diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index af0858efe4d7..e1b53eb0df9c 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -143,9 +143,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "chrono"
-version = "0.4.24"
+version = "0.4.23"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "4e3c5919066adf22df73762e50cffcde3a758f2a848b113b586d1f86728b673b"
+checksum = "16b0a3d9ed01224b22057780a37bb8c5dbfe1be8ba48678e7bf57ec4b385411f"
 dependencies = [
  "iana-time-zone",
  "num-integer",
@@ -932,9 +932,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "gix-tempfile"
-version = "5.0.0"
+version = "5.0.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "743bae41b5db7f085dc7acc54ed72c98853a6e5dabb355e95caa7b534f21b35c"
+checksum = "aed73ef9642f779d609fd19acc332ac1597b978ee87ec11743a68eefaed65bfa"
 dependencies = [
  "libc",
  "once_cell",
@@ -1081,6 +1081,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "hashbrown 0.13.2",
  "helix-loader",
  "imara-diff",
+ "indoc 1.0.9",
  "log",
  "once_cell",
  "quickcheck",
@@ -1176,7 +1177,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "helix-vcs",
  "helix-view",
  "ignore",
- "indoc",
+ "indoc 2.0.1",
  "libc",
  "log",
  "once_cell",
@@ -1349,6 +1350,12 @@ dependencies = [
  "hashbrown 0.12.3",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "indoc"
+version = "1.0.9"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "bfa799dd5ed20a7e349f3b4639aa80d74549c81716d9ec4f994c9b5815598306"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "indoc"
 version = "2.0.1"
@@ -1532,6 +1539,15 @@ dependencies = [
  "minimal-lexical",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "nom8"
+version = "0.2.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "ae01545c9c7fc4486ab7debaf2aad7003ac19431791868fb2e8066df97fad2f8"
+dependencies = [
+ "memchr",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "num-integer"
 version = "0.1.45"
@@ -1775,18 +1791,18 @@ checksum = "9c8132065adcfd6e02db789d9285a0deb2f3fcb04002865ab67d5fb103533898"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "serde"
-version = "1.0.155"
+version = "1.0.152"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "71f2b4817415c6d4210bfe1c7bfcf4801b2d904cb4d0e1a8fdb651013c9e86b8"
+checksum = "bb7d1f0d3021d347a83e556fc4683dea2ea09d87bccdf88ff5c12545d89d5efb"
 dependencies = [
  "serde_derive",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "serde_derive"
-version = "1.0.155"
+version = "1.0.152"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "d071a94a3fac4aff69d023a7f411e33f40f3483f8c5190b1953822b6b76d7630"
+checksum = "af487d118eecd09402d70a5d72551860e788df87b464af30e5ea6a38c75c541e"
 dependencies = [
  "proc-macro2",
  "quote",
@@ -2120,9 +2136,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "toml"
-version = "0.7.3"
+version = "0.7.2"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "b403acf6f2bb0859c93c7f0d967cb4a75a7ac552100f9322faf64dc047669b21"
+checksum = "f7afcae9e3f0fe2c370fd4657108972cbb2fa9db1b9f84849cefd80741b01cb6"
 dependencies = [
  "serde",
  "serde_spanned",
@@ -2141,15 +2157,15 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "toml_edit"
-version = "0.19.6"
+version = "0.19.3"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "08de71aa0d6e348f070457f85af8bd566e2bc452156a423ddf22861b3a953fae"
+checksum = "5e6a7712b49e1775fb9a7b998de6635b299237f48b404dde71704f2e0e7f37e5"
 dependencies = [
  "indexmap",
+ "nom8",
  "serde",
  "serde_spanned",
  "toml_datetime",
- "winnow",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -2452,15 +2468,6 @@ version = "0.42.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "447660ad36a13288b1db4d4248e857b510e8c3a225c822ba4fb748c0aafecffd"
 
-[[package]]
-name = "winnow"
-version = "0.3.5"
-source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "ee7b2c67f962bf5042bfd8b6a916178df33a26eec343ae064cb8e069f638fa6f"
-dependencies = [
- "memchr",
-]
-
 [[package]]
 name = "xtask"
 version = "0.6.0"
diff --git a/helix-core/Cargo.toml b/helix-core/Cargo.toml
index 62ec87b485ca..8618f5863d50 100644
--- a/helix-core/Cargo.toml
+++ b/helix-core/Cargo.toml
@@ -49,3 +49,4 @@ textwrap = "0.16.0"
 
