diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 4cb14e0bae..20560b810b 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -186,6 +186,12 @@
 *.[aos]
 *.py[co]
 .depend/
+*.gcda
+*.gcno
+*.gcov
+/coverage-untested-functions
+/cover_db/
+/cover_db_html/
 *+
 /config.mak
 /autom4te.cache
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 40fbcaee93..8b7c243473 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -310,6 +310,7 @@ TCL_PATH = tclsh
 TCLTK_PATH = wish
 PTHREAD_LIBS = -lpthread
 PTHREAD_CFLAGS =
+GCOV = gcov
 
 export TCL_PATH TCLTK_PATH
 
@@ -1499,6 +1500,7 @@ ifndef V
 	QUIET_BUILT_IN = @echo '   ' BUILTIN $@;
 	QUIET_GEN      = @echo '   ' GEN $@;
 	QUIET_LNCP     = @echo '   ' LN/CP $@;
+	QUIET_GCOV     = @echo '   ' GCOV $@;
 	QUIET_SUBDIR0  = +@subdir=
 	QUIET_SUBDIR1  = ;$(NO_SUBDIR) echo '   ' SUBDIR $$subdir; \
 			 $(MAKE) $(PRINT_DIR) -C $$subdir
@@ -2324,11 +2326,18 @@ coverage:
 	$(MAKE) coverage-build
 	$(MAKE) coverage-report
 
+object_dirs := $(sort $(dir $(OBJECTS)))
 coverage-clean:
-	rm -f *.gcda *.gcno
+	$(RM) $(addsuffix *.gcov,$(object_dirs))
+	$(RM) $(addsuffix *.gcda,$(object_dirs))
+	$(RM) $(addsuffix *.gcno,$(object_dirs))
+	$(RM) coverage-untested-functions
+	$(RM) -r cover_db/
+	$(RM) -r cover_db_html/
 
 COVERAGE_CFLAGS = $(CFLAGS) -O0 -ftest-coverage -fprofile-arcs
 COVERAGE_LDFLAGS = $(CFLAGS)  -O0 -lgcov
+GCOVFLAGS = --preserve-paths --branch-probabilities --all-blocks
 
 coverage-build: coverage-clean
 	$(MAKE) CFLAGS="$(COVERAGE_CFLAGS)" LDFLAGS="$(COVERAGE_LDFLAGS)" all
@@ -2336,7 +2345,17 @@ coverage-build: coverage-clean
 		-j1 test
 
 coverage-report:
-	gcov -b *.c
+	$(QUIET_GCOV)for dir in $(object_dirs); do \
+		$(GCOV) $(GCOVFLAGS) --object-directory=$$dir $$dir*.c || exit; \
+	done
+
+coverage-untested-functions: coverage-report
 	grep '^function.*called 0 ' *.c.gcov \
 		| sed -e 's/\([^:]*\)\.gcov: *function \([^ ]*\) called.*/\1: \2/' \
-		| tee coverage-untested-functions
+		> coverage-untested-functions
+
+cover_db: coverage-report
+	gcov2perl -db cover_db *.gcov
+
+cover_db_html: cover_db
+	cover -report html -outputdir cover_db_html cover_db
diff --git a/t/Makefile b/t/Makefile
index 819b936870..c7baefb7ea 100644
--- a/t/Makefile
+++ b/t/Makefile
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 #GIT_TEST_OPTS=--verbose --debug
 SHELL_PATH ?= $(SHELL)
+PERL_PATH ?= /usr/bin/perl
 TAR ?= $(TAR)
 RM ?= rm -f
 
@@ -28,7 +29,6 @@ pre-clean:
 
 clean:
 	$(RM) -r 'trash directory'.* test-results
-	$(RM) t????/cvsroot/CVSROOT/?*
 	$(RM) -r valgrind/bin
 	$(RM) .prove
 
@@ -49,4 +49,42 @@ full-svn-test:
 valgrind:
 	GIT_TEST_OPTS=--valgrind $(MAKE)
 
-.PHONY: pre-clean $(T) aggregate-results clean valgrind
+# Smoke testing targets
+-include ../GIT-VERSION-FILE
+uname_S := $(shell sh -c 'uname -s 2>/dev/null || echo unknown')
+uname_M := $(shell sh -c 'uname -m 2>/dev/null || echo unknown')
+
+test-results:
+	mkdir -p test-results
+
+test-results/git-smoke.tar.gz: test-results
+	$(PERL_PATH) ./harness \
+		--archive="test-results/git-smoke.tar.gz" \
+		$(T)
+
+smoke: test-results/git-smoke.tar.gz
+
+SMOKE_UPLOAD_FLAGS =
+ifdef SMOKE_USERNAME
+	SMOKE_UPLOAD_FLAGS += -F username="$(SMOKE_USERNAME)" -F password="$(SMOKE_PASSWORD)"
+endif
+ifdef SMOKE_COMMENT
+	SMOKE_UPLOAD_FLAGS += -F comments="$(SMOKE_COMMENT)"
+endif
+ifdef SMOKE_TAGS
+	SMOKE_UPLOAD_FLAGS += -F tags="$(SMOKE_TAGS)"
+endif
+
+smoke_report: smoke
+	curl \
+		-H "Expect: " \
+		-F project=Git \
+		-F architecture="$(uname_M)" \
+		-F platform="$(uname_S)" \
+		-F revision="$(GIT_VERSION)" \
+		-F report_file=@test-results/git-smoke.tar.gz \
+		$(SMOKE_UPLOAD_FLAGS) \
+		http://smoke.git.nix.is/app/projects/process_add_report/1 \
+	| grep -v ^Redirecting
+
+.PHONY: pre-clean $(T) aggregate-results clean valgrind smoke smoke_report
diff --git a/t/README b/t/README
index 410499a096..a1eb7c8720 100644
--- a/t/README
+++ b/t/README
@@ -268,6 +268,18 @@ Do:
 	git push gh &&
 	test ...
 
