongInput"
+  createSymlink' "wrongInputSymL" "inputDir/"
+  createDir' "noPerms"
+  createDir' "noWritePerm"
 
-specDir' :: String
-specDir' = toString specDir
+  createDir' "inputDir"
+  createDir' "inputDir/bar"
+  createDir' "inputDir/foo"
+  createRegularFile' "inputDir/foo/inputFile1"
+  createRegularFile' "inputDir/inputFile2"
+  createRegularFile' "inputDir/bar/inputFile3"
+  writeFile' "inputDir/foo/inputFile1" "SDAADSdsada"
+  writeFile' "inputDir/inputFile2" "Blahfaselgagaga"
+  writeFile' "inputDir/bar/inputFile3"
+    "fdfdssdffsd3223sasdasdasdadasasddasdasdasasd4"
 
+  createDir' "alreadyExistsD"
+  createDir' "alreadyExistsD/bar"
+  createDir' "alreadyExistsD/foo"
+  createRegularFile' "alreadyExistsD/foo/inputFile1"
+  createRegularFile' "alreadyExistsD/inputFile2"
+  createRegularFile' "alreadyExistsD/bar/inputFile3"
+  writeFile' "alreadyExistsD/foo/inputFile1" "DAAsada"
+  writeFile' "alreadyExistsD/inputFile2" "ahfaagaga"
+  writeFile' "alreadyExistsD/bar/inputFile3"
+    "f3223sasdasdaasdasdasasd4"
 
+  noPerms "noPerms"
+  noWritableDirPerms "noWritePerm"
+
+
+cleanupFiles :: IO ()
+cleanupFiles = do
+  normalDirPerms "noPerms"
+  normalDirPerms "noWritePerm"
+  deleteFile' "alreadyExists"
+  deleteFile' "wrongInput"
+  deleteFile' "wrongInputSymL"
+  deleteDir' "noPerms"
+  deleteDir' "noWritePerm"
+  deleteFile' "inputDir/foo/inputFile1"
+  deleteFile' "inputDir/inputFile2"
+  deleteFile' "inputDir/bar/inputFile3"
+  deleteDir' "inputDir/foo"
+  deleteDir' "inputDir/bar"
+  deleteDir' "inputDir"
+  deleteFile' "alreadyExistsD/foo/inputFile1"
+  deleteFile' "alreadyExistsD/inputFile2"
+  deleteFile' "alreadyExistsD/bar/inputFile3"
+  deleteDir' "alreadyExistsD/foo"
+  deleteDir' "alreadyExistsD/bar"
+  deleteDir' "alreadyExistsD"
+
+
+
 spec :: Spec
-spec =
+spec = before_ setupFiles $ after_ cleanupFiles $
   describe "HPath.IO.copyDirRecursiveOverwrite" $ do
 
     -- successes --
     it "copyDirRecursiveOverwrite, all fine" $ do
-      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "inputDir")
-                                 (specDir `ba` "outputDir")
-      removeDirIfExists $ specDir `ba` "outputDir"
+      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' "inputDir"
+                                 "outputDir"
+      removeDirIfExists "outputDir"
 
     it "copyDirRecursiveOverwrite, all fine and compare" $ do
-      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "inputDir")
-                                 (specDir `ba` "outputDir")
+      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' "inputDir"
+                                 "outputDir"
       (system $ "diff -r --no-dereference "
-                          ++ specDir' ++ "inputDir" ++ " "
-                          ++ specDir' ++ "outputDir")
+                          ++ toString tmpDir ++ "inputDir" ++ " "
+                          ++ toString tmpDir ++ "outputDir")
         `shouldReturn` ExitSuccess
-      removeDirIfExists $ specDir `ba` "outputDir"
+      removeDirIfExists "outputDir"
 
-    it "copyDirRecursiveOverwrite, destination dir already exists" $
-      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "inputDir")
-                                 (specDir `ba` "alreadyExistsD")
+    it "copyDirRecursiveOverwrite, destination dir already exists" $ do
+      (system $ "diff -r --no-dereference "
+                          ++ toString tmpDir ++ "inputDir" ++ " "
+                          ++ toString tmpDir ++ "alreadyExistsD")
+        `shouldReturn` (ExitFailure 1)
+      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' "inputDir"
+                                 "alreadyExistsD"
+      (system $ "diff -r --no-dereference "
+                          ++ toString tmpDir ++ "inputDir" ++ " "
+                          ++ toString tmpDir ++ "alreadyExistsD")
+        `shouldReturn` ExitSuccess
+      removeDirIfExists "outputDir"
 
     -- posix failures --
     it "copyDirRecursiveOverwrite, source directory does not exist" $
-      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "doesNotExist")
-                                 (specDir `ba` "outputDir")
+      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' "doesNotExist"
+                                 "outputDir"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == NoSuchThing)
 
     it "copyDirRecursiveOverwrite, no write permission on output dir" $
-      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "inputDir")
-                                 (specDir `ba` "noWritePerm/foo")
+      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' "inputDir"
+                                 "noWritePerm/foo"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "copyDirRecursiveOverwrite, cannot open output dir" $
-      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "inputDir")
-                                 (specDir `ba` "noPerms/foo")
+      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' "inputDir"
+                                 "noPerms/foo"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "copyDirRecursiveOverwrite, cannot open source dir" $
-      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "noPerms/inputDir")
-                                 (specDir `ba` "foo")
+      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' "noPerms/inputDir"
+                                 "foo"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "copyDirRecursiveOverwrite, destination already exists and is a file" $
-      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "inputDir")
-                                 (specDir `ba` "alreadyExists")
+      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' "inputDir"
+                                 "alreadyExists"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == InappropriateType)
 
     it "copyDirRecursiveOverwrite, wrong input (regular file)" $
-      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "wrongInput")
-                                 (specDir `ba` "outputDir")
+      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' "wrongInput"
+                                 "outputDir"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == InappropriateType)
 
     it "copyDirRecursiveOverwrite, wrong input (symlink to directory)" $
-      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "wrongInputSymL")
-                                 (specDir `ba` "outputDir")
+      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' "wrongInputSymL"
+                                 "outputDir"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == InvalidArgument)
 
     -- custom failures
     it "copyDirRecursiveOverwrite, destination in source" $
-      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "inputDir")
-                                 (specDir `ba` "inputDir/foo")
+      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' "inputDir"
+                                 "inputDir/foo"
         `shouldThrow`
         isDestinationInSource
 
     it "copyDirRecursiveOverwrite, destination and source same directory" $
-      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "inputDir")
-                                 (specDir `ba` "inputDir")
+      copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' "inputDir"
+                                 "inputDir"
         `shouldThrow`
         isSameFile
diff --git a/test/HPath/IO/CopyDirRecursiveSpec.hs b/test/HPath/IO/CopyDirRecursiveSpec.hs
--- a/test/HPath/IO/CopyDirRecursiveSpec.hs
+++ b/test/HPath/IO/CopyDirRecursiveSpec.hs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 {-# LANGUAGE OverloadedStrings #-}
 
+
 module HPath.IO.CopyDirRecursiveSpec where
 
 
@@ -20,93 +21,130 @@
 import           Data.ByteString.UTF8 (toString)
 
 
-ba :: BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString
-ba = BS.append
 
-specDir :: BS.ByteString
-specDir = "test/HPath/IO/copyDirRecursiveSpec/"
 
-specDir' :: String
-specDir' = toString specDir
 
+setupFiles :: IO ()
+setupFiles = do
+  createRegularFile' "alreadyExists"
+  createRegularFile' "wrongInput"
+  createSymlink' "wrongInputSymL" "inputDir/"
+  createDir' "alreadyExistsD"
+  createDir' "noPerms"
+  createDir' "noWritePerm"
 
+  createDir' "inputDir"
+  createDir' "inputDir/bar"
+  createDir' "inputDir/foo"
+  createRegularFile' "inputDir/foo/inputFile1"
+  createRegularFile' "inputDir/inputFile2"
+  createRegularFile' "inputDir/bar/inputFile3"
+  writeFile' "inputDir/foo/inputFile1" "SDAADSdsada"
+  writeFile' "inputDir/inputFile2" "Blahfaselgagaga"
+  writeFile' "inputDir/bar/inputFile3"
+    "fdfdssdffsd3223sasdasdasdadasasddasdasdasasd4"
+
+  noPerms "noPerms"
+  noWritableDirPerms "noWritePerm"
+
+
+cleanupFiles :: IO ()
+cleanupFiles = do
+  normalDirPerms "noPerms"
+  normalDirPerms "noWritePerm"
+  deleteFile' "alreadyExists"
+  deleteFile' "wrongInput"
+  deleteFile' "wrongInputSymL"
+  deleteDir' "alreadyExistsD"
+  deleteDir' "noPerms"
+  deleteDir' "noWritePerm"
+  deleteFile' "inputDir/foo/inputFile1"
+  deleteFile' "inputDir/inputFile2"
+  deleteFile' "inputDir/bar/inputFile3"
+  deleteDir' "inputDir/foo"
+  deleteDir' "inputDir/bar"
+  deleteDir' "inputDir"
+
+
+
+
 spec :: Spec
-spec =
+spec = before_ setupFiles $ after_ cleanupFiles $
   describe "HPath.IO.copyDirRecursive" $ do
 