 [dev-dependencies]
 quickcheck = { version = "1", default-features = false }
+indoc = "1.0.6"
diff --git a/helix-core/src/movement.rs b/helix-core/src/movement.rs
index 8e6b63066201..60af47e5bf19 100644
--- a/helix-core/src/movement.rs
+++ b/helix-core/src/movement.rs
@@ -1474,7 +1474,7 @@ mod test {
             let text = Rope::from(s.as_str());
             let selection =
                 selection.transform(|r| move_prev_paragraph(text.slice(..), r, 1, Movement::Move));
-            let actual = crate::test::plain(&s, selection);
+            let actual = crate::test::plain(s.as_ref(), &selection);
             assert_eq!(actual, expected, "\nbefore: `{:?}`", before);
         }
     }
@@ -1497,7 +1497,7 @@ mod test {
             let text = Rope::from(s.as_str());
             let selection =
                 selection.transform(|r| move_prev_paragraph(text.slice(..), r, 2, Movement::Move));
-            let actual = crate::test::plain(&s, selection);
+            let actual = crate::test::plain(s.as_ref(), &selection);
             assert_eq!(actual, expected, "\nbefore: `{:?}`", before);
         }
     }
@@ -1520,7 +1520,7 @@ mod test {
             let text = Rope::from(s.as_str());
             let selection = selection
                 .transform(|r| move_prev_paragraph(text.slice(..), r, 1, Movement::Extend));
-            let actual = crate::test::plain(&s, selection);
+            let actual = crate::test::plain(s.as_ref(), &selection);
             assert_eq!(actual, expected, "\nbefore: `{:?}`", before);
         }
     }
@@ -1540,7 +1540,7 @@ mod test {
                 "a\nb\n\n#[goto\nthird\n\n|]#paragraph",
             ),
             (
-                "a\nb#[\n|]#\ngoto\nsecond\n\nparagraph",
+                "a\nb#[\n|]#\n\ngoto\nsecond\n\nparagraph",
                 "a\nb#[\n\n|]#goto\nsecond\n\nparagraph",
             ),
             (
@@ -1562,7 +1562,7 @@ mod test {
             let text = Rope::from(s.as_str());
             let selection =
                 selection.transform(|r| move_next_paragraph(text.slice(..), r, 1, Movement::Move));
-            let actual = crate::test::plain(&s, selection);
+            let actual = crate::test::plain(s.as_ref(), &selection);
             assert_eq!(actual, expected, "\nbefore: `{:?}`", before);
         }
     }
@@ -1585,7 +1585,7 @@ mod test {
             let text = Rope::from(s.as_str());
             let selection =
                 selection.transform(|r| move_next_paragraph(text.slice(..), r, 2, Movement::Move));
-            let actual = crate::test::plain(&s, selection);
+            let actual = crate::test::plain(s.as_ref(), &selection);
             assert_eq!(actual, expected, "\nbefore: `{:?}`", before);
         }
     }
@@ -1608,7 +1608,7 @@ mod test {
             let text = Rope::from(s.as_str());
             let selection = selection
                 .transform(|r| move_next_paragraph(text.slice(..), r, 1, Movement::Extend));
-            let actual = crate::test::plain(&s, selection);
+            let actual = crate::test::plain(s.as_ref(), &selection);
             assert_eq!(actual, expected, "\nbefore: `{:?}`", before);
         }
     }
diff --git a/helix-core/src/test.rs b/helix-core/src/test.rs
index 17523ed76107..7183302c6c69 100644
--- a/helix-core/src/test.rs
+++ b/helix-core/src/test.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 //! Test helpers.
 use crate::{Range, Selection};
+use ropey::Rope;
 use smallvec::SmallVec;
 use std::cmp::Reverse;
+use unicode_segmentation::UnicodeSegmentation;
 
 /// Convert annotated test string to test string and selection.
 ///
@@ -10,6 +12,10 @@ use std::cmp::Reverse;
 /// `#[` for primary selection with head after anchor followed by `|]#`.
 /// `#(` for secondary selection with head after anchor followed by `|)#`.
 ///
+/// If the selection contains any LF or CRLF sequences, which are immediately
+/// followed by the same grapheme, then the subsequent one is removed. This is
+/// to allow representing having the cursor over the end of the line.
+///
 /// # Examples
 ///
 /// ```
@@ -30,23 +36,23 @@ use std::cmp::Reverse;
 pub fn print(s: &str) -> (String, Selection) {
     let mut primary_idx = None;
     let mut ranges = SmallVec::new();
-    let mut iter = s.chars().peekable();
+    let mut iter = UnicodeSegmentation::graphemes(s, true).peekable();
     let mut left = String::with_capacity(s.len());
 
     'outer: while let Some(c) = iter.next() {
         let start = left.chars().count();
 
-        if c != '#' {
-            left.push(c);
+        if c != "#" {
+            left.push_str(c);
             continue;
         }
 
         let (is_primary, close_pair) = match iter.next() {
-            Some('[') => (true, ']'),
-            Some('(') => (false, ')'),
+            Some("[") => (true, "]"),
+            Some("(") => (false, ")"),
             Some(ch) => {
                 left.push('#');
-                left.push(ch);
+                left.push_str(ch);
                 continue;
             }
             None => break,
@@ -56,24 +62,45 @@ pub fn print(s: &str) -> (String, Selection) {
             panic!("primary `#[` already appeared {:?} {:?}", left, s);
         }
 