+ - Check the test coverage for your tests. See the "Test coverage"
+   below.
+
+   Don't blindly follow test coverage metrics, they're a good way to
+   spot if you've missed something. If a new function you added
+   doesn't have any coverage you're probably doing something wrong,
+   but having 100% coverage doesn't necessarily mean that you tested
+   everything.
+
+   Tests that are likely to smoke out future regressions are better
+   than tests that just inflate the coverage metrics.
+
 Don't:
 
  - exit() within a <script> part.
@@ -307,9 +319,21 @@ Keep in mind:
 Skipping tests
 --------------
 
-If you need to skip all the remaining tests you should set skip_all
-and immediately call test_done. The string you give to skip_all will
-be used as an explanation for why the test was skipped. for instance:
+If you need to skip tests you should do so be using the three-arg form
+of the test_* functions (see the "Test harness library" section
+below), e.g.:
+
+    test_expect_success PERL 'I need Perl' "
+        '$PERL_PATH' -e 'hlagh() if unf_unf()'
+    "
+
+The advantage of skipping tests like this is that platforms that don't
+have the PERL and other optional dependencies get an indication of how
+many tests they're missing.
+
+If the test code is too hairy for that (i.e. does a lot of setup work
+outside test assertions) you can also skip all remaining tests by
+setting skip_all and immediately call test_done:
 
 	if ! test_have_prereq PERL
 	then
@@ -317,6 +341,9 @@ be used as an explanation for why the test was skipped. for instance:
 	    test_done
 	fi
 
+The string you give to skip_all will be used as an explanation for why
+the test was skipped.
+
 End with test_done
 ------------------
 
@@ -350,6 +377,12 @@ library for your script to use.
 	test_expect_success TTY 'git --paginate rev-list uses a pager' \
 	    ' ... '
 
+   You can also supply a comma-separated list of prerequisites, in the
+   rare case where your test depends on more than one:
+
+	test_expect_success PERL,PYTHON 'yo dawg' \
+	    ' test $(perl -E 'print eval "1 +" . qx[python -c "print 2"]') == "4" '
+
  - test_expect_failure [<prereq>] <message> <script>
 
    This is NOT the opposite of test_expect_success, but is used
@@ -404,11 +437,12 @@ library for your script to use.
  - test_set_prereq SOME_PREREQ
 
    Set a test prerequisite to be used later with test_have_prereq. The
-   test-lib will set some prerequisites for you, e.g. PERL and PYTHON
-   which are derived from ./GIT-BUILD-OPTIONS (grep test_set_prereq
-   test-lib.sh for more). Others you can set yourself and use later
-   with either test_have_prereq directly, or the three argument
-   invocation of test_expect_success and test_expect_failure.
+   test-lib will set some prerequisites for you, see the
+   "Prerequisites" section below for a full list of these.
+
+   Others you can set yourself and use later with either
+   test_have_prereq directly, or the three argument invocation of
+   test_expect_success and test_expect_failure.
 
  - test_have_prereq SOME PREREQ
 
@@ -488,6 +522,45 @@ library for your script to use.
 		...
 	'
 
+Prerequisites
+-------------
+
+These are the prerequisites that the test library predefines with
+test_have_prereq.
+
+See the prereq argument to the test_* functions in the "Test harness
+library" section above and the "test_have_prereq" function for how to
+use these, and "test_set_prereq" for how to define your own.
+
+ - PERL & PYTHON
+
+   Git wasn't compiled with NO_PERL=YesPlease or
+   NO_PYTHON=YesPlease. Wrap any tests that need Perl or Python in
+   these.
+
+ - POSIXPERM
+
+   The filesystem supports POSIX style permission bits.
+
+ - BSLASHPSPEC
+
+   Backslashes in pathspec are not directory separators. This is not
+   set on Windows. See 6fd1106a for details.
+
+ - EXECKEEPSPID
+
+   The process retains the same pid across exec(2). See fb9a2bea for
+   details.
+
+ - SYMLINKS
+
+   The filesystem we're on supports symbolic links. E.g. a FAT
+   filesystem doesn't support these. See 704a3143 for details.
+
+ - SANITY
+
+   Test is not run by root user, and an attempt to write to an
+   unwritable file is expected to fail correctly.
 