     -- successes --
     it "copyDirRecursive, all fine" $ do
-      copyDirRecursive' (specDir `ba` "inputDir")
-                        (specDir `ba` "outputDir")
-      removeDirIfExists (specDir `ba` "outputDir")
+      copyDirRecursive' "inputDir"
+                        "outputDir"
+      removeDirIfExists "outputDir"
 
     it "copyDirRecursive, all fine and compare" $ do
-      copyDirRecursive' (specDir `ba` "inputDir")
-                        (specDir `ba` "outputDir")
+      copyDirRecursive' "inputDir"
+                        "outputDir"
       (system $ "diff -r --no-dereference "
-                          ++ specDir' ++ "inputDir" ++ " "
-                          ++ specDir' ++ "outputDir")
+                          ++ toString tmpDir ++ "inputDir" ++ " "
+                          ++ toString tmpDir ++ "outputDir")
         `shouldReturn` ExitSuccess
-      removeDirIfExists (specDir `ba` "outputDir")
+      removeDirIfExists "outputDir"
 
     -- posix failures --
     it "copyDirRecursive, source directory does not exist" $
-      copyDirRecursive' (specDir `ba` "doesNotExist")
-                        (specDir `ba` "outputDir")
+      copyDirRecursive' "doesNotExist"
+                        "outputDir"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == NoSuchThing)
 
     it "copyDirRecursive, no write permission on output dir" $
-      copyDirRecursive' (specDir `ba` "inputDir")
-                        (specDir `ba` "noWritePerm/foo")
+      copyDirRecursive' "inputDir"
+                        "noWritePerm/foo"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "copyDirRecursive, cannot open output dir" $
-      copyDirRecursive' (specDir `ba` "inputDir")
-                        (specDir `ba` "noPerms/foo")
+      copyDirRecursive' "inputDir"
+                        "noPerms/foo"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "copyDirRecursive, cannot open source dir" $
-      copyDirRecursive' (specDir `ba` "noPerms/inputDir")
-                        (specDir `ba` "foo")
+      copyDirRecursive' "noPerms/inputDir"
+                        "foo"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "copyDirRecursive, destination dir already exists" $
-      copyDirRecursive' (specDir `ba` "inputDir")
-                        (specDir `ba` "alreadyExistsD")
+      copyDirRecursive' "inputDir"
+                        "alreadyExistsD"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == AlreadyExists)
 
     it "copyDirRecursive, destination already exists and is a file" $
-      copyDirRecursive' (specDir `ba` "inputDir")
-                        (specDir `ba` "alreadyExists")
+      copyDirRecursive' "inputDir"
+                        "alreadyExists"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == AlreadyExists)
 
     it "copyDirRecursive, wrong input (regular file)" $
-      copyDirRecursive' (specDir `ba` "wrongInput")
-                        (specDir `ba` "outputDir")
+      copyDirRecursive' "wrongInput"
+                        "outputDir"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == InappropriateType)
 
     it "copyDirRecursive, wrong input (symlink to directory)" $
-      copyDirRecursive' (specDir `ba` "wrongInputSymL")
-                        (specDir `ba` "outputDir")
+      copyDirRecursive' "wrongInputSymL"
+                        "outputDir"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == InvalidArgument)
 
     -- custom failures
     it "copyDirRecursive, destination in source" $
-      copyDirRecursive' (specDir `ba` "inputDir")
-                        (specDir `ba` "inputDir/foo")
+      copyDirRecursive' "inputDir"
+                        "inputDir/foo"
         `shouldThrow`
         isDestinationInSource
 
     it "copyDirRecursive, destination and source same directory" $
-      copyDirRecursive' (specDir `ba` "inputDir")
-                        (specDir `ba` "inputDir")
+      copyDirRecursive' "inputDir"
+                        "inputDir"
         `shouldThrow`
         isSameFile
diff --git a/test/HPath/IO/CopyFileOverwriteSpec.hs b/test/HPath/IO/CopyFileOverwriteSpec.hs
--- a/test/HPath/IO/CopyFileOverwriteSpec.hs
+++ b/test/HPath/IO/CopyFileOverwriteSpec.hs
@@ -20,90 +20,110 @@
 import           Data.ByteString.UTF8 (toString)
 
 
-ba :: BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString
-ba = BS.append
+setupFiles :: IO ()
+setupFiles = do
+  createRegularFile' "inputFile"
+  createRegularFile' "alreadyExists"
+  createSymlink' "inputFileSymL" "inputFile"
+  createDir' "alreadyExistsD"
+  createDir' "noPerms"
+  createRegularFile' "noPerms/inputFile"
+  createDir' "outputDirNoWrite"
+  createDir' "wrongInput"
+  noPerms "noPerms"
+  noWritableDirPerms "outputDirNoWrite"
+  writeFile' "inputFile" "Blahfaselgagaga"
+  writeFile' "alreadyExists" "dsaldsalkaklsdlkasksdadasl"
 
-specDir :: BS.ByteString
-specDir = "test/HPath/IO/copyFileOverwriteSpec/"
 
-specDir' :: String
-specDir' = toString specDir
+cleanupFiles :: IO ()
+cleanupFiles = do
+  normalDirPerms "noPerms"
+  normalDirPerms "outputDirNoWrite"
+  deleteFile' "noPerms/inputFile"
+  deleteFile' "inputFile"
+  deleteFile' "alreadyExists"
+  deleteFile' "inputFileSymL"
+  deleteDir' "alreadyExistsD"
+  deleteDir' "noPerms"
+  deleteDir' "outputDirNoWrite"
+  deleteDir' "wrongInput"
 
 
 spec :: Spec
-spec =
+spec = before_ setupFiles $ after_ cleanupFiles $
   describe "HPath.IO.copyFileOverwrite" $ do
 
     -- successes --
     it "copyFileOverwrite, everything clear" $ do
-      copyFileOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "inputFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "outputFile")
-      removeFileIfExists (specDir `ba` "outputFile")
+      copyFileOverwrite' "inputFile"
+                "outputFile"
+      removeFileIfExists "outputFile"
 
     it "copyFileOverwrite, output file already exists, all clear" $ do
-      copyFile' (specDir `ba` "alreadyExists") (specDir `ba` "alreadyExists.bak")
-      copyFileOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "inputFile")
-                         (specDir `ba` "alreadyExists")
-      (system $ "cmp -s " ++ specDir' ++ "inputFile" ++ " "
-                          ++ specDir' ++ "alreadyExists")
+      copyFile' "alreadyExists" "alreadyExists.bak"
+      copyFileOverwrite' "inputFile"
+                         "alreadyExists"
+      (system $ "cmp -s " ++ toString tmpDir ++ "inputFile" ++ " "
+                          ++ toString tmpDir ++ "alreadyExists")
         `shouldReturn` ExitSuccess
-      removeFileIfExists (specDir `ba` "alreadyExists")
-      copyFile' (specDir `ba` "alreadyExists.bak") (specDir `ba` "alreadyExists")
-      removeFileIfExists (specDir `ba` "alreadyExists.bak")
+      removeFileIfExists "alreadyExists"
+      copyFile' "alreadyExists.bak" "alreadyExists"
+      removeFileIfExists "alreadyExists.bak"
 
     it "copyFileOverwrite, and compare" $ do
-      copyFileOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "inputFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "outputFile")
-      (system $ "cmp -s " ++ specDir' ++ "inputFile" ++ " "
-                          ++ specDir' ++ "outputFile")
+      copyFileOverwrite' "inputFile"
+                "outputFile"
+      (system $ "cmp -s " ++ toString tmpDir ++ "inputFile" ++ " "
+                          ++ toString tmpDir ++ "outputFile")
         `shouldReturn` ExitSuccess
-      removeFileIfExists (specDir `ba` "outputFile")
+      removeFileIfExists "outputFile"
 
     -- posix failures --
     it "copyFileOverwrite, input file does not exist" $
-      copyFileOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "noSuchFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "outputFile")
+      copyFileOverwrite' "noSuchFile"
+                "outputFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == NoSuchThing)
 
     it "copyFileOverwrite, no permission to write to output directory" $
-      copyFileOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "inputFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "outputDirNoWrite/outputFile")
+      copyFileOverwrite' "inputFile"
+                "outputDirNoWrite/outputFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "copyFileOverwrite, cannot open output directory" $
-      copyFileOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "inputFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "noPerms/outputFile")
+      copyFileOverwrite' "inputFile"
+                "noPerms/outputFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "copyFileOverwrite, cannot open source directory" $
-      copyFileOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "noPerms/inputFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "outputFile")
+      copyFileOverwrite' "noPerms/inputFile"
+                "outputFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "copyFileOverwrite, wrong input type (symlink)" $
-      copyFileOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "inputFileSymL")
-                (specDir `ba` "outputFile")
+      copyFileOverwrite' "inputFileSymL"
+                "outputFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == InvalidArgument)
 
     it "copyFileOverwrite, wrong input type (directory)" $
-      copyFileOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "wrongInput")
-                (specDir `ba` "outputFile")
+      copyFileOverwrite' "wrongInput"
+                "outputFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == InappropriateType)
 
     it "copyFileOverwrite, output file already exists and is a dir" $
-      copyFileOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "inputFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "alreadyExistsD")
+      copyFileOverwrite' "inputFile"
+                "alreadyExistsD"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == InappropriateType)
 
     -- custom failures --
     it "copyFileOverwrite, output and input are same file" $
-      copyFileOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "inputFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "inputFile")
+      copyFileOverwrite' "inputFile"
+                "inputFile"
         `shouldThrow` isSameFile
diff --git a/test/HPath/IO/CopyFileSpec.hs b/test/HPath/IO/CopyFileSpec.hs
--- a/test/HPath/IO/CopyFileSpec.hs
+++ b/test/HPath/IO/CopyFileSpec.hs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 {-# LANGUAGE OverloadedStrings #-}
 