-        let head_at_beg = iter.next_if_eq(&'|').is_some();
+        let head_at_beg = iter.next_if_eq(&"|").is_some();
+        let last_grapheme = |s: &str| {
+            UnicodeSegmentation::graphemes(s, true)
+                .last()
+                .map(String::from)
+        };
 
         while let Some(c) = iter.next() {
-            if !(c == close_pair && iter.peek() == Some(&'#')) {
-                left.push(c);
+            let next = iter.peek();
+            let mut prev = last_grapheme(left.as_str());
+
+            if !(c == close_pair && next == Some(&"#")) {
+                left.push_str(c);
                 continue;
             }
 
             if !head_at_beg {
-                let prev = left.pop().unwrap();
-                if prev != '|' {
-                    left.push(prev);
-                    left.push(c);
-                    continue;
+                match &prev {
+                    Some(p) if p != "|" => {
+                        left.push_str(c);
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                    Some(p) if p == "|" => {
+                        left.pop().unwrap(); // pop the |
+                        prev = last_grapheme(left.as_str());
+                    }
+                    _ => (),
                 }
             }
 
             iter.next(); // skip "#"
+            let next = iter.peek();
+
+            // skip explicit line end inside selection
+            if (prev == Some(String::from("\r\n")) || prev == Some(String::from("\n")))
+                && next.map(|n| String::from(*n)) == prev
+            {
+                iter.next();
+            }
 
             if is_primary {
                 primary_idx = Some(ranges.len());
@@ -118,14 +145,16 @@ pub fn print(s: &str) -> (String, Selection) {
 /// use smallvec::smallvec;
 ///
 /// assert_eq!(
-///     plain("abc", Selection::new(smallvec![Range::new(0, 1), Range::new(3, 2)], 0)),
+///     plain("abc", &Selection::new(smallvec![Range::new(0, 1), Range::new(3, 2)], 0)),
 ///     "#[a|]#b#(|c)#".to_owned()
 /// );
 /// ```
-pub fn plain(s: &str, selection: Selection) -> String {
+pub fn plain<R: Into<Rope>>(s: R, selection: &Selection) -> String {
+    let s = s.into();
     let primary = selection.primary_index();
-    let mut out = String::with_capacity(s.len() + 5 * selection.len());
-    out.push_str(s);
+    let mut out = String::with_capacity(s.len_bytes() + 5 * selection.len());
+    out.push_str(&s.to_string());
+
     let mut insertion: Vec<_> = selection
         .iter()
         .enumerate()
@@ -138,7 +167,9 @@ pub fn plain(s: &str, selection: Selection) -> String {
                 (false, false) => [(range.anchor, ")#"), (range.head, "#(|")],
             }
         })
+        .map(|(char_idx, marker)| (s.char_to_byte(char_idx), marker))
         .collect();
+
     // insert in reverse order
     insertion.sort_unstable_by_key(|k| Reverse(k.0));
     for (i, s) in insertion {
@@ -262,4 +293,94 @@ mod test {
             print("hello #[|👨‍👩‍👧‍👦]# goodbye")
         );
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn plain_single() {
+        assert_eq!("#[|h]#ello", plain("hello", &Selection::single(1, 0)));
+        assert_eq!("#[h|]#ello", plain("hello", &Selection::single(0, 1)));
+        assert_eq!("#[|hell]#o", plain("hello", &Selection::single(4, 0)));
+        assert_eq!("#[hell|]#o", plain("hello", &Selection::single(0, 4)));
+        assert_eq!("#[|hello]#", plain("hello", &Selection::single(5, 0)));
+        assert_eq!("#[hello|]#", plain("hello", &Selection::single(0, 5)));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn plain_multi() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            plain(
+                "hello",
+                &Selection::new(
+                    SmallVec::from_slice(&[Range::new(1, 0), Range::new(5, 4)]),
+                    0
+                )
+            ),
+            String::from("#[|h]#ell#(|o)#")
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            plain(
+                "hello",
+                &Selection::new(
+                    SmallVec::from_slice(&[Range::new(0, 1), Range::new(4, 5)]),
+                    0
+                )
+            ),
+            String::from("#[h|]#ell#(o|)#")
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            plain(
+                "hello",
+                &Selection::new(
+                    SmallVec::from_slice(&[Range::new(2, 0), Range::new(5, 3)]),
+                    0
+                )
+            ),
+            String::from("#[|he]#l#(|lo)#")
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            plain(
+                "hello\r\nhello\r\nhello\r\n",
+                &Selection::new(
+                    SmallVec::from_slice(&[
+                        Range::new(7, 5),
+                        Range::new(21, 19),
+                        Range::new(14, 12)
+                    ]),
+                    0
+                )
+            ),
+            String::from("hello#[|\r\n]#hello#(|\r\n)#hello#(|\r\n)#")
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn plain_multi_byte_code_point() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            plain("„“", &Selection::single(1, 0)),
+            String::from("#[|„]#“")
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            plain("„“", &Selection::single(2, 1)),
+            String::from("„#[|“]#")
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            plain("„“", &Selection::single(0, 1)),
+            String::from("#[„|]#“")
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            plain("„“", &Selection::single(1, 2)),
+            String::from("„#[“|]#")
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            plain("they said „hello“", &Selection::single(11, 10)),
+            String::from("they said #[|„]#hello“")
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn plain_multi_code_point_grapheme() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            plain("hello 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 goodbye", &Selection::single(13, 6)),
+            String::from("hello #[|👨‍👩‍👧‍👦]# goodbye")
+        );
+    }
 }
diff --git a/helix-core/src/textobject.rs b/helix-core/src/textobject.rs
index 972a80e78a60..bf00a4580491 100644
--- a/helix-core/src/textobject.rs
+++ b/helix-core/src/textobject.rs
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ mod test {
             let text = Rope::from(s.as_str());
             let selection = selection
                 .transform(|r| textobject_paragraph(text.slice(..), r, TextObject::Inside, 1));
-            let actual = crate::test::plain(&s, selection);
+            let actual = crate::test::plain(s.as_ref(), &selection);
             assert_eq!(actual, expected, "\nbefore: `{:?}`", before);
         }
     }
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ mod test {
             let text = Rope::from(s.as_str());
             let selection = selection
                 .transform(|r| textobject_paragraph(text.slice(..), r, TextObject::Inside, 2));
-            let actual = crate::test::plain(&s, selection);
+            let actual = crate::test::plain(s.as_ref(), &selection);
             assert_eq!(actual, expected, "\nbefore: `{:?}`", before);
         }
     }
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ mod test {
             let text = Rope::from(s.as_str());
             let selection = selection
                 .transform(|r| textobject_paragraph(text.slice(..), r, TextObject::Around, 1));
-            let actual = crate::test::plain(&s, selection);
+            let actual = crate::test::plain(s.as_ref(), &selection);
             assert_eq!(actual, expected, "\nbefore: `{:?}`", before);
         }
     }
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/integration.rs b/helix-term/tests/integration.rs
index a378af7a9b25..cec374afa492 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/integration.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/integration.rs
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ mod test {
 