 Tips for Writing Tests
 ----------------------
@@ -515,3 +588,115 @@ the purpose of t0000-basic.sh, which is to isolate that level of
 validation in one place.  Your test also ends up needing
 updating when such a change to the internal happens, so do _not_
 do it and leave the low level of validation to t0000-basic.sh.
+
+Test coverage
+-------------
+
+You can use the coverage tests to find code paths that are not being
+used or properly exercised yet.
+
+To do that, run the coverage target at the top-level (not in the t/
+directory):
+
+    make coverage
+
+That'll compile Git with GCC's coverage arguments, and generate a test
+report with gcov after the tests finish. Running the coverage tests
+can take a while, since running the tests in parallel is incompatible
+with GCC's coverage mode.
+
+After the tests have run you can generate a list of untested
+functions:
+
+    make coverage-untested-functions
+
+You can also generate a detailed per-file HTML report using the
+Devel::Cover module. To install it do:
+
+   # On Debian or Ubuntu:
+   sudo aptitude install libdevel-cover-perl
+
+   # From the CPAN with cpanminus
+   curl -L http://cpanmin.us | perl - --sudo --self-upgrade
+   cpanm --sudo Devel::Cover
+
+Then, at the top-level:
+
+    make cover_db_html
+
+That'll generate a detailed cover report in the "cover_db_html"
+directory, which you can then copy to a webserver, or inspect locally
+in a browser.
+
+Smoke testing
+-------------
+
+The Git test suite has support for smoke testing. Smoke testing is
+when you submit the results of a test run to a central server for
+analysis and aggregation.
+
+Running a smoke tester is an easy and valuable way of contributing to
+Git development, particularly if you have access to an uncommon OS on
+obscure hardware.
+
+After building Git you can generate a smoke report like this in the
+"t" directory:
+
+    make clean smoke
+
+You can also pass arguments via the environment. This should make it
+faster:
+
+    GIT_TEST_OPTS='--root=/dev/shm' TEST_JOBS=10 make clean smoke
+
+The "smoke" target will run the Git test suite with Perl's
+"TAP::Harness" module, and package up the results in a .tar.gz archive
+with "TAP::Harness::Archive". The former is included with Perl v5.10.1
+or later, but you'll need to install the latter from the CPAN. See the
+"Test coverage" section above for how you might do that.
+
+Once the "smoke" target finishes you'll see a message like this:
+
+    TAP Archive created at <path to git>/t/test-results/git-smoke.tar.gz
+
+To upload the smoke report you need to have curl(1) installed, then
+do:
+
+    make smoke_report
+
+To upload the report anonymously. Hopefully that'll return something
+like "Reported #7 added.".
+
+If you're going to be uploading reports frequently please request a
+user account by E-Mailing gitsmoke@v.nix.is. Once you have a username
+and password you'll be able to do:
+
+    SMOKE_USERNAME=<username> SMOKE_PASSWORD=<password> make smoke_report
+
+You can also add an additional comment to attach to the report, and/or
+a comma separated list of tags:
+
+    SMOKE_USERNAME=<username> SMOKE_PASSWORD=<password> \
+        SMOKE_COMMENT=<comment> SMOKE_TAGS=<tags> \
+        make smoke_report
+
+Once the report is uploaded it'll be made available at
+http://smoke.git.nix.is, here's an overview of Recent Smoke Reports
+for Git:
+
+    http://smoke.git.nix.is/app/projects/smoke_reports/1
+
+The reports will also be mirrored to GitHub every few hours:
+
+    http://github.com/gitsmoke/smoke-reports
+
+The Smolder SQLite database is also mirrored and made available for
+download:
+
+    http://github.com/gitsmoke/smoke-database
+
+Note that the database includes hashed (with crypt()) user passwords
+and E-Mail addresses. Don't use a valuable password for the smoke
+service if you have an account, or an E-Mail address you don't want to
+be publicly known. The user accounts are just meant to be convenient
+labels, they're not meant to be secure.
diff --git a/t/harness b/t/harness
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..f5c02f49b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/harness
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#!/usr/bin/perl
+use strict;
+use warnings;
+use Getopt::Long ();
+use TAP::Harness::Archive;
+
+Getopt::Long::Parser->new(
+	config => [ qw/ pass_through / ],
+)->getoptions(
+	'jobs:1'    => \(my $jobs = $ENV{TEST_JOBS}),
+	'archive=s' => \my $archive,
+) or die "$0: Couldn't getoptions()";
+
+TAP::Harness::Archive->new({
+	jobs             => $jobs,
+	archive          => $archive,
+	($ENV{GIT_TEST_OPTS}
+	 ? (test_args    => [ split /\s+/, $ENV{GIT_TEST_OPTS} ])
+	 : ()),
+	extra_properties => {},
+})->runtests(@ARGV);
diff --git a/t/lib-cvs.sh b/t/lib-cvs.sh
index 648d1619c8..44263ade25 100644
--- a/t/lib-cvs.sh
+++ b/t/lib-cvs.sh
@@ -3,9 +3,6 @@
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
 unset CVS_SERVER
-# for clean cvsps cache
-HOME=$(pwd)
-export HOME
 
 if ! type cvs >/dev/null 2>&1
 then
@@ -30,6 +27,12 @@ case "$cvsps_version" in
 	;;
 esac
 
+setup_cvs_test_repository () {
+	CVSROOT="$(pwd)/.cvsroot" &&
+	cp -r "$TEST_DIRECTORY/$1/cvsroot" "$CVSROOT" &&
+	export CVSROOT
+}
+
 test_cvs_co () {
 	# Usage: test_cvs_co BRANCH_NAME
 	rm -rf module-cvs-"$1"
diff --git a/t/lib-patch-mode.sh b/t/lib-patch-mode.sh
index 375e248651..06c3c91762 100644
--- a/t/lib-patch-mode.sh
+++ b/t/lib-patch-mode.sh
@@ -2,11 +2,6 @@
 
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
-if ! test_have_prereq PERL; then
-	skip_all='skipping --patch tests, perl not available'
-	test_done
-fi
-
 set_state () {
 	echo "$3" > "$1" &&
 	git add "$1" &&
diff --git a/t/lib-prereq-FILEMODE.sh b/t/lib-prereq-FILEMODE.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bce5a4c8bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/lib-prereq-FILEMODE.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2010 Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
+#
+
+if test "$(git config --bool core.filemode)" = false
+then
+	say 'filemode disabled on the filesystem'
+else
+	test_set_prereq FILEMODE
+fi
diff --git a/t/t0000-basic.sh b/t/t0000-basic.sh
index f2c73369a5..f688bd3ef5 100755
--- a/t/t0000-basic.sh
+++ b/t/t0000-basic.sh
@@ -54,9 +54,40 @@ test_expect_success 'success is reported like this' '
 test_expect_failure 'pretend we have a known breakage' '
     false
 '
+
+test_expect_success 'pretend we have fixed a known breakage (run in sub test-lib)' "
+    mkdir passing-todo &&
+    (cd passing-todo &&
+    cat >passing-todo.sh <<EOF &&
+#!$SHELL_PATH
+
+test_description='A passing TODO test
+
+This is run in a sub test-lib so that we do not get incorrect passing
+metrics
+'
+
+# Point to the t/test-lib.sh, which isn't in ../ as usual
+TEST_DIRECTORY=\"$TEST_DIRECTORY\"
+. \"\$TEST_DIRECTORY\"/test-lib.sh
+
 test_expect_failure 'pretend we have fixed a known breakage' '
     :
 '
+
+test_done
+EOF
+    chmod +x passing-todo.sh &&
+    ./passing-todo.sh >out 2>err &&
+    ! test -s err &&
+cat >expect <<EOF &&
+ok 1 - pretend we have fixed a known breakage # TODO known breakage
+# fixed 1 known breakage(s)
+# passed all 1 test(s)
+1..1
+EOF
+    test_cmp expect out)
+"
 test_set_prereq HAVEIT
 haveit=no
 test_expect_success HAVEIT 'test runs if prerequisite is satisfied' '
@@ -73,6 +104,27 @@ then
 	exit 1
 fi
 