+
 module HPath.IO.CopyFileSpec where
 
 
@@ -20,86 +21,105 @@
 import           Data.ByteString.UTF8 (toString)
 
 
-ba :: BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString
-ba = BS.append
+setupFiles :: IO ()
+setupFiles = do
+  createRegularFile' "inputFile"
+  createRegularFile' "alreadyExists"
+  createSymlink' "inputFileSymL" "inputFile"
+  createDir' "alreadyExistsD"
+  createDir' "noPerms"
+  createRegularFile' "noPerms/inputFile"
+  createDir' "outputDirNoWrite"
+  createDir' "wrongInput"
+  noPerms "noPerms"
+  noWritableDirPerms "outputDirNoWrite"
+  writeFile' "inputFile" "Blahfaselgagaga"
 
-specDir :: BS.ByteString
-specDir = "test/HPath/IO/copyFileSpec/"
 
-specDir' :: String
-specDir' = toString specDir
+cleanupFiles :: IO ()
+cleanupFiles = do
+  normalDirPerms "noPerms"
+  normalDirPerms "outputDirNoWrite"
+  deleteFile' "noPerms/inputFile"
+  deleteFile' "inputFile"
+  deleteFile' "alreadyExists"
+  deleteFile' "inputFileSymL"
+  deleteDir' "alreadyExistsD"
+  deleteDir' "noPerms"
+  deleteDir' "outputDirNoWrite"
+  deleteDir' "wrongInput"
 
 
 spec :: Spec
-spec =
+spec = before_ setupFiles $ after_ cleanupFiles $
   describe "HPath.IO.copyFile" $ do
 
     -- successes --
     it "copyFile, everything clear" $ do
-      copyFile' (specDir `ba` "inputFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "outputFile")
-      removeFileIfExists (specDir `ba` "outputFile")
+      copyFile' "inputFile"
+                "outputFile"
+      removeFileIfExists "outputFile"
 
     it "copyFile, and compare" $ do
-      copyFile' (specDir `ba` "inputFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "outputFile")
-      (system $ "cmp -s " ++ specDir' ++ "inputFile" ++ " "
-                          ++ specDir' ++ "outputFile")
+      copyFile' "inputFile"
+                "outputFile"
+      (system $ "cmp -s " ++ toString tmpDir ++ "inputFile" ++ " "
+                          ++ toString tmpDir ++ "outputFile")
         `shouldReturn` ExitSuccess
-      removeFileIfExists (specDir `ba` "outputFile")
+      removeFileIfExists "outputFile"
 
     -- posix failures --
     it "copyFile, input file does not exist" $
-      copyFile' (specDir `ba` "noSuchFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "outputFile")
+      copyFile' "noSuchFile"
+                "outputFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == NoSuchThing)
 
     it "copyFile, no permission to write to output directory" $
-      copyFile' (specDir `ba` "inputFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "outputDirNoWrite/outputFile")
+      copyFile' "inputFile"
+                "outputDirNoWrite/outputFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "copyFile, cannot open output directory" $
-      copyFile' (specDir `ba` "inputFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "noPerms/outputFile")
+      copyFile' "inputFile"
+                "noPerms/outputFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "copyFile, cannot open source directory" $
-      copyFile' (specDir `ba` "noPerms/inputFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "outputFile")
+      copyFile' "noPerms/inputFile"
+                "outputFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "copyFile, wrong input type (symlink)" $
-      copyFile' (specDir `ba` "inputFileSymL")
-                (specDir `ba` "outputFile")
+      copyFile' "inputFileSymL"
+                "outputFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == InvalidArgument)
 
     it "copyFile, wrong input type (directory)" $
-      copyFile' (specDir `ba` "wrongInput")
-                (specDir `ba` "outputFile")
+      copyFile' "wrongInput"
+                "outputFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == InappropriateType)
 
     it "copyFile, output file already exists" $
-      copyFile' (specDir `ba` "inputFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "alreadyExists")
+      copyFile' "inputFile"
+                "alreadyExists"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == AlreadyExists)
 
     it "copyFile, output file already exists and is a dir" $
-      copyFile' (specDir `ba` "inputFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "alreadyExistsD")
+      copyFile' "inputFile"
+                "alreadyExistsD"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == AlreadyExists)
 
     -- custom failures --
     it "copyFile, output and input are same file" $
-      copyFile' (specDir `ba` "inputFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "inputFile")
+      copyFile' "inputFile"
+                "inputFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         isSameFile
diff --git a/test/HPath/IO/CreateDirSpec.hs b/test/HPath/IO/CreateDirSpec.hs
--- a/test/HPath/IO/CreateDirSpec.hs
+++ b/test/HPath/IO/CreateDirSpec.hs
@@ -17,38 +17,47 @@
 import           Data.ByteString.UTF8 (toString)
 
 
-ba :: BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString
-ba = BS.append
+setupFiles :: IO ()
+setupFiles = do
+  createDir' "alreadyExists"
+  createDir' "noPerms"
+  createDir' "noWritePerms"
+  noPerms "noPerms"
+  noWritableDirPerms "noWritePerms"
 
-specDir :: BS.ByteString
-specDir = "test/HPath/IO/createDirSpec/"
 
-specDir' :: String
-specDir' = toString specDir
 
+cleanupFiles :: IO ()
+cleanupFiles = do
+  normalDirPerms "noPerms"
+  normalDirPerms "noWritePerms"
+  deleteDir' "alreadyExists"
+  deleteDir' "noPerms"
+  deleteDir' "noWritePerms"
 
+
 spec :: Spec
-spec =
+spec = before_ setupFiles $ after_ cleanupFiles $
   describe "HPath.IO.createDir" $ do
 
     -- successes --
     it "createDir, all fine" $ do
-      createDir' (specDir `ba` "newDir")
-      removeDirIfExists (specDir `ba` "newDir")
+      createDir' "newDir"
+      removeDirIfExists "newDir"
 
     -- posix failures --
     it "createDir, can't write to output directory" $
-      createDir' (specDir `ba` "noWritePerms/newDir")
+      createDir' "noWritePerms/newDir"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "createDir, can't open output directory" $
-      createDir' (specDir `ba` "noPerms/newDir")
+      createDir' "noPerms/newDir"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "createDir, destination directory already exists" $
-      createDir' (specDir `ba` "alreadyExists")
+      createDir' "alreadyExists"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == AlreadyExists)
 
diff --git a/test/HPath/IO/CreateRegularFileSpec.hs b/test/HPath/IO/CreateRegularFileSpec.hs
--- a/test/HPath/IO/CreateRegularFileSpec.hs
+++ b/test/HPath/IO/CreateRegularFileSpec.hs
@@ -17,38 +17,47 @@
 import           Data.ByteString.UTF8 (toString)
 
 
-ba :: BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString
-ba = BS.append
+setupFiles :: IO ()
+setupFiles = do
+  createRegularFile' "alreadyExists"
+  createDir' "noPerms"
+  createDir' "noWritePerms"
+  noPerms "noPerms"
+  noWritableDirPerms "noWritePerms"
 
-specDir :: BS.ByteString
-specDir = "test/HPath/IO/createRegularFileSpec/"
 
-specDir' :: String
-specDir' = toString specDir
 
+cleanupFiles :: IO ()
+cleanupFiles = do
+  normalDirPerms "noPerms"
+  normalDirPerms "noWritePerms"
+  deleteFile' "alreadyExists"
+  deleteDir' "noPerms"
+  deleteDir' "noWritePerms"
 
+
 spec :: Spec
-spec =
+spec = before_ setupFiles $ after_ cleanupFiles $
   describe "HPath.IO.createRegularFile" $ do
 
     -- successes --
     it "createRegularFile, all fine" $ do
-      createRegularFile' (specDir `ba` "newDir")
-      removeFileIfExists (specDir `ba` "newDir")
+      createRegularFile' "newDir"
+      removeFileIfExists "newDir"
 
     -- posix failures --
     it "createRegularFile, can't write to destination directory" $
-      createRegularFile' (specDir `ba` "noWritePerms/newDir")
+      createRegularFile' "noWritePerms/newDir"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "createRegularFile, can't write to destination directory" $
-      createRegularFile' (specDir `ba` "noPerms/newDir")
+      createRegularFile' "noPerms/newDir"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "createRegularFile, destination file already exists" $
-      createRegularFile' (specDir `ba` "alreadyExists")
+      createRegularFile' "alreadyExists"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == AlreadyExists)
 
diff --git a/test/HPath/IO/CreateSymlinkSpec.hs b/test/HPath/IO/CreateSymlinkSpec.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/HPath/IO/CreateSymlinkSpec.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+{-# LANGUAGE OverloadedStrings #-}
+
+module HPath.IO.CreateSymlinkSpec where
+
+
+import Test.Hspec
+import HPath.IO.Errors
+import System.IO.Error
+  (
+    ioeGetErrorType
+  )
+import GHC.IO.Exception
+  (
+    IOErrorType(..)
+  )
+import Utils
+import qualified Data.ByteString as BS
+import           Data.ByteString.UTF8 (toString)
+
+
+setupFiles :: IO ()
+setupFiles = do
+  createRegularFile' "alreadyExists"
+  createDir' "noPerms"
+  createDir' "noWritePerms"
+  noPerms "noPerms"
+  noWritableDirPerms "noWritePerms"
+
+
+cleanupFiles :: IO ()
+cleanupFiles = do
+  normalDirPerms "noPerms"
+  normalDirPerms "noWritePerms"
+  deleteFile' "alreadyExists"
+  deleteDir' "noPerms"
+  deleteDir' "noWritePerms"
+
+
+spec :: Spec
+spec = before_ setupFiles $ after_ cleanupFiles $
+  describe "HPath.IO.createSymlink" $ do
+
+    -- successes --
+    it "createSymlink, all fine" $ do
+      createSymlink' "newSymL" "alreadyExists/"
+      removeFileIfExists "newSymL"
+
+    -- posix failures --
+    it "createSymlink, can't write to destination directory" $
+      createSymlink' "noWritePerms/newDir" "lala"
+        `shouldThrow`
+        (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
+
+    it "createSymlink, can't write to destination directory" $
+      createSymlink' "noPerms/newDir" "lala"
+        `shouldThrow`
+        (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
+
+    it "createSymlink, destination file already exists" $
+      createSymlink' "alreadyExists" "lala"
+        `shouldThrow`
+        (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == AlreadyExists)
+
diff --git a/test/HPath/IO/DeleteDirRecursiveSpec.hs b/test/HPath/IO/DeleteDirRecursiveSpec.hs
--- a/test/HPath/IO/DeleteDirRecursiveSpec.hs
+++ b/test/HPath/IO/DeleteDirRecursiveSpec.hs
@@ -21,76 +21,90 @@
 import           Data.ByteString.UTF8 (toString)
 