     use std::path::PathBuf;
 
-    use helix_core::{syntax::AutoPairConfig, Position, Selection};
-    use helix_term::{args::Args, config::Config};
+    use helix_core::{syntax::AutoPairConfig, Selection};
+    use helix_term::config::Config;
 
     use indoc::indoc;
 
@@ -23,5 +23,4 @@ mod test {
     mod movement;
     mod prompt;
     mod splits;
-    mod write;
 }
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/test/auto_indent.rs b/helix-term/tests/test/auto_indent.rs
index 2d9082853dcf..5132d44d983b 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/test/auto_indent.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/test/auto_indent.rs
@@ -3,22 +3,16 @@ use super::*;
 #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
 async fn auto_indent_c() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     test_with_config(
-        Args {
-            files: vec![(PathBuf::from("foo.c"), Position::default())],
-            ..Default::default()
-        },
-        helpers::test_config(),
-        helpers::test_syntax_conf(None),
+        AppBuilder::new().with_file("foo.c", None),
         // switches to append mode?
         (
-            helpers::platform_line("void foo() {#[|}]#").as_ref(),
+            helpers::platform_line("void foo() {#[|}]#"),
             "i<ret><esc>",
             helpers::platform_line(indoc! {"\
                 void foo() {
                   #[|\n]#\
                 }
-            "})
-            .as_ref(),
+            "}),
         ),
     )
     .await?;
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/test/auto_pairs.rs b/helix-term/tests/test/auto_pairs.rs
index e18c71195fb4..e10e0840bcb8 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/test/auto_pairs.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/test/auto_pairs.rs
@@ -41,9 +41,7 @@ async fn insert_configured_multi_byte_chars() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 
     for (open, close) in pairs.iter() {
         test_with_config(
-            Args::default(),
-            config.clone(),
-            helpers::test_syntax_conf(None),
+            AppBuilder::new().with_config(config.clone()),
             (
                 format!("#[{}|]#", LINE_END),
                 format!("i{}", open),
@@ -53,9 +51,7 @@ async fn insert_configured_multi_byte_chars() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         .await?;
 