+test_set_prereq HAVETHIS
+haveit=no
+test_expect_success HAVETHIS,HAVEIT 'test runs if prerequisites are satisfied' '
+    test_have_prereq HAVEIT &&
+    test_have_prereq HAVETHIS &&
+    haveit=yes
+'
+donthaveit=yes
+test_expect_success HAVEIT,DONTHAVEIT 'unmet prerequisites causes test to be skipped' '
+    donthaveit=no
+'
+donthaveiteither=yes
+test_expect_success DONTHAVEIT,HAVEIT 'unmet prerequisites causes test to be skipped' '
+    donthaveiteither=no
+'
+if test $haveit$donthaveit$donthaveiteither != yesyesyes
+then
+	say "bug in test framework: multiple prerequisite tags do not work reliably"
+	exit 1
+fi
+
 clean=no
 test_expect_success 'tests clean up after themselves' '
     test_when_finished clean=yes
diff --git a/t/t0001-init.sh b/t/t0001-init.sh
index 7c0a698b92..7fe8883ae0 100755
--- a/t/t0001-init.sh
+++ b/t/t0001-init.sh
@@ -171,8 +171,6 @@ test_expect_success 'init with init.templatedir set' '
 	mkdir templatedir-source &&
 	echo Content >templatedir-source/file &&
 	(
-		HOME="`pwd`" &&
-		export HOME &&
 		test_config="${HOME}/.gitconfig" &&
 		git config -f "$test_config"  init.templatedir "${HOME}/templatedir-source" &&
 		mkdir templatedir-set &&
@@ -188,8 +186,6 @@ test_expect_success 'init with init.templatedir set' '
 
 test_expect_success 'init --bare/--shared overrides system/global config' '
 	(
-		HOME="`pwd`" &&
-		export HOME &&
 		test_config="$HOME"/.gitconfig &&
 		unset GIT_CONFIG_NOGLOBAL &&
 		git config -f "$test_config" core.bare false &&
@@ -205,8 +201,6 @@ test_expect_success 'init --bare/--shared overrides system/global config' '
 
 test_expect_success 'init honors global core.sharedRepository' '
 	(
-		HOME="`pwd`" &&
-		export HOME &&
 		test_config="$HOME"/.gitconfig &&
 		unset GIT_CONFIG_NOGLOBAL &&
 		git config -f "$test_config" core.sharedRepository 0666 &&
@@ -301,7 +295,7 @@ test_expect_success 'init notices EEXIST (2)' '
 	)
 '
 
-test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'init notices EPERM' '
+test_expect_success POSIXPERM,SANITY 'init notices EPERM' '
 	rm -fr newdir &&
 	(
 		mkdir newdir &&
diff --git a/t/t0004-unwritable.sh b/t/t0004-unwritable.sh
index 2342ac5788..385b1265de 100755
--- a/t/t0004-unwritable.sh
+++ b/t/t0004-unwritable.sh
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'write-tree should notice unwritable repository' '
+test_expect_success POSIXPERM,SANITY 'write-tree should notice unwritable repository' '
 
 	(
 		chmod a-w .git/objects .git/objects/?? &&
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'write-tree should notice unwritable repository' '
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'commit should notice unwritable repository' '
+test_expect_success POSIXPERM,SANITY 'commit should notice unwritable repository' '
 
 	(
 		chmod a-w .git/objects .git/objects/?? &&
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'commit should notice unwritable repository' '
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'update-index should notice unwritable repository' '
+test_expect_success POSIXPERM,SANITY 'update-index should notice unwritable repository' '
 
 	(
 		echo 6O >file &&
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'update-index should notice unwritable repository'
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'add should notice unwritable repository' '
+test_expect_success POSIXPERM,SANITY 'add should notice unwritable repository' '
 
 	(
 		echo b >file &&
diff --git a/t/t1004-read-tree-m-u-wf.sh b/t/t1004-read-tree-m-u-wf.sh
index f19b4a2a4a..eb8e3d4476 100755
--- a/t/t1004-read-tree-m-u-wf.sh
+++ b/t/t1004-read-tree-m-u-wf.sh
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'funny symlink in work tree' '
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'funny symlink in work tree, un-unlink-able' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS,SANITY 'funny symlink in work tree, un-unlink-able' '
 
 	rm -fr a b &&
 	git reset --hard &&
diff --git a/t/t1304-default-acl.sh b/t/t1304-default-acl.sh
index 97ab02aceb..b5d89a2250 100755
--- a/t/t1304-default-acl.sh
+++ b/t/t1304-default-acl.sh
@@ -18,9 +18,11 @@ umask 077
 setfacl_out="$(setfacl -m u:root:rwx . 2>&1)"
 setfacl_ret=$?
 