 
-ba :: BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString
-ba = BS.append
+setupFiles :: IO ()
+setupFiles = do
+  createRegularFile' "file"
+  createDir' "dir"
+  createRegularFile' "dir/.keep"
+  createSymlink' "dirSym" "dir/"
+  createDir' "noPerms"
+  createRegularFile' "noPerms/.keep"
+  createDir' "noWritable"
+  createRegularFile' "noWritable/.keep"
 
-specDir :: BS.ByteString
-specDir = "test/HPath/IO/deleteDirRecursiveSpec/"
 
-specDir' :: String
-specDir' = toString specDir
+cleanupFiles :: IO ()
+cleanupFiles = do
+  deleteFile' "file"
+  deleteFile' "dir/.keep"
+  deleteDir' "dir"
+  deleteFile' "dirSym"
+  deleteFile' "noPerms/.keep"
+  deleteDir' "noPerms"
+  deleteFile' "noWritable/.keep"
+  deleteDir' "noWritable"
 
 
 spec :: Spec
-spec =
+spec = before_ setupFiles $ after_ cleanupFiles $
   describe "HPath.IO.deleteDirRecursive" $ do
 
     -- successes --
     it "deleteDirRecursive, empty directory, all fine" $ do
-      createDir' (specDir `ba` "testDir")
-      deleteDirRecursive' (specDir `ba` "testDir")
-      getSymbolicLinkStatus (specDir `ba` "testDir")
+      createDir' "testDir"
+      deleteDirRecursive' "testDir"
+      getSymbolicLinkStatus "testDir"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == NoSuchThing)
 
     it "deleteDirRecursive, empty directory with null permissions, all fine" $ do
-      createDir' (specDir `ba` "noPerms/testDir")
-      noPerms (specDir `ba` "noPerms/testDir")
-      deleteDirRecursive' (specDir `ba` "noPerms/testDir")
+      createDir' "noPerms/testDir"
+      noPerms "noPerms/testDir"
+      deleteDirRecursive' "noPerms/testDir"
 
     it "deleteDirRecursive, non-empty directory, all fine" $ do
-      createDir' (specDir `ba` "nonEmpty")
-      createDir' (specDir `ba` "nonEmpty/dir1")
-      createDir' (specDir `ba` "nonEmpty/dir2")
-      createDir' (specDir `ba` "nonEmpty/dir2/dir3")
-      createRegularFile' (specDir `ba` "nonEmpty/file1")
-      createRegularFile' (specDir `ba` "nonEmpty/dir1/file2")
-      deleteDirRecursive' (specDir `ba` "nonEmpty")
-      getSymbolicLinkStatus (specDir `ba` "nonEmpty")
+      createDir' "nonEmpty"
+      createDir' "nonEmpty/dir1"
+      createDir' "nonEmpty/dir2"
+      createDir' "nonEmpty/dir2/dir3"
+      createRegularFile' "nonEmpty/file1"
+      createRegularFile' "nonEmpty/dir1/file2"
+      deleteDirRecursive' "nonEmpty"
+      getSymbolicLinkStatus "nonEmpty"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == NoSuchThing)
 
     -- posix failures --
     it "deleteDirRecursive, can't open parent directory" $ do
-      createDir' (specDir `ba` "noPerms/foo")
-      noPerms (specDir `ba` "noPerms")
-      (deleteDirRecursive' (specDir `ba` "noPerms/foo")
+      createDir' "noPerms/foo"
+      noPerms "noPerms"
+      (deleteDirRecursive' "noPerms/foo")
         `shouldThrow`
-        (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied))
-        >> normalDirPerms (specDir `ba` "noPerms")
-        >> deleteDir' (specDir `ba` "noPerms/foo")
+        (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
+      normalDirPerms "noPerms"
+      deleteDir' "noPerms/foo"
 
     it "deleteDirRecursive, can't write to parent directory" $ do
-      createDir' (specDir `ba` "noWritable/foo")
-      noWritableDirPerms (specDir `ba` "noWritable")
-      (deleteDirRecursive' (specDir `ba` "noWritable/foo")
+      createDir' "noWritable/foo"
+      noWritableDirPerms "noWritable"
+      (deleteDirRecursive' "noWritable/foo")
         `shouldThrow`
-        (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied))
-      normalDirPerms (specDir `ba` "noWritable")
-      deleteDir' (specDir `ba` "noWritable/foo")
+        (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
+      normalDirPerms "noWritable"
+      deleteDir' "noWritable/foo"
 
     it "deleteDirRecursive, wrong file type (symlink to directory)" $
-      deleteDirRecursive' (specDir `ba` "dirSym")
+      deleteDirRecursive' "dirSym"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == InappropriateType)
 
     it "deleteDirRecursive, wrong file type (regular file)" $
-      deleteDirRecursive' (specDir `ba` "file")
+      deleteDirRecursive' "file"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == InappropriateType)
 
     it "deleteDirRecursive, directory does not exist" $
-      deleteDirRecursive' (specDir `ba` "doesNotExist")
+      deleteDirRecursive' "doesNotExist"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == NoSuchThing)
 
diff --git a/test/HPath/IO/DeleteDirSpec.hs b/test/HPath/IO/DeleteDirSpec.hs
--- a/test/HPath/IO/DeleteDirSpec.hs
+++ b/test/HPath/IO/DeleteDirSpec.hs
@@ -21,74 +21,88 @@
 import           Data.ByteString.UTF8 (toString)
 
 
-ba :: BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString
-ba = BS.append
+setupFiles :: IO ()
+setupFiles = do
+  createRegularFile' "file"
+  createDir' "dir"
+  createRegularFile' "dir/.keep"
+  createSymlink' "dirSym" "dir/"
+  createDir' "noPerms"
+  createRegularFile' "noPerms/.keep"
+  createDir' "noWritable"
+  createRegularFile' "noWritable/.keep"
 
-specDir :: BS.ByteString
-specDir = "test/HPath/IO/deleteDirSpec/"
 
-specDir' :: String
-specDir' = toString specDir
+cleanupFiles :: IO ()
+cleanupFiles = do
+  deleteFile' "file"
+  deleteFile' "dir/.keep"
+  deleteDir' "dir"
+  deleteFile' "dirSym"
+  deleteFile' "noPerms/.keep"
+  deleteDir' "noPerms"
+  deleteFile' "noWritable/.keep"
+  deleteDir' "noWritable"
 
 
 spec :: Spec
-spec =
+spec = before_ setupFiles $ after_ cleanupFiles $
   describe "HPath.IO.deleteDir" $ do
 
     -- successes --
     it "deleteDir, empty directory, all fine" $ do
-      createDir' (specDir `ba` "testDir")
-      deleteDir' (specDir `ba` "testDir")
-      getSymbolicLinkStatus (specDir `ba` "testDir")
+      createDir' "testDir"
+      deleteDir' "testDir"
+      getSymbolicLinkStatus "testDir"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == NoSuchThing)
 
     it "deleteDir, directory with null permissions, all fine" $ do
-      createDir' (specDir `ba` "noPerms/testDir")
-      noPerms (specDir `ba` "noPerms/testDir")
-      deleteDir' (specDir `ba` "noPerms/testDir")
-      getSymbolicLinkStatus (specDir `ba` "testDir")
+      createDir' "noPerms/testDir"
+      noPerms "noPerms/testDir"
+      deleteDir' "noPerms/testDir"
+      getSymbolicLinkStatus "testDir"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == NoSuchThing)
 