         test_with_config(
-            Args::default(),
-            config.clone(),
-            helpers::test_syntax_conf(None),
+            AppBuilder::new().with_config(config.clone()),
             (
                 format!("{}#[{}|]#{}", open, close, LINE_END),
                 format!("i{}", close),
@@ -170,15 +166,13 @@ async fn insert_before_eol() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 async fn insert_auto_pairs_disabled() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     for pair in DEFAULT_PAIRS {
         test_with_config(
-            Args::default(),
-            Config {
+            AppBuilder::new().with_config(Config {
                 editor: helix_view::editor::Config {
                     auto_pairs: AutoPairConfig::Enable(false),
                     ..Default::default()
                 },
                 ..Default::default()
-            },
-            helpers::test_syntax_conf(None),
+            }),
             (
                 format!("#[{}|]#", LINE_END),
                 format!("i{}", pair.0),
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/test/commands.rs b/helix-term/tests/test/commands.rs
index e8d16bfaf2be..342a849be349 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/test/commands.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/test/commands.rs
@@ -1,99 +1,8 @@
-use std::ops::RangeInclusive;
-
-use helix_core::diagnostic::Severity;
 use helix_term::application::Application;
 
 use super::*;
 
-#[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
-async fn test_write_quit_fail() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
-    let file = helpers::new_readonly_tempfile()?;
-    let mut app = helpers::AppBuilder::new()
-        .with_file(file.path(), None)
-        .build()?;
-
-    test_key_sequence(
-        &mut app,
-        Some("ihello<esc>:wq<ret>"),
-        Some(&|app| {
-            let mut docs: Vec<_> = app.editor.documents().collect();
-            assert_eq!(1, docs.len());
-
-            let doc = docs.pop().unwrap();
-            assert_eq!(Some(file.path()), doc.path().map(PathBuf::as_path));
-            assert_eq!(&Severity::Error, app.editor.get_status().unwrap().1);
-        }),
-        false,
-    )
-    .await?;
-
-    Ok(())
-}
-
-#[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
-async fn test_buffer_close_concurrent() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
-    test_key_sequences(
-        &mut helpers::AppBuilder::new().build()?,
-        vec![
-            (
-                None,
-                Some(&|app| {
-                    assert_eq!(1, app.editor.documents().count());
-                    assert!(!app.editor.is_err());
-                }),
-            ),
-            (
-                Some("ihello<esc>:new<ret>"),
-                Some(&|app| {
-                    assert_eq!(2, app.editor.documents().count());
-                    assert!(!app.editor.is_err());
-                }),
-            ),
-            (
-                Some(":buffer<minus>close<ret>"),
-                Some(&|app| {
-                    assert_eq!(1, app.editor.documents().count());
-                    assert!(!app.editor.is_err());
-                }),
-            ),
-        ],
-        false,
-    )
-    .await?;
-
-    // verify if writes are queued up, it finishes them before closing the buffer
-    let mut file = tempfile::NamedTempFile::new()?;
-    let mut command = String::new();
-    const RANGE: RangeInclusive<i32> = 1..=1000;
-
-    for i in RANGE {
-        let cmd = format!("%c{}<esc>:w!<ret>", i);
-        command.push_str(&cmd);
-    }
-
-    command.push_str(":buffer<minus>close<ret>");
-
-    let mut app = helpers::AppBuilder::new()
-        .with_file(file.path(), None)
-        .build()?;
-
-    test_key_sequence(
-        &mut app,
-        Some(&command),
-        Some(&|app| {
-            assert!(!app.editor.is_err(), "error: {:?}", app.editor.get_status());
-
-            let doc = app.editor.document_by_path(file.path());
-            assert!(doc.is_none(), "found doc: {:?}", doc);
-        }),
-        false,
-    )
-    .await?;
-
-    helpers::assert_file_has_content(file.as_file_mut(), &RANGE.end().to_string())?;
-
-    Ok(())
-}
+mod write;
 
 #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
 async fn test_selection_duplication() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
@@ -292,12 +201,12 @@ async fn test_multi_selection_shell_commands() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         .as_str(),
         "|echo foo<ret>",
         platform_line(indoc! {"\
-            #[|foo
-            ]#
-            #(|foo
-            )#
-            #(|foo
-            )#
+            #[|foo\n]#
+            
+            #(|foo\n)#
+            
+            #(|foo\n)#
+            
             "})
         .as_str(),
     ))
@@ -313,12 +222,12 @@ async fn test_multi_selection_shell_commands() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         .as_str(),
         "!echo foo<ret>",
         platform_line(indoc! {"\
-            #[|foo
-            ]#lorem
-            #(|foo
-            )#ipsum
-            #(|foo
-            )#dolor
+            #[|foo\n]#
+            lorem
+            #(|foo\n)#
+            ipsum
+            #(|foo\n)#
+            dolor
             "})
         .as_str(),
     ))
@@ -334,12 +243,12 @@ async fn test_multi_selection_shell_commands() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         .as_str(),
         "<A-!>echo foo<ret>",
         platform_line(indoc! {"\
-            lorem#[|foo
-            ]#
-            ipsum#(|foo
-            )#
-            dolor#(|foo
-            )#
+            lorem#[|foo\n]#
+            
+            ipsum#(|foo\n)#
+            
+            dolor#(|foo\n)#
+            
             "})
         .as_str(),
     ))
@@ -391,8 +300,8 @@ async fn test_extend_line() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         platform_line(indoc! {"\
             #[lorem
             ipsum
-            dolor
-            |]#
+            dolor\n|]#
+            
             "})
         .as_str(),
     ))
@@ -409,8 +318,8 @@ async fn test_extend_line() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         "2x",
         platform_line(indoc! {"\
             #[lorem
-            ipsum
-            |]#
+            ipsum\n|]#
+            
             "})
         .as_str(),
     ))
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/test/write.rs b/helix-term/tests/test/commands/write.rs
similarity index 76%
rename from helix-term/tests/test/write.rs
rename to helix-term/tests/test/commands/write.rs
index 81459b2fe846..0ea66a12df15 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/test/write.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/test/commands/write.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use std::{
-    io::{Read, Seek, SeekFrom, Write},
+    io::{Read, Seek, Write},
     ops::RangeInclusive,
 };
 