-if [ $setfacl_ret != 0 ]; then
-	skip_all="Skipping ACL tests: unable to use setfacl (output: '$setfacl_out'; return code: '$setfacl_ret')"
-	test_done
+if test $setfacl_ret != 0
+then
+	say "Unable to use setfacl (output: '$setfacl_out'; return code: '$setfacl_ret')"
+else
+	test_set_prereq SETFACL
 fi
 
 check_perms_and_acl () {
@@ -34,7 +36,7 @@ check_perms_and_acl () {
 
 dirs_to_set="./ .git/ .git/objects/ .git/objects/pack/"
 
-test_expect_success 'Setup test repo' '
+test_expect_success SETFACL 'Setup test repo' '
 	setfacl -m d:u::rwx,d:g::---,d:o:---,d:m:rwx $dirs_to_set &&
 	setfacl -m m:rwx               $dirs_to_set &&
 	setfacl -m u:root:rwx          $dirs_to_set &&
@@ -46,12 +48,12 @@ test_expect_success 'Setup test repo' '
 	git commit -m "init"
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'Objects creation does not break ACLs with restrictive umask' '
+test_expect_success SETFACL 'Objects creation does not break ACLs with restrictive umask' '
 	# SHA1 for empty blob
 	check_perms_and_acl .git/objects/e6/9de29bb2d1d6434b8b29ae775ad8c2e48c5391
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'git gc does not break ACLs with restrictive umask' '
+test_expect_success SETFACL 'git gc does not break ACLs with restrictive umask' '
 	git gc &&
 	check_perms_and_acl .git/objects/pack/*.pack
 '
diff --git a/t/t2007-checkout-symlink.sh b/t/t2007-checkout-symlink.sh
index 05cc8fdd01..a74ee227b8 100755
--- a/t/t2007-checkout-symlink.sh
+++ b/t/t2007-checkout-symlink.sh
@@ -6,13 +6,7 @@ test_description='git checkout to switch between branches with symlink<->dir'
 
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
-if ! test_have_prereq SYMLINKS
-then
-	skip_all="symbolic links not supported - skipping tests"
-	test_done
-fi
-
-test_expect_success setup '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS setup '
 
 	mkdir frotz &&
 	echo hello >frotz/filfre &&
@@ -38,18 +32,18 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'switch from symlink to dir' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'switch from symlink to dir' '
 
 	git checkout master
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'Remove temporary directories & switch to master' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'Remove temporary directories & switch to master' '
 	rm -fr frotz xyzzy nitfol &&
 	git checkout -f master
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'switch from dir to symlink' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'switch from dir to symlink' '
 
 	git checkout side
 
diff --git a/t/t2016-checkout-patch.sh b/t/t2016-checkout-patch.sh
index 2144184d79..7657ec190c 100755
--- a/t/t2016-checkout-patch.sh
+++ b/t/t2016-checkout-patch.sh
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ test_description='git checkout --patch'
 
 . ./lib-patch-mode.sh
 
-test_expect_success 'setup' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup' '
 	mkdir dir &&
 	echo parent > dir/foo &&
 	echo dummy > bar &&
@@ -18,40 +18,40 @@ test_expect_success 'setup' '
 
 # note: bar sorts before dir/foo, so the first 'n' is always to skip 'bar'
 
-test_expect_success 'saying "n" does nothing' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'saying "n" does nothing' '
 	set_and_save_state dir/foo work head &&
 	(echo n; echo n) | git checkout -p &&
 	verify_saved_state bar &&
 	verify_saved_state dir/foo
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'git checkout -p' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'git checkout -p' '
 	(echo n; echo y) | git checkout -p &&
 	verify_saved_state bar &&
 	verify_state dir/foo head head
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'git checkout -p with staged changes' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'git checkout -p with staged changes' '
 	set_state dir/foo work index
 	(echo n; echo y) | git checkout -p &&
 	verify_saved_state bar &&
 	verify_state dir/foo index index
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'git checkout -p HEAD with NO staged changes: abort' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'git checkout -p HEAD with NO staged changes: abort' '
 	set_and_save_state dir/foo work head &&
 	(echo n; echo y; echo n) | git checkout -p HEAD &&
 	verify_saved_state bar &&
 	verify_saved_state dir/foo
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'git checkout -p HEAD with NO staged changes: apply' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'git checkout -p HEAD with NO staged changes: apply' '
 	(echo n; echo y; echo y) | git checkout -p HEAD &&
 	verify_saved_state bar &&
 	verify_state dir/foo head head
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'git checkout -p HEAD with change already staged' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'git checkout -p HEAD with change already staged' '
 	set_state dir/foo index index
 	# the third n is to get out in case it mistakenly does not apply
 	(echo n; echo y; echo n) | git checkout -p HEAD &&
@@ -59,14 +59,14 @@ test_expect_success 'git checkout -p HEAD with change already staged' '
 	verify_state dir/foo head head
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'git checkout -p HEAD^' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'git checkout -p HEAD^' '
 	# the third n is to get out in case it mistakenly does not apply
 	(echo n; echo y; echo n) | git checkout -p HEAD^ &&
 	verify_saved_state bar &&
 	verify_state dir/foo parent parent
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'git checkout -p handles deletion' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'git checkout -p handles deletion' '
 	set_state dir/foo work index &&
 	rm dir/foo &&
 	(echo n; echo y) | git checkout -p &&
@@ -79,28 +79,28 @@ test_expect_success 'git checkout -p handles deletion' '
 # dir/foo.  There's always an extra 'n' to reject edits to dir/foo in
 # the failure case (and thus get out of the loop).
 
-test_expect_success 'path limiting works: dir' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'path limiting works: dir' '
 	set_state dir/foo work head &&
 	(echo y; echo n) | git checkout -p dir &&
 	verify_saved_state bar &&
 	verify_state dir/foo head head
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'path limiting works: -- dir' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'path limiting works: -- dir' '
 	set_state dir/foo work head &&
 	(echo y; echo n) | git checkout -p -- dir &&
 	verify_saved_state bar &&
 	verify_state dir/foo head head
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'path limiting works: HEAD^ -- dir' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'path limiting works: HEAD^ -- dir' '
 	# the third n is to get out in case it mistakenly does not apply
 	(echo y; echo n; echo n) | git checkout -p HEAD^ -- dir &&
 	verify_saved_state bar &&
 	verify_state dir/foo parent parent
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'path limiting works: foo inside dir' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'path limiting works: foo inside dir' '
 	set_state dir/foo work head &&
 	# the third n is to get out in case it mistakenly does not apply
 	(echo y; echo n; echo n) | (cd dir && git checkout -p foo) &&
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ test_expect_success 'path limiting works: foo inside dir' '
 	verify_state dir/foo head head
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'none of this moved HEAD' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'none of this moved HEAD' '
 	verify_saved_head
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t3300-funny-names.sh b/t/t3300-funny-names.sh
index a99e4d8b92..f39a261d80 100755
--- a/t/t3300-funny-names.sh
+++ b/t/t3300-funny-names.sh
@@ -24,19 +24,25 @@ EOF
 cat 2>/dev/null >"$p1" "$p0"
 echo 'Foo Bar Baz' >"$p2"
 