     -- posix failures --
     it "deleteDir, wrong file type (symlink to directory)" $
-      deleteDir' (specDir `ba` "dirSym")
+      deleteDir' "dirSym"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == InappropriateType)
 
     it "deleteDir, wrong file type (regular file)" $
-      deleteDir' (specDir `ba` "file")
+      deleteDir' "file"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == InappropriateType)
 
     it "deleteDir, directory does not exist" $
-      deleteDir' (specDir `ba` "doesNotExist")
+      deleteDir' "doesNotExist"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == NoSuchThing)
 
     it "deleteDir, directory not empty" $
-      deleteDir' (specDir `ba` "dir")
+      deleteDir' "dir"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == UnsatisfiedConstraints)
 
     it "deleteDir, can't open parent directory" $ do
-      createDir' (specDir `ba` "noPerms/foo")
-      noPerms (specDir `ba` "noPerms")
-      (deleteDir' (specDir `ba` "noPerms/foo")
+      createDir' "noPerms/foo"
+      noPerms "noPerms"
+      (deleteDir' "noPerms/foo")
         `shouldThrow`
-        (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied))
-        >> normalDirPerms (specDir `ba` "noPerms")
-        >> deleteDir' (specDir `ba` "noPerms/foo")
+        (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
+      normalDirPerms "noPerms"
+      deleteDir' "noPerms/foo"
 
     it "deleteDir, can't write to parent directory, still fine" $ do
-      createDir' (specDir `ba` "noWritable/foo")
-      noWritableDirPerms (specDir `ba` "noWritable")
-      (deleteDir' (specDir `ba` "noWritable/foo")
+      createDir' "noWritable/foo"
+      noWritableDirPerms "noWritable"
+      (deleteDir' "noWritable/foo")
         `shouldThrow`
-        (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied))
-      normalDirPerms (specDir `ba` "noWritable")
-      deleteDir' (specDir `ba` "noWritable/foo")
+        (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
+      normalDirPerms "noWritable"
+      deleteDir' "noWritable/foo"
 
 
 
diff --git a/test/HPath/IO/DeleteFileSpec.hs b/test/HPath/IO/DeleteFileSpec.hs
--- a/test/HPath/IO/DeleteFileSpec.hs
+++ b/test/HPath/IO/DeleteFileSpec.hs
@@ -21,49 +21,58 @@
 import           Data.ByteString.UTF8 (toString)
 
 
-ba :: BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString
-ba = BS.append
+setupFiles :: IO ()
+setupFiles = do
+  createRegularFile' "foo"
+  createSymlink' "syml" "foo"
+  createDir' "dir"
+  createDir' "noPerms"
+  noPerms "noPerms"
 
-specDir :: BS.ByteString
-specDir = "test/HPath/IO/deleteFileSpec/"
 
-specDir' :: String
-specDir' = toString specDir
+cleanupFiles :: IO ()
+cleanupFiles = do
+  normalDirPerms "noPerms"
+  deleteFile' "foo"
+  deleteFile' "syml"
+  deleteDir' "dir"
+  deleteDir' "noPerms"
 
 
+
 spec :: Spec
-spec =
+spec = before_ setupFiles $ after_ cleanupFiles $
   describe "HPath.IO.deleteFile" $ do
 
     -- successes --
     it "deleteFile, regular file, all fine" $ do
-      createRegularFile' (specDir `ba` "testFile")
-      deleteFile' (specDir `ba` "testFile")
-      getSymbolicLinkStatus (specDir `ba` "testFile")
+      createRegularFile' "testFile"
+      deleteFile' "testFile"
+      getSymbolicLinkStatus "testFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == NoSuchThing)
 
     it "deleteFile, symlink, all fine" $ do
-      recreateSymlink' (specDir `ba` "syml")
-                       (specDir `ba` "testFile")
-      deleteFile' (specDir `ba` "testFile")
-      getSymbolicLinkStatus (specDir `ba` "testFile")
+      recreateSymlink' "syml"
+                       "testFile"
+      deleteFile' "testFile"
+      getSymbolicLinkStatus "testFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == NoSuchThing)
 
     -- posix failures --
     it "deleteFile, wrong file type (directory)" $
-      deleteFile' (specDir `ba` "dir")
+      deleteFile' "dir"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == InappropriateType)
 
     it "deleteFile, file does not exist" $
-      deleteFile' (specDir `ba` "doesNotExist")
+      deleteFile' "doesNotExist"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == NoSuchThing)
 
     it "deleteFile, can't read directory" $
-      deleteFile' (specDir `ba` "noPerms/blah")
+      deleteFile' "noPerms/blah"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
diff --git a/test/HPath/IO/GetDirsFilesSpec.hs b/test/HPath/IO/GetDirsFilesSpec.hs
--- a/test/HPath/IO/GetDirsFilesSpec.hs
+++ b/test/HPath/IO/GetDirsFilesSpec.hs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
     fromJust
   )
 import qualified HPath as P
+import HPath.IO
 import Test.Hspec
 import System.IO.Error
   (
@@ -34,56 +35,71 @@
 import           Data.ByteString.UTF8 (toString)
 
 
-ba :: BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString
-ba = BS.append
+setupFiles :: IO ()
+setupFiles = do
+  createRegularFile' "file"
+  createRegularFile' "Lala"
+  createRegularFile' ".hidden"
+  createSymlink' "syml" "Lala"
+  createDir' "dir"
+  createSymlink' "dirsym" "dir"
+  createDir' "noPerms"
+  noPerms "noPerms"
 
-specDir :: BS.ByteString
-specDir = "test/HPath/IO/getDirsFilesSpec/"
 
-specDir' :: String
-specDir' = toString specDir
+cleanupFiles :: IO ()
+cleanupFiles = do
+  normalDirPerms "noPerms"
+  deleteFile' "file"
+  deleteFile' "Lala"
+  deleteFile' ".hidden"
+  deleteFile' "syml"
+  deleteDir' "dir"
+  deleteFile' "dirsym"
+  deleteDir' "noPerms"
 
 
+
 spec :: Spec
-spec =
+spec = before_ setupFiles $ after_ cleanupFiles $
   describe "HPath.IO.getDirsFiles" $ do
 
     -- successes --
-    it "getDirsFiles, all fine" $ do
-      pwd <- fromJust <$> getEnv "PWD" >>= P.parseAbs
-      expectedFiles <- mapM P.parseRel [(specDir `ba ` ".hidden")
-                                       ,(specDir `ba ` "Lala")
-                                       ,(specDir `ba ` "dir")
-                                       ,(specDir `ba ` "dirsym")
-                                       ,(specDir `ba ` "file")
-                                       ,(specDir `ba ` "noPerms")
-                                       ,(specDir `ba ` "syml")]
-      (fmap sort $ getDirsFiles' specDir)
-        `shouldReturn` fmap (pwd P.</>) expectedFiles
+    it "getDirsFiles, all fine" $
+      withRawTmpDir $ \p -> do
+      expectedFiles <- mapM P.parseRel [".hidden"
+                                       ,"Lala"
+                                       ,"dir"
+                                       ,"dirsym"
+                                       ,"file"
+                                       ,"noPerms"
+                                       ,"syml"]
+      (fmap sort $ getDirsFiles p)
+        `shouldReturn` fmap (p P.</>) expectedFiles
 
     -- posix failures --
     it "getDirsFiles, nonexistent directory" $
-      getDirsFiles' (specDir `ba ` "nothingHere")
+      getDirsFiles' "nothingHere"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == NoSuchThing)
 
     it "getDirsFiles, wrong file type (file)" $
-      getDirsFiles' (specDir `ba ` "file")
+      getDirsFiles' "file"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == InappropriateType)
 
     it "getDirsFiles, wrong file type (symlink to file)" $
-      getDirsFiles' (specDir `ba ` "syml")
+      getDirsFiles' "syml"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == InvalidArgument)
 
     it "getDirsFiles, wrong file type (symlink to dir)" $
-      getDirsFiles' (specDir `ba ` "dirsym")
+      getDirsFiles' "dirsym"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == InvalidArgument)
 
     it "getDirsFiles, can't open directory" $
-      getDirsFiles' (specDir `ba ` "noPerms")
+      getDirsFiles' "noPerms"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
diff --git a/test/HPath/IO/GetFileTypeSpec.hs b/test/HPath/IO/GetFileTypeSpec.hs
--- a/test/HPath/IO/GetFileTypeSpec.hs
+++ b/test/HPath/IO/GetFileTypeSpec.hs
@@ -18,53 +18,66 @@
 import           Data.ByteString.UTF8 (toString)
 
 
-ba :: BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString
-ba = BS.append
+setupFiles :: IO ()
+setupFiles = do
+  createRegularFile' "regularfile"
+  createSymlink' "symlink" "regularfile"
+  createSymlink' "brokenSymlink" "broken"
+  createDir' "directory"
+  createSymlink' "symlinkD" "directory"
+  createDir' "noPerms"
+  noPerms "noPerms"
 
-specDir :: BS.ByteString
-specDir = "test/HPath/IO/getFileTypeSpec/"
 
-specDir' :: String
-specDir' = toString specDir
+cleanupFiles :: IO ()
+cleanupFiles = do
+  normalDirPerms "noPerms"
+  deleteFile' "regularfile"
+  deleteFile' "symlink"
+  deleteFile' "brokenSymlink"
+  deleteDir' "directory"
+  deleteFile' "symlinkD"
+  deleteDir' "noPerms"
 
 
+
 spec :: Spec
-spec =
+spec = before_ setupFiles $ after_ cleanupFiles $
   describe "HPath.IO.getFileType" $ do
 
     -- successes --
     it "getFileType, regular file" $
-      getFileType' (specDir `ba` "regularfile")
+      getFileType' "regularfile"
         `shouldReturn` RegularFile
 
     it "getFileType, directory" $
-      getFileType' (specDir `ba` "directory")
+      getFileType' "directory"
         `shouldReturn` Directory
 
     it "getFileType, directory with null permissions" $
-      getFileType' (specDir `ba` "noPerms")
+      getFileType' "noPerms"
         `shouldReturn` Directory
 
     it "getFileType, symlink to file" $
-      getFileType' (specDir `ba` "symlink")
+      getFileType' "symlink"
         `shouldReturn` SymbolicLink
 
     it "getFileType, symlink to directory" $
-      getFileType' (specDir `ba` "symlinkD")
+      getFileType' "symlinkD"
         `shouldReturn` SymbolicLink
 
     it "getFileType, broken symlink" $
-      getFileType' (specDir `ba` "brokenSymlink")
+      getFileType' "brokenSymlink"
         `shouldReturn` SymbolicLink
 