@@ -8,6 +8,96 @@ use helix_view::doc;
 
 use super::*;
 
+#[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
+async fn test_write_quit_fail() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    let file = helpers::new_readonly_tempfile()?;
+    let mut app = helpers::AppBuilder::new()
+        .with_file(file.path(), None)
+        .build()?;
+
+    test_key_sequence(
+        &mut app,
+        Some("ihello<esc>:wq<ret>"),
+        Some(&|app| {
+            let mut docs: Vec<_> = app.editor.documents().collect();
+            assert_eq!(1, docs.len());
+
+            let doc = docs.pop().unwrap();
+            assert_eq!(Some(file.path()), doc.path().map(PathBuf::as_path));
+            assert_eq!(&Severity::Error, app.editor.get_status().unwrap().1);
+        }),
+        false,
+    )
+    .await?;
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
+async fn test_buffer_close_concurrent() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    test_key_sequences(
+        &mut helpers::AppBuilder::new().build()?,
+        vec![
+            (
+                None,
+                Some(&|app| {
+                    assert_eq!(1, app.editor.documents().count());
+                    assert!(!app.editor.is_err());
+                }),
+            ),
+            (
+                Some("ihello<esc>:new<ret>"),
+                Some(&|app| {
+                    assert_eq!(2, app.editor.documents().count());
+                    assert!(!app.editor.is_err());
+                }),
+            ),
+            (
+                Some(":buffer<minus>close<ret>"),
+                Some(&|app| {
+                    assert_eq!(1, app.editor.documents().count());
+                    assert!(!app.editor.is_err());
+                }),
+            ),
+        ],
+        false,
+    )
+    .await?;
+
+    // verify if writes are queued up, it finishes them before closing the buffer
+    let mut file = tempfile::NamedTempFile::new()?;
+    let mut command = String::new();
+    const RANGE: RangeInclusive<i32> = 1..=1000;
+
+    for i in RANGE {
+        let cmd = format!("%c{}<esc>:w!<ret>", i);
+        command.push_str(&cmd);
+    }
+
+    command.push_str(":buffer<minus>close<ret>");
+
+    let mut app = helpers::AppBuilder::new()
+        .with_file(file.path(), None)
+        .build()?;
+
+    test_key_sequence(
+        &mut app,
+        Some(&command),
+        Some(&|app| {
+            assert!(!app.editor.is_err(), "error: {:?}", app.editor.get_status());
+
+            let doc = app.editor.document_by_path(file.path());
+            assert!(doc.is_none(), "found doc: {:?}", doc);
+        }),
+        false,
+    )
+    .await?;
+
+    helpers::assert_file_has_content(file.as_file_mut(), &RANGE.end().to_string())?;
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
 async fn test_write() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let mut file = tempfile::NamedTempFile::new()?;
@@ -57,7 +147,7 @@ async fn test_overwrite_protection() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     file.as_file_mut().flush()?;
     file.as_file_mut().sync_all()?;
 
-    file.seek(SeekFrom::Start(0))?;
+    file.rewind()?;
     let mut file_content = String::new();
     file.as_file_mut().read_to_string(&mut file_content)?;
 
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/test/helpers.rs b/helix-term/tests/test/helpers.rs
index fb12ef12cff2..ccd07bfa54c1 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/test/helpers.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/test/helpers.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use anyhow::bail;
 use crossterm::event::{Event, KeyEvent};
 use helix_core::{diagnostic::Severity, test, Selection, Transaction};
 use helix_term::{application::Application, args::Args, config::Config, keymap::merge_keys};
-use helix_view::{doc, editor::LspConfig, input::parse_macro, Editor};
+use helix_view::{current_ref, doc, editor::LspConfig, input::parse_macro, Editor};
 use tempfile::NamedTempFile;
 use tokio_stream::wrappers::UnboundedReceiverStream;
 