-test -f "$p1" && cmp "$p0" "$p1" || {
+if test -f "$p1" && cmp "$p0" "$p1"
+then
+    test_set_prereq TABS_IN_FILENAMES
+else
 	# since FAT/NTFS does not allow tabs in filenames, skip this test
-	skip_all='Your filesystem does not allow tabs in filenames, test skipped.'
-	test_done
-}
+	say 'Your filesystem does not allow tabs in filenames'
+fi
 
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'setup expect' "
 echo 'just space
 no-funny' >expected
-test_expect_success 'git ls-files no-funny' \
+"
+
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'git ls-files no-funny' \
 	'git update-index --add "$p0" "$p2" &&
 	git ls-files >current &&
 	test_cmp expected current'
 
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'setup expect' '
 t0=`git write-tree`
 echo "$t0" >t0
 
@@ -45,18 +51,24 @@ just space
 no-funny
 "tabs\t,\" (dq) and spaces"
 EOF
-test_expect_success 'git ls-files with-funny' \
+'
+
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'git ls-files with-funny' \
 	'git update-index --add "$p1" &&
 	git ls-files >current &&
 	test_cmp expected current'
 
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'setup expect' "
 echo 'just space
 no-funny
-tabs	," (dq) and spaces' >expected
-test_expect_success 'git ls-files -z with-funny' \
+tabs	,\" (dq) and spaces' >expected
+"
+
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'git ls-files -z with-funny' \
 	'git ls-files -z | perl -pe y/\\000/\\012/ >current &&
 	test_cmp expected current'
 
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'setup expect' '
 t1=`git write-tree`
 echo "$t1" >t1
 
@@ -65,60 +77,78 @@ just space
 no-funny
 "tabs\t,\" (dq) and spaces"
 EOF
-test_expect_success 'git ls-tree with funny' \
+'
+
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'git ls-tree with funny' \
 	'git ls-tree -r $t1 | sed -e "s/^[^	]*	//" >current &&
 	 test_cmp expected current'
 
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'setup expect' '
 cat > expected <<\EOF
 A	"tabs\t,\" (dq) and spaces"
 EOF
-test_expect_success 'git diff-index with-funny' \
+'
+
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'git diff-index with-funny' \
 	'git diff-index --name-status $t0 >current &&
 	test_cmp expected current'
 
-test_expect_success 'git diff-tree with-funny' \
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'git diff-tree with-funny' \
 	'git diff-tree --name-status $t0 $t1 >current &&
 	test_cmp expected current'
 
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'setup expect' "
 echo 'A
-tabs	," (dq) and spaces' >expected
-test_expect_success 'git diff-index -z with-funny' \
+tabs	,\" (dq) and spaces' >expected
+"
+
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'git diff-index -z with-funny' \
 	'git diff-index -z --name-status $t0 | perl -pe y/\\000/\\012/ >current &&
 	test_cmp expected current'
 
-test_expect_success 'git diff-tree -z with-funny' \
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'git diff-tree -z with-funny' \
 	'git diff-tree -z --name-status $t0 $t1 | perl -pe y/\\000/\\012/ >current &&
 	test_cmp expected current'
 
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'setup expect' '
 cat > expected <<\EOF
 CNUM	no-funny	"tabs\t,\" (dq) and spaces"
 EOF
-test_expect_success 'git diff-tree -C with-funny' \
+'
+
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'git diff-tree -C with-funny' \
 	'git diff-tree -C --find-copies-harder --name-status \
 		$t0 $t1 | sed -e 's/^C[0-9]*/CNUM/' >current &&
 	test_cmp expected current'
 
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'setup expect' '
 cat > expected <<\EOF
 RNUM	no-funny	"tabs\t,\" (dq) and spaces"
 EOF
-test_expect_success 'git diff-tree delete with-funny' \
+'
+
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'git diff-tree delete with-funny' \
 	'git update-index --force-remove "$p0" &&
 	git diff-index -M --name-status \
 		$t0 | sed -e 's/^R[0-9]*/RNUM/' >current &&
 	test_cmp expected current'
 
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'setup expect' '
 cat > expected <<\EOF
 diff --git a/no-funny "b/tabs\t,\" (dq) and spaces"
 similarity index NUM%
 rename from no-funny
 rename to "tabs\t,\" (dq) and spaces"
 EOF
-test_expect_success 'git diff-tree delete with-funny' \
+'
+
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'git diff-tree delete with-funny' \
 	'git diff-index -M -p $t0 |
 	 sed -e "s/index [0-9]*%/index NUM%/" >current &&
 	 test_cmp expected current'
 
-chmod +x "$p1"
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'setup expect' '
+chmod +x "$p1" &&
 cat > expected <<\EOF
 diff --git a/no-funny "b/tabs\t,\" (dq) and spaces"
 old mode 100644
@@ -127,31 +157,39 @@ similarity index NUM%
 rename from no-funny
 rename to "tabs\t,\" (dq) and spaces"
 EOF
-test_expect_success 'git diff-tree delete with-funny' \
+'
+
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'git diff-tree delete with-funny' \
 	'git diff-index -M -p $t0 |
 	 sed -e "s/index [0-9]*%/index NUM%/" >current &&
 	 test_cmp expected current'
 
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'setup expect' '
 cat >expected <<\EOF
  "tabs\t,\" (dq) and spaces"
  1 files changed, 0 insertions(+), 0 deletions(-)
 EOF
-test_expect_success 'git diff-tree rename with-funny applied' \
+'
+
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'git diff-tree rename with-funny applied' \
 	'git diff-index -M -p $t0 |
 	 git apply --stat | sed -e "s/|.*//" -e "s/ *\$//" >current &&
 	 test_cmp expected current'
 