     -- posix failures --
     it "getFileType, file does not exist" $
-      getFileType' (specDir `ba` "nothingHere")
+      getFileType' "nothingHere"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == NoSuchThing)
 
     it "getFileType, can't open directory" $
-      getFileType' (specDir `ba` "noPerms/forz")
+      getFileType' "noPerms/forz"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
diff --git a/test/HPath/IO/MoveFileOverwriteSpec.hs b/test/HPath/IO/MoveFileOverwriteSpec.hs
--- a/test/HPath/IO/MoveFileOverwriteSpec.hs
+++ b/test/HPath/IO/MoveFileOverwriteSpec.hs
@@ -18,76 +18,92 @@
 import           Data.ByteString.UTF8 (toString)
 
 
-ba :: BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString
-ba = BS.append
+setupFiles :: IO ()
+setupFiles = do
+  createRegularFile' "myFile"
+  createSymlink' "myFileL" "myFile"
+  createDir' "alreadyExistsD"
+  createDir' "dir"
+  createDir' "noPerms"
+  createDir' "noWritePerm"
+  noPerms "noPerms"
+  noWritableDirPerms "noWritePerm"
+  writeFile' "myFile" "Blahfaselgagaga"
 
-specDir :: BS.ByteString
-specDir = "test/HPath/IO/moveFileOverwriteSpec/"
 
-specDir' :: String
-specDir' = toString specDir
+cleanupFiles :: IO ()
+cleanupFiles = do
+  normalDirPerms "noPerms"
+  normalDirPerms "noWritePerm"
+  deleteFile' "myFile"
+  deleteFile' "myFileL"
+  deleteDir' "alreadyExistsD"
+  deleteDir' "dir"
+  deleteDir' "noPerms"
+  deleteDir' "noWritePerm"
 
 
+
 spec :: Spec
-spec =
+spec = before_ setupFiles $ after_ cleanupFiles $
   describe "HPath.IO.moveFileOverwrite" $ do
 
     -- successes --
     it "moveFileOverwrite, all fine" $
-      moveFileOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "myFile")
-                         (specDir `ba` "movedFile")
+      moveFileOverwrite' "myFile"
+                         "movedFile"
 
     it "moveFileOverwrite, all fine" $
-      moveFileOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "myFile")
-                         (specDir `ba` "dir/movedFile")
+      moveFileOverwrite' "myFile"
+                         "dir/movedFile"
 
     it "moveFileOverwrite, all fine on symlink" $
-      moveFileOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "myFileL")
-                         (specDir `ba` "movedFile")
+      moveFileOverwrite' "myFileL"
+                         "movedFile"
 
     it "moveFileOverwrite, all fine on directory" $
-      moveFileOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "dir")
-                         (specDir `ba` "movedFile")
+      moveFileOverwrite' "dir"
+                         "movedFile"
 
     it "moveFileOverwrite, destination file already exists" $
-      moveFileOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "myFile")
-                         (specDir `ba` "alreadyExists")
+      moveFileOverwrite' "myFile"
+                         "alreadyExists"
 
     -- posix failures --
     it "moveFileOverwrite, source file does not exist" $
-      moveFileOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "fileDoesNotExist")
-                         (specDir `ba` "movedFile")
+      moveFileOverwrite' "fileDoesNotExist"
+                         "movedFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == NoSuchThing)
 
     it "moveFileOverwrite, can't write to destination directory" $
-      moveFileOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "myFile")
-                         (specDir `ba` "noWritePerm/movedFile")
+      moveFileOverwrite' "myFile"
+                         "noWritePerm/movedFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "moveFileOverwrite, can't open destination directory" $
-      moveFileOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "myFile")
-                         (specDir `ba` "noPerms/movedFile")
+      moveFileOverwrite' "myFile"
+                         "noPerms/movedFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "moveFileOverwrite, can't open source directory" $
-      moveFileOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "noPerms/myFile")
-                         (specDir `ba` "movedFile")
+      moveFileOverwrite' "noPerms/myFile"
+                         "movedFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     -- custom failures --
     it "moveFileOverwrite, move from file to dir" $
-      moveFileOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "myFile")
-                         (specDir `ba` "alreadyExistsD")
+      moveFileOverwrite' "myFile"
+                         "alreadyExistsD"
         `shouldThrow`
         isDirDoesExist
 
     it "moveFileOverwrite, source and dest are same file" $
-      moveFileOverwrite' (specDir `ba` "myFile")
-                         (specDir `ba` "myFile")
+      moveFileOverwrite' "myFile"
+                         "myFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         isSameFile
 
diff --git a/test/HPath/IO/MoveFileSpec.hs b/test/HPath/IO/MoveFileSpec.hs
--- a/test/HPath/IO/MoveFileSpec.hs
+++ b/test/HPath/IO/MoveFileSpec.hs
@@ -18,78 +18,96 @@
 import           Data.ByteString.UTF8 (toString)
 
 
-ba :: BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString
-ba = BS.append
+setupFiles :: IO ()
+setupFiles = do
+  createRegularFile' "myFile"
+  createSymlink' "myFileL" "myFile"
+  createRegularFile' "alreadyExists"
+  createDir' "alreadyExistsD"
+  createDir' "dir"
+  createDir' "noPerms"
+  createDir' "noWritePerm"
+  noPerms "noPerms"
+  noWritableDirPerms "noWritePerm"
+  writeFile' "myFile" "Blahfaselgagaga"
 
-specDir :: BS.ByteString
-specDir = "test/HPath/IO/moveFileSpec/"
 
-specDir' :: String
-specDir' = toString specDir
+cleanupFiles :: IO ()
+cleanupFiles = do
+  normalDirPerms "noPerms"
+  normalDirPerms "noWritePerm"
+  deleteFile' "myFile"
+  deleteFile' "myFileL"
+  deleteFile' "alreadyExists"
+  deleteDir' "alreadyExistsD"
+  deleteDir' "dir"
+  deleteDir' "noPerms"
+  deleteDir' "noWritePerm"
 
 
+
 spec :: Spec
-spec =
+spec = before_ setupFiles $ after_ cleanupFiles $
   describe "HPath.IO.moveFile" $ do
 
     -- successes --
     it "moveFile, all fine" $
-      moveFile' (specDir `ba` "myFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "movedFile")
+      moveFile' "myFile"
+                "movedFile"
 
     it "moveFile, all fine" $
-      moveFile' (specDir `ba` "myFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "dir/movedFile")
+      moveFile' "myFile"
+                "dir/movedFile"
 
     it "moveFile, all fine on symlink" $
-      moveFile' (specDir `ba` "myFileL")
-                (specDir `ba` "movedFile")
+      moveFile' "myFileL"
+                "movedFile"
 
     it "moveFile, all fine on directory" $
-      moveFile' (specDir `ba` "dir")
-                (specDir `ba` "movedFile")
+      moveFile' "dir"
+                "movedFile"
 
     -- posix failures --
     it "moveFile, source file does not exist" $
-      moveFile' (specDir `ba` "fileDoesNotExist")
-                (specDir `ba` "movedFile")
+      moveFile' "fileDoesNotExist"
+                "movedFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == NoSuchThing)
 
     it "moveFile, can't write to destination directory" $
-      moveFile' (specDir `ba` "myFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "noWritePerm/movedFile")
+      moveFile' "myFile"
+                "noWritePerm/movedFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "moveFile, can't open destination directory" $
-      moveFile' (specDir `ba` "myFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "noPerms/movedFile")
+      moveFile' "myFile"
+                "noPerms/movedFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "moveFile, can't open source directory" $
-      moveFile' (specDir `ba` "noPerms/myFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "movedFile")
+      moveFile' "noPerms/myFile"
+                "movedFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     -- custom failures --
     it "moveFile, destination file already exists" $
-      moveFile' (specDir `ba` "myFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "alreadyExists")
+      moveFile' "myFile"
+                "alreadyExists"
         `shouldThrow`
         isFileDoesExist
 
     it "moveFile, move from file to dir" $
-      moveFile' (specDir `ba` "myFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "alreadyExistsD")
+      moveFile' "myFile"
+                "alreadyExistsD"
         `shouldThrow`
         isDirDoesExist
 
     it "moveFile, source and dest are same file" $
-      moveFile' (specDir `ba` "myFile")
-                (specDir `ba` "myFile")
+      moveFile' "myFile"
+                "myFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         isSameFile
 
diff --git a/test/HPath/IO/RecreateSymlinkSpec.hs b/test/HPath/IO/RecreateSymlinkSpec.hs
--- a/test/HPath/IO/RecreateSymlinkSpec.hs
+++ b/test/HPath/IO/RecreateSymlinkSpec.hs
@@ -18,78 +18,95 @@
 import           Data.ByteString.UTF8 (toString)
 
 
-ba :: BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString
-ba = BS.append
+setupFiles :: IO ()
+setupFiles = do
+  createRegularFile' "myFile"
+  createSymlink' "myFileL" "myFile"
+  createRegularFile' "alreadyExists"
+  createDir' "alreadyExistsD"
+  createDir' "dir"
+  createDir' "noPerms"
+  createDir' "noWritePerm"
+  noPerms "noPerms"
+  noWritableDirPerms "noWritePerm"
+  writeFile' "myFile" "Blahfaselgagaga"
 
-specDir :: BS.ByteString
-specDir = "test/HPath/IO/recreateSymlinkSpec/"
 