@@ -22,8 +22,13 @@ pub struct TestCase {
     pub out_selection: Selection,
 }
 
-impl<S: Into<String>> From<(S, S, S)> for TestCase {
-    fn from((input, keys, output): (S, S, S)) -> Self {
+impl<S, R, V> From<(S, R, V)> for TestCase
+where
+    S: Into<String>,
+    R: Into<String>,
+    V: Into<String>,
+{
+    fn from((input, keys, output): (S, R, V)) -> Self {
         let (in_text, in_selection) = test::print(&input.into());
         let (out_text, out_selection) = test::print(&output.into());
 
@@ -59,6 +64,11 @@ pub async fn test_key_sequences(
     let num_inputs = inputs.len();
 
     for (i, (in_keys, test_fn)) in inputs.into_iter().enumerate() {
+        let (view, doc) = current_ref!(app.editor);
+        let state = test::plain(doc.text().slice(..), doc.selection(view.id));
+
+        log::debug!("executing test with document state:\n\n-----\n\n{}", state);
+
         if let Some(in_keys) = in_keys {
             for key_event in parse_macro(in_keys)?.into_iter() {
                 let key = Event::Key(KeyEvent::from(key_event));
@@ -69,6 +79,16 @@ pub async fn test_key_sequences(
 
         let app_exited = !app.event_loop_until_idle(&mut rx_stream).await;
 
+        if !app_exited {
+            let (view, doc) = current_ref!(app.editor);
+            let state = test::plain(doc.text().slice(..), doc.selection(view.id));
+
+            log::debug!(
+                "finished running test with document state:\n\n-----\n\n{}",
+                state
+            );
+        }
+
         // the app should not exit from any test until the last one
         if i < num_inputs - 1 && app_exited {
             bail!("application exited before test function could run");
@@ -158,14 +178,11 @@ pub fn test_syntax_conf(overrides: Option<String>) -> helix_core::syntax::Config
 /// document, selection, and sequence of key presses, and you just
 /// want to verify the resulting document and selection.
 pub async fn test_with_config<T: Into<TestCase>>(
-    args: Args,
-    mut config: Config,
-    syn_conf: helix_core::syntax::Configuration,
+    app_builder: AppBuilder,
     test_case: T,
 ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let test_case = test_case.into();
-    config = helix_term::keymap::merge_keys(config);
-    let app = Application::new(args, config, syn_conf)?;
+    let app = app_builder.build()?;
 
     test_key_sequence_with_input_text(
         Some(app),
@@ -186,13 +203,7 @@ pub async fn test_with_config<T: Into<TestCase>>(
 }
 
 pub async fn test<T: Into<TestCase>>(test_case: T) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
-    test_with_config(
-        Args::default(),
-        test_config(),
-        test_syntax_conf(None),
-        test_case,
-    )
-    .await
+    test_with_config(AppBuilder::default(), test_case).await
 }
 
 pub fn temp_file_with_contents<S: AsRef<str>>(
@@ -212,15 +223,19 @@ pub fn temp_file_with_contents<S: AsRef<str>>(
 /// Generates a config with defaults more suitable for integration tests
 pub fn test_config() -> Config {
     merge_keys(Config {
-        editor: helix_view::editor::Config {
-            lsp: LspConfig {
-                enable: false,
-                ..Default::default()
-            },
+        editor: test_editor_config(),
+        ..Default::default()
+    })
+}
+
+pub fn test_editor_config() -> helix_view::editor::Config {
+    helix_view::editor::Config {
+        lsp: LspConfig {
+            enable: false,
             ..Default::default()
         },
         ..Default::default()
-    })
+    }
 }
 
 /// Replaces all LF chars with the system's appropriate line feed
@@ -262,7 +277,7 @@ impl Default for AppBuilder {
     fn default() -> Self {
         Self {
             args: Args::default(),
-            config: Config::default(),
+            config: test_config(),
             syn_conf: test_syntax_conf(None),
             input: None,
         }
@@ -286,7 +301,7 @@ impl AppBuilder {
     // Remove this attribute once `with_config` is used in a test:
     #[allow(dead_code)]
     pub fn with_config(mut self, config: Config) -> Self {
-        self.config = config;
+        self.config = helix_term::keymap::merge_keys(config);
         self
     }
 
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/test/movement.rs b/helix-term/tests/test/movement.rs
index e6ea3f951592..e10ec6f5db3b 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/test/movement.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/test/movement.rs
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ async fn cursor_position_append_eof() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     test((
         "#[foo|]#",
         "abar<esc>",
-        helpers::platform_line("#[foobar|]#\n").as_ref(),
+        helpers::platform_line("#[foobar|]#\n"),
     ))
     .await?;
 