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'setup expect' '
 cat > expected <<\EOF
  no-funny
  "tabs\t,\" (dq) and spaces"
  2 files changed, 3 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)
 EOF
-test_expect_success 'git diff-tree delete with-funny applied' \
+'
+
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'git diff-tree delete with-funny applied' \
 	'git diff-index -p $t0 |
 	 git apply --stat | sed -e "s/|.*//" -e "s/ *\$//" >current &&
 	 test_cmp expected current'
 
-test_expect_success 'git apply non-git diff' \
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'git apply non-git diff' \
 	'git diff-index -p $t0 |
 	 sed -ne "/^[-+@]/p" |
 	 git apply --stat | sed -e "s/|.*//" -e "s/ *\$//" >current &&
diff --git a/t/t3302-notes-index-expensive.sh b/t/t3302-notes-index-expensive.sh
index 8ab333dbd9..e35d7811ac 100755
--- a/t/t3302-notes-index-expensive.sh
+++ b/t/t3302-notes-index-expensive.sh
@@ -7,11 +7,9 @@ test_description='Test commit notes index (expensive!)'
 
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
-test -z "$GIT_NOTES_TIMING_TESTS" && {
-	skip_all="Skipping timing tests"
-	test_done
-	exit
-}
+test_set_prereq NOT_EXPENSIVE
+test -n "$GIT_NOTES_TIMING_TESTS" && test_set_prereq EXPENSIVE
+test -x /usr/bin/time && test_set_prereq USR_BIN_TIME
 
 create_repo () {
 	number_of_commits=$1
@@ -102,17 +100,27 @@ time_notes () {
 	done
 }
 
-for count in 10 100 1000 10000; do
+do_tests () {
+	pr=$1
+	count=$2
 
-	mkdir $count
-	(cd $count;
+	test_expect_success $pr 'setup / mkdir' '
+		mkdir $count &&
+		cd $count
+	'
 
-	test_expect_success "setup $count" "create_repo $count"
+	test_expect_success $pr "setup $count" "create_repo $count"
 
-	test_expect_success 'notes work' "test_notes $count"
+	test_expect_success $pr 'notes work' "test_notes $count"
 
-	test_expect_success 'notes timing' "time_notes 100"
-	)
+	test_expect_success USR_BIN_TIME,$pr 'notes timing with /usr/bin/time' "time_notes 100"
+
+	test_expect_success $pr 'teardown / cd ..' 'cd ..'
+}
+
+do_tests NOT_EXPENSIVE 10
+for count in 100 1000 10000; do
+	do_tests EXPENSIVE $count
 done
 
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t3600-rm.sh b/t/t3600-rm.sh
index b514cbb606..b26cabd571 100755
--- a/t/t3600-rm.sh
+++ b/t/t3600-rm.sh
@@ -28,22 +28,6 @@ embedded' &&
      git commit -m 'add files with tabs and newlines'
 "
 
-# Determine rm behavior
-# Later we will try removing an unremovable path to make sure
-# git rm barfs, but if the test is run as root that cannot be
-# arranged.
-: >test-file
-chmod a-w .
-rm -f test-file 2>/dev/null
-if test -f test-file
-then
-	test_set_prereq RO_DIR
-else
-	skip_all='skipping removal failure test (perhaps running as root?)'
-fi
-chmod 775 .
-rm -f test-file
-
 test_expect_success \
     'Pre-check that foo exists and is in index before git rm foo' \
     '[ -f foo ] && git ls-files --error-unmatch foo'
diff --git a/t/t3700-add.sh b/t/t3700-add.sh
index 7d7140db38..ec7108358e 100755
--- a/t/t3700-add.sh
+++ b/t/t3700-add.sh
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git add --refresh' '
 	test -z "`git diff-index HEAD -- foo`"
 '
 
-test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'git add should fail atomically upon an unreadable file' '
+test_expect_success POSIXPERM,SANITY 'git add should fail atomically upon an unreadable file' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	date >foo1 &&
 	date >foo2 &&
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'git add should fail atomically upon an unreadable
 
 rm -f foo2
 
-test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'git add --ignore-errors' '
+test_expect_success POSIXPERM,SANITY 'git add --ignore-errors' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	date >foo1 &&
 	date >foo2 &&
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'git add --ignore-errors' '
 
 rm -f foo2
 
-test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'git add (add.ignore-errors)' '
+test_expect_success POSIXPERM,SANITY 'git add (add.ignore-errors)' '
 	git config add.ignore-errors 1 &&
 	git reset --hard &&
 	date >foo1 &&
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'git add (add.ignore-errors)' '
 '
 rm -f foo2
 
-test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'git add (add.ignore-errors = false)' '
+test_expect_success POSIXPERM,SANITY 'git add (add.ignore-errors = false)' '
 	git config add.ignore-errors 0 &&
 	git reset --hard &&
 	date >foo1 &&
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'git add (add.ignore-errors = false)' '
 '
 rm -f foo2
 
-test_expect_success POSIXPERM '--no-ignore-errors overrides config' '
+test_expect_success POSIXPERM,SANITY '--no-ignore-errors overrides config' '
        git config add.ignore-errors 1 &&
        git reset --hard &&
        date >foo1 &&
diff --git a/t/t3701-add-interactive.sh b/t/t3701-add-interactive.sh
index 7ad8465f8f..d6327e7c74 100755
--- a/t/t3701-add-interactive.sh
+++ b/t/t3701-add-interactive.sh
@@ -2,22 +2,20 @@
 
 test_description='add -i basic tests'
 . ./test-lib.sh
+. "$TEST_DIRECTORY"/lib-prereq-FILEMODE.sh
 