-specDir' :: String
-specDir' = toString specDir
+cleanupFiles :: IO ()
+cleanupFiles = do
+  normalDirPerms "noPerms"
+  normalDirPerms "noWritePerm"
+  deleteFile' "myFile"
+  deleteFile' "myFileL"
+  deleteFile' "alreadyExists"
+  deleteDir' "alreadyExistsD"
+  deleteDir' "dir"
+  deleteDir' "noPerms"
+  deleteDir' "noWritePerm"
 
 
 spec :: Spec
-spec =
+spec = before_ setupFiles $ after_ cleanupFiles $
   describe "HPath.IO.recreateSymlink" $ do
 
     -- successes --
     it "recreateSymLink, all fine" $ do
-      recreateSymlink' (specDir `ba` "myFileL")
-                       (specDir `ba` "movedFile")
-      removeFileIfExists (specDir `ba` "movedFile")
+      recreateSymlink' "myFileL"
+                       "movedFile"
+      removeFileIfExists "movedFile"
 
     it "recreateSymLink, all fine" $ do
-      recreateSymlink' (specDir `ba` "myFileL")
-                       (specDir `ba` "dir/movedFile")
-      removeFileIfExists (specDir `ba` "dir/movedFile")
+      recreateSymlink' "myFileL"
+                       "dir/movedFile"
+      removeFileIfExists "dir/movedFile"
 
     -- posix failures --
     it "recreateSymLink, wrong input type (file)" $
-      recreateSymlink' (specDir `ba` "myFile")
-                       (specDir `ba` "movedFile")
+      recreateSymlink' "myFile"
+                       "movedFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == InvalidArgument)
 
     it "recreateSymLink, wrong input type (directory)" $
-      recreateSymlink' (specDir `ba` "dir")
-                       (specDir `ba` "movedFile")
+      recreateSymlink' "dir"
+                       "movedFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == InvalidArgument)
 
     it "recreateSymLink, can't write to destination directory" $
-      recreateSymlink' (specDir `ba` "myFileL")
-                       (specDir `ba` "noWritePerm/movedFile")
+      recreateSymlink' "myFileL"
+                       "noWritePerm/movedFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "recreateSymLink, can't open destination directory" $
-      recreateSymlink' (specDir `ba` "myFileL")
-                       (specDir `ba` "noPerms/movedFile")
+      recreateSymlink' "myFileL"
+                       "noPerms/movedFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "recreateSymLink, can't open source directory" $
-      recreateSymlink' (specDir `ba` "noPerms/myFileL")
-                       (specDir `ba` "movedFile")
+      recreateSymlink' "noPerms/myFileL"
+                       "movedFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "recreateSymLink, destination file already exists" $
-      recreateSymlink' (specDir `ba` "myFileL")
-                       (specDir `ba` "alreadyExists")
+      recreateSymlink' "myFileL"
+                       "alreadyExists"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == AlreadyExists)
 
     it "recreateSymLink, destination already exists and is a dir" $
-      recreateSymlink' (specDir `ba` "myFileL")
-                       (specDir `ba` "alreadyExistsD")
+      recreateSymlink' "myFileL"
+                       "alreadyExistsD"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == AlreadyExists)
 
     -- custom failures --
     it "recreateSymLink, source and destination are the same file" $
-      recreateSymlink' (specDir `ba` "myFileL")
-                       (specDir `ba` "myFileL")
+      recreateSymlink' "myFileL"
+                       "myFileL"
         `shouldThrow`
         isSameFile
 
diff --git a/test/HPath/IO/RenameFileSpec.hs b/test/HPath/IO/RenameFileSpec.hs
--- a/test/HPath/IO/RenameFileSpec.hs
+++ b/test/HPath/IO/RenameFileSpec.hs
@@ -18,78 +18,95 @@
 import           Data.ByteString.UTF8 (toString)
 
 
-ba :: BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString -> BS.ByteString
-ba = BS.append
+setupFiles :: IO ()
+setupFiles = do
+  createRegularFile' "myFile"
+  createSymlink' "myFileL" "myFile"
+  createRegularFile' "alreadyExists"
+  createDir' "alreadyExistsD"
+  createDir' "dir"
+  createDir' "noPerms"
+  createDir' "noWritePerm"
+  noPerms "noPerms"
+  noWritableDirPerms "noWritePerm"
+  writeFile' "myFile" "Blahfaselgagaga"
 
-specDir :: BS.ByteString
-specDir = "test/HPath/IO/renameFileSpec/"
 
-specDir' :: String
-specDir' = toString specDir
+cleanupFiles :: IO ()
+cleanupFiles = do
+  normalDirPerms "noPerms"
+  normalDirPerms "noWritePerm"
+  deleteFile' "myFile"
+  deleteFile' "myFileL"
+  deleteFile' "alreadyExists"
+  deleteDir' "alreadyExistsD"
+  deleteDir' "dir"
+  deleteDir' "noPerms"
+  deleteDir' "noWritePerm"
 
 
 spec :: Spec
-spec =
+spec = before_ setupFiles $ after_ cleanupFiles $
   describe "HPath.IO.renameFile" $ do
 
     -- successes --
     it "renameFile, all fine" $
-      renameFile' (specDir `ba` "myFile")
-                  (specDir `ba` "renamedFile")
+      renameFile' "myFile"
+                  "renamedFile"
 
     it "renameFile, all fine" $
-      renameFile' (specDir `ba` "myFile")
-                  (specDir `ba` "dir/renamedFile")
+      renameFile' "myFile"
+                  "dir/renamedFile"
 
     it "renameFile, all fine on symlink" $
-      renameFile' (specDir `ba` "myFileL")
-                  (specDir `ba` "renamedFile")
+      renameFile' "myFileL"
+                  "renamedFile"
 
     it "renameFile, all fine on directory" $
-      renameFile' (specDir `ba` "dir")
-                  (specDir `ba` "renamedFile")
+      renameFile' "dir"
+                  "renamedFile"
 
     -- posix failures --
     it "renameFile, source file does not exist" $
-      renameFile' (specDir `ba` "fileDoesNotExist")
-                  (specDir `ba` "renamedFile")
+      renameFile' "fileDoesNotExist"
+                  "renamedFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == NoSuchThing)
 
     it "renameFile, can't write to output directory" $
-      renameFile' (specDir `ba` "myFile")
-                  (specDir `ba` "noWritePerm/renamedFile")
+      renameFile' "myFile"
+                  "noWritePerm/renamedFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "renameFile, can't open output directory" $
-      renameFile' (specDir `ba` "myFile")
-                  (specDir `ba` "noPerms/renamedFile")
+      renameFile' "myFile"
+                  "noPerms/renamedFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     it "renameFile, can't open source directory" $
-      renameFile' (specDir `ba` "noPerms/myFile")
-                  (specDir `ba` "renamedFile")
+      renameFile' "noPerms/myFile"
+                  "renamedFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         (\e -> ioeGetErrorType e == PermissionDenied)
 
     -- custom failures --
     it "renameFile, destination file already exists" $
-      renameFile' (specDir `ba` "myFile")
-                  (specDir `ba` "alreadyExists")
+      renameFile' "myFile"
+                  "alreadyExists"
         `shouldThrow`
         isFileDoesExist
 
     it "renameFile, move from file to dir" $
-      renameFile' (specDir `ba` "myFile")
-                  (specDir `ba` "alreadyExistsD")
+      renameFile' "myFile"
+                  "alreadyExistsD"
         `shouldThrow`
         isDirDoesExist
 
     it "renameFile, source and dest are same file" $
-      renameFile' (specDir `ba` "myFile")
-                  (specDir `ba` "myFile")
+      renameFile' "myFile"
+                  "myFile"
         `shouldThrow`
         isSameFile
 
diff --git a/test/Main.hs b/test/Main.hs
--- a/test/Main.hs
+++ b/test/Main.hs
@@ -14,40 +14,10 @@
 main =
   hspecWith
     defaultConfig { configFormatter = Just progress }
-    $ before_ fixPermissions
-    $ after_ revertPermissions
-    $ Spec.spec >> Spec.spec
+    $ before_ up
+    $ after_ down
+    $ Spec.spec
   where
-    noWriteDirs =  ["test/HPath/IO/copyFileSpec/outputDirNoWrite"
-                   ,"test/HPath/IO/copyFileOverwriteSpec/outputDirNoWrite"
-                   ,"test/HPath/IO/copyDirRecursiveSpec/noWritePerm"
-                   ,"test/HPath/IO/copyDirRecursiveOverwriteSpec/noWritePerm"
-                   ,"test/HPath/IO/createDirSpec/noWritePerms"
-                   ,"test/HPath/IO/createRegularFileSpec/noWritePerms"
-                   ,"test/HPath/IO/renameFileSpec/noWritePerm"
-                   ,"test/HPath/IO/moveFileSpec/noWritePerm"
-                   ,"test/HPath/IO/moveFileOverwriteSpec/noWritePerm"
-                   ,"test/HPath/IO/recreateSymlinkSpec/noWritePerm"
-                   ]
-    noPermsDirs =  ["test/HPath/IO/copyFileSpec/noPerms"
-                   ,"test/HPath/IO/copyFileOverwriteSpec/noPerms"
-                   ,"test/HPath/IO/copyDirRecursiveSpec/noPerms"
-                   ,"test/HPath/IO/copyDirRecursiveOverwriteSpec/noPerms"
-                   ,"test/HPath/IO/createDirSpec/noPerms"
-                   ,"test/HPath/IO/createRegularFileSpec/noPerms"
-                   ,"test/HPath/IO/renameFileSpec/noPerms"
-                   ,"test/HPath/IO/moveFileSpec/noPerms"
-                   ,"test/HPath/IO/moveFileOverwriteSpec/noPerms"
-                   ,"test/HPath/IO/recreateSymlinkSpec/noPerms"
-                   ,"test/HPath/IO/getFileTypeSpec/noPerms"
-                   ,"test/HPath/IO/getDirsFilesSpec/noPerms"
-                   ,"test/HPath/IO/deleteFileSpec/noPerms"
-                   ]
-    fixPermissions = do
-      sequence_ $ fmap noWritableDirPerms noWriteDirs
-      sequence_ $ fmap noPerms noPermsDirs
-    revertPermissions = do
-      sequence_ $ fmap normalDirPerms noWriteDirs
-      sequence_ $ fmap normalDirPerms noPermsDirs
-
+    up = createTmpDir
+    down = deleteTmpDir
 
diff --git a/test/Utils.hs b/test/Utils.hs
--- a/test/Utils.hs
+++ b/test/Utils.hs
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 {-# LANGUAGE OverloadedStrings #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE PackageImports #-}
 