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ async fn cursor_position_append_eof() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     test((
         "#[|foo]#",
         "abar<esc>",
-        helpers::platform_line("#[foobar|]#\n").as_ref(),
+        helpers::platform_line("#[foobar|]#\n"),
     ))
     .await?;
 
@@ -413,28 +413,21 @@ async fn cursor_position_append_eof() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
 async fn select_mode_tree_sitter_next_function_is_union_of_objects() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     test_with_config(
-        Args {
-            files: vec![(PathBuf::from("foo.rs"), Position::default())],
-            ..Default::default()
-        },
-        Config::default(),
-        helpers::test_syntax_conf(None),
+        AppBuilder::new().with_file("foo.rs", None),
         (
             helpers::platform_line(indoc! {"\
                 #[/|]#// Increments
                 fn inc(x: usize) -> usize { x + 1 }
                 /// Decrements
                 fn dec(x: usize) -> usize { x - 1 }
-            "})
-            .as_ref(),
+            "}),
             "]fv]f",
             helpers::platform_line(indoc! {"\
                 /// Increments
                 #[fn inc(x: usize) -> usize { x + 1 }
                 /// Decrements
                 fn dec(x: usize) -> usize { x - 1 }|]#
-            "})
-            .as_ref(),
+            "}),
         ),
     )
     .await?;
@@ -445,28 +438,21 @@ async fn select_mode_tree_sitter_next_function_is_union_of_objects() -> anyhow::
 #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
 async fn select_mode_tree_sitter_prev_function_unselects_object() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     test_with_config(
-        Args {
-            files: vec![(PathBuf::from("foo.rs"), Position::default())],
-            ..Default::default()
-        },
-        Config::default(),
-        helpers::test_syntax_conf(None),
+        AppBuilder::new().with_file("foo.rs", None),
         (
             helpers::platform_line(indoc! {"\
                 /// Increments
                 #[fn inc(x: usize) -> usize { x + 1 }
                 /// Decrements
                 fn dec(x: usize) -> usize { x - 1 }|]#
-            "})
-            .as_ref(),
+            "}),
             "v[f",
             helpers::platform_line(indoc! {"\
                 /// Increments
                 #[fn inc(x: usize) -> usize { x + 1 }|]#
                 /// Decrements
                 fn dec(x: usize) -> usize { x - 1 }
-            "})
-            .as_ref(),
+            "}),
         ),
     )
     .await?;
@@ -478,12 +464,7 @@ async fn select_mode_tree_sitter_prev_function_unselects_object() -> anyhow::Res
 async fn select_mode_tree_sitter_prev_function_goes_backwards_to_object() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     // Note: the anchor stays put and the head moves back.
     test_with_config(
-        Args {
-            files: vec![(PathBuf::from("foo.rs"), Position::default())],
-            ..Default::default()
-        },
-        Config::default(),
-        helpers::test_syntax_conf(None),
+        AppBuilder::new().with_file("foo.rs", None),
         (
             helpers::platform_line(indoc! {"\
                 /// Increments
@@ -492,8 +473,7 @@ async fn select_mode_tree_sitter_prev_function_goes_backwards_to_object() -> any
                 fn dec(x: usize) -> usize { x - 1 }
                 /// Identity
                 #[fn ident(x: usize) -> usize { x }|]#
-            "})
-            .as_ref(),
+            "}),
             "v[f",
             helpers::platform_line(indoc! {"\
                 /// Increments
@@ -502,19 +482,13 @@ async fn select_mode_tree_sitter_prev_function_goes_backwards_to_object() -> any
                 #[|fn dec(x: usize) -> usize { x - 1 }
                 /// Identity
                 ]#fn ident(x: usize) -> usize { x }
-            "})
-            .as_ref(),
+            "}),
         ),
     )
     .await?;
 
     test_with_config(
-        Args {
-            files: vec![(PathBuf::from("foo.rs"), Position::default())],
-            ..Default::default()
-        },
-        Config::default(),
-        helpers::test_syntax_conf(None),
+        AppBuilder::new().with_file("foo.rs", None),
         (
             helpers::platform_line(indoc! {"\
                 /// Increments
@@ -523,8 +497,7 @@ async fn select_mode_tree_sitter_prev_function_goes_backwards_to_object() -> any
                 fn dec(x: usize) -> usize { x - 1 }
                 /// Identity
                 #[fn ident(x: usize) -> usize { x }|]#
-            "})
-            .as_ref(),
+            "}),
             "v[f[f",
             helpers::platform_line(indoc! {"\
                 /// Increments
@@ -533,8 +506,7 @@ async fn select_mode_tree_sitter_prev_function_goes_backwards_to_object() -> any
                 fn dec(x: usize) -> usize { x - 1 }
                 /// Identity
                 ]#fn ident(x: usize) -> usize { x }
-            "})
-            .as_ref(),
+            "}),
         ),
     )
     .await?;