-if ! test_have_prereq PERL; then
-	skip_all='skipping git add -i tests, perl not available'
-	test_done
-fi
-
-test_expect_success 'setup (initial)' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup (initial)' '
 	echo content >file &&
 	git add file &&
 	echo more >>file &&
 	echo lines >>file
 '
-test_expect_success 'status works (initial)' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'status works (initial)' '
 	git add -i </dev/null >output &&
 	grep "+1/-0 *+2/-0 file" output
 '
+
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup expected' '
 cat >expected <<EOF
 new file mode 100644
 index 0000000..d95f3ad
@@ -26,19 +24,21 @@ index 0000000..d95f3ad
 @@ -0,0 +1 @@
 +content
 EOF
-test_expect_success 'diff works (initial)' '
+'
+
+test_expect_success PERL 'diff works (initial)' '
 	(echo d; echo 1) | git add -i >output &&
 	sed -ne "/new file/,/content/p" <output >diff &&
 	test_cmp expected diff
 '
-test_expect_success 'revert works (initial)' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'revert works (initial)' '
 	git add file &&
 	(echo r; echo 1) | git add -i &&
 	git ls-files >output &&
 	! grep . output
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'setup (commit)' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup (commit)' '
 	echo baseline >file &&
 	git add file &&
 	git commit -m commit &&
@@ -47,10 +47,12 @@ test_expect_success 'setup (commit)' '
 	echo more >>file &&
 	echo lines >>file
 '
-test_expect_success 'status works (commit)' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'status works (commit)' '
 	git add -i </dev/null >output &&
 	grep "+1/-0 *+2/-0 file" output
 '
+
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup expected' '
 cat >expected <<EOF
 index 180b47c..b6f2c08 100644
 --- a/file
@@ -59,60 +61,79 @@ index 180b47c..b6f2c08 100644
  baseline
 +content
 EOF
-test_expect_success 'diff works (commit)' '
+'
+
+test_expect_success PERL 'diff works (commit)' '
 	(echo d; echo 1) | git add -i >output &&
 	sed -ne "/^index/,/content/p" <output >diff &&
 	test_cmp expected diff
 '
-test_expect_success 'revert works (commit)' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'revert works (commit)' '
 	git add file &&
 	(echo r; echo 1) | git add -i &&
 	git add -i </dev/null >output &&
 	grep "unchanged *+3/-0 file" output
 '
 
+
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup expected' '
 cat >expected <<EOF
 EOF
-cat >fake_editor.sh <<EOF
-EOF
-chmod a+x fake_editor.sh
-test_set_editor "$(pwd)/fake_editor.sh"
-test_expect_success 'dummy edit works' '
+'
+
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup fake editor' '
+	cat >fake_editor.sh <<EOF
+	EOF
+	chmod a+x fake_editor.sh &&
+	test_set_editor "$(pwd)/fake_editor.sh" &&
+'
+
+test_expect_success PERL 'dummy edit works' '
 	(echo e; echo a) | git add -p &&
 	git diff > diff &&
 	test_cmp expected diff
 '
 
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup patch' '
 cat >patch <<EOF
 @@ -1,1 +1,4 @@
  this
 +patch
--doesn't
+-does not
  apply
 EOF
-echo "#!$SHELL_PATH" >fake_editor.sh
-cat >>fake_editor.sh <<\EOF
+'
+
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup fake editor' '
+	echo "#!$SHELL_PATH" >fake_editor.sh &&
+	cat >>fake_editor.sh <<\EOF &&
 mv -f "$1" oldpatch &&
 mv -f patch "$1"
 EOF
-chmod a+x fake_editor.sh
-test_set_editor "$(pwd)/fake_editor.sh"
-test_expect_success 'bad edit rejected' '
+	chmod a+x fake_editor.sh &&
+	test_set_editor "$(pwd)/fake_editor.sh"
+'
+
+test_expect_success PERL 'bad edit rejected' '
 	git reset &&
 	(echo e; echo n; echo d) | git add -p >output &&
 	grep "hunk does not apply" output
 '
 
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup patch' '
 cat >patch <<EOF
 this patch
 is garbage
 EOF
-test_expect_success 'garbage edit rejected' '
+'
+
+test_expect_success PERL 'garbage edit rejected' '
 	git reset &&
 	(echo e; echo n; echo d) | git add -p >output &&
 	grep "hunk does not apply" output
 '
 
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup patch' '
 cat >patch <<EOF
 @@ -1,0 +1,0 @@
  baseline
@@ -120,6 +141,9 @@ cat >patch <<EOF
 +newcontent
 +lines
 EOF
+'
+
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup expected' '
 cat >expected <<EOF
 diff --git a/file b/file
 index b5dd6c9..f910ae9 100644
@@ -132,13 +156,15 @@ index b5dd6c9..f910ae9 100644
 +more
  lines
 EOF
-test_expect_success 'real edit works' '
+'
+
+test_expect_success PERL 'real edit works' '
 	(echo e; echo n; echo d) | git add -p &&
 	git diff >output &&
 	test_cmp expected output
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'skip files similarly as commit -a' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'skip files similarly as commit -a' '
 	git reset &&
 	echo file >.gitignore &&
 	echo changed >file &&
@@ -152,14 +178,7 @@ test_expect_success 'skip files similarly as commit -a' '
 '
 rm -f .gitignore
 
-if test "$(git config --bool core.filemode)" = false
-then
-	say '# skipping filemode tests (filesystem does not properly support modes)'
-else
-	test_set_prereq FILEMODE
-fi
-
-test_expect_success FILEMODE 'patch does not affect mode' '
+test_expect_success PERL,FILEMODE 'patch does not affect mode' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	echo content >>file &&
 	chmod +x file &&
@@ -168,7 +187,7 @@ test_expect_success FILEMODE 'patch does not affect mode' '
 	git diff file | grep "new mode"
 '
 
-test_expect_success FILEMODE 'stage mode but not hunk' '
+test_expect_success PERL,FILEMODE 'stage mode but not hunk' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	echo content >>file &&
 	chmod +x file &&
@@ -178,7 +197,7 @@ test_expect_success FILEMODE 'stage mode but not hunk' '
 '
 
 
-test_expect_success FILEMODE 