+
 module Utils where
 
 
@@ -7,6 +9,10 @@
   (
     (<$>)
   )
+import Control.Monad
+  (
+    void
+  )
 import HPath.IO
 import HPath.IO.Errors
 import HPath.IO.Utils
@@ -36,97 +42,133 @@
   , unionFileModes
   )
 
+import qualified "unix" System.Posix.IO.ByteString as SPI
+import qualified "unix-bytestring" System.Posix.IO.ByteString as SPB
 
 
+
+tmpDir :: ByteString
+tmpDir = "test/HPath/IO/tmp/"
+
+
+
     -----------------
     --[ Utilities ]--
     -----------------
 
 
-withPwd :: ByteString -> (P.Path P.Abs -> IO a) -> IO a
-withPwd ip f = do
+createTmpDir :: IO ()
+createTmpDir = do
   pwd <- fromJust <$> getEnv "PWD" >>= P.parseAbs
-  p <- (pwd P.</>) <$> P.parseRel ip
+  tmp <- P.parseRel tmpDir
+  void $ createDir (pwd P.</> tmp)
+
+
+deleteTmpDir :: IO ()
+deleteTmpDir = do
+  pwd <- fromJust <$> getEnv "PWD" >>= P.parseAbs
+  tmp <- P.parseRel tmpDir
+  void $ deleteDir (pwd P.</> tmp)
+
+
+withRawTmpDir :: (P.Path P.Abs -> IO a) -> IO a
+withRawTmpDir f = do
+  pwd <- fromJust <$> getEnv "PWD" >>= P.parseAbs
+  tmp <- P.parseRel tmpDir
+  f (pwd P.</> tmp)
+
+
+withTmpDir :: ByteString -> (P.Path P.Abs -> IO a) -> IO a
+withTmpDir ip f = do
+  pwd <- fromJust <$> getEnv "PWD" >>= P.parseAbs
+  tmp <- P.parseRel tmpDir
+  p <- (pwd P.</> tmp P.</>) <$> P.parseRel ip
   f p
 
 
-withPwd' :: ByteString
-         -> ByteString
-         -> (P.Path P.Abs -> P.Path P.Abs -> IO a)
-         -> IO a
-withPwd' ip1 ip2 f = do
+withTmpDir' :: ByteString
+            -> ByteString
+            -> (P.Path P.Abs -> P.Path P.Abs -> IO a)
+            -> IO a
+withTmpDir' ip1 ip2 f = do
   pwd <- fromJust <$> getEnv "PWD" >>= P.parseAbs
-  p1 <- (pwd P.</>) <$> P.parseRel ip1
-  p2 <- (pwd P.</>) <$> P.parseRel ip2
+  tmp <- P.parseRel tmpDir
+  p1 <- (pwd P.</> tmp P.</>) <$> P.parseRel ip1
+  p2 <- (pwd P.</> tmp P.</>) <$> P.parseRel ip2
   f p1 p2
 
 
 removeFileIfExists :: ByteString -> IO ()
 removeFileIfExists bs =
-  withPwd bs $ \p -> whenM (doesFileExist p) (deleteFile p)
+  withTmpDir bs $ \p -> whenM (doesFileExist p) (deleteFile p)
 
 
 removeDirIfExists :: ByteString -> IO ()
 removeDirIfExists bs =
-  withPwd bs $ \p -> whenM (doesDirectoryExist p) (deleteDirRecursive p)
+  withTmpDir bs $ \p -> whenM (doesDirectoryExist p) (deleteDirRecursive p)
 
 
 copyFile' :: ByteString -> ByteString -> IO ()
 copyFile' inputFileP outputFileP =
-  withPwd' inputFileP outputFileP copyFile
+  withTmpDir' inputFileP outputFileP copyFile
 
 
 copyFileOverwrite' :: ByteString -> ByteString -> IO ()
 copyFileOverwrite' inputFileP outputFileP =
-  withPwd' inputFileP outputFileP copyFileOverwrite
+  withTmpDir' inputFileP outputFileP copyFileOverwrite
 
 
 copyDirRecursive' :: ByteString -> ByteString -> IO ()
 copyDirRecursive' inputDirP outputDirP =
-  withPwd' inputDirP outputDirP copyDirRecursive
+  withTmpDir' inputDirP outputDirP copyDirRecursive
 
 
 copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' :: ByteString -> ByteString -> IO ()
 copyDirRecursiveOverwrite' inputDirP outputDirP =
-  withPwd' inputDirP outputDirP copyDirRecursiveOverwrite
+  withTmpDir' inputDirP outputDirP copyDirRecursiveOverwrite
 
 
 createDir' :: ByteString -> IO ()
-createDir' dest = withPwd dest createDir
+createDir' dest = withTmpDir dest createDir
 
 
 createRegularFile' :: ByteString -> IO ()
-createRegularFile' dest = withPwd dest createRegularFile
+createRegularFile' dest = withTmpDir dest createRegularFile
 
 
+createSymlink' :: ByteString -> ByteString -> IO ()
+createSymlink' dest sympoint = withTmpDir dest
+  (\x -> createSymlink x sympoint)
+
+
 renameFile' :: ByteString -> ByteString -> IO ()
 renameFile' inputFileP outputFileP =
-  withPwd' inputFileP outputFileP $ \i o -> do
+  withTmpDir' inputFileP outputFileP $ \i o -> do
     renameFile i o
     renameFile o i
 
 
 moveFile' :: ByteString -> ByteString -> IO ()
 moveFile' inputFileP outputFileP =
-  withPwd' inputFileP outputFileP $ \i o -> do
+  withTmpDir' inputFileP outputFileP $ \i o -> do
     moveFile i o
     moveFile o i
 
 
 moveFileOverwrite' :: ByteString -> ByteString -> IO ()
 moveFileOverwrite' inputFileP outputFileP =
-  withPwd' inputFileP outputFileP $ \i o -> do
+  withTmpDir' inputFileP outputFileP $ \i o -> do
     moveFileOverwrite i o
     moveFile o i
 
 
 recreateSymlink' :: ByteString -> ByteString -> IO ()
 recreateSymlink' inputFileP outputFileP =
-  withPwd' inputFileP outputFileP recreateSymlink
+  withTmpDir' inputFileP outputFileP recreateSymlink
 
 
 noWritableDirPerms :: ByteString -> IO ()
-noWritableDirPerms path = withPwd path $ \p ->
+noWritableDirPerms path = withTmpDir path $ \p ->
   setFileMode (P.fromAbs p) perms
   where
     perms =            ownerReadMode
@@ -138,34 +180,42 @@
 
 
 noPerms :: ByteString -> IO ()
-noPerms path = withPwd path $ \p -> setFileMode (P.fromAbs p) nullFileMode
+noPerms path = withTmpDir path $ \p -> setFileMode (P.fromAbs p) nullFileMode
 
 
 normalDirPerms :: ByteString -> IO ()
 normalDirPerms path =
-  withPwd path $ \p -> setFileMode (P.fromAbs p) newDirPerms
+  withTmpDir path $ \p -> setFileMode (P.fromAbs p) newDirPerms
 
 
 getFileType' :: ByteString -> IO FileType
-getFileType' path = withPwd path getFileType
+getFileType' path = withTmpDir path getFileType
 
 
 getDirsFiles' :: ByteString -> IO [P.Path P.Abs]
-getDirsFiles' path = withPwd path getDirsFiles
+getDirsFiles' path = withTmpDir path getDirsFiles
 
 
 deleteFile' :: ByteString -> IO ()
-deleteFile' p = withPwd p deleteFile
+deleteFile' p = withTmpDir p deleteFile
 
 
 deleteDir' :: ByteString -> IO ()
-deleteDir' p = withPwd p deleteDir
+deleteDir' p = withTmpDir p deleteDir
 
 
 deleteDirRecursive' :: ByteString -> IO ()
-deleteDirRecursive' p = withPwd p deleteDirRecursive
+deleteDirRecursive' p = withTmpDir p deleteDirRecursive
 
 
 canonicalizePath' :: ByteString -> IO (P.Path P.Abs)
-canonicalizePath' p = withPwd p canonicalizePath
+canonicalizePath' p = withTmpDir p canonicalizePath
 
+
+writeFile' :: ByteString -> ByteString -> IO ()
+writeFile' ip bs = 
+  withTmpDir ip $ \p -> do
+    fd <- SPI.openFd (P.fromAbs p) SPI.WriteOnly Nothing
+                                   SPI.defaultFileFlags
+    SPB.fdWrite fd bs
+    SPI.closeFd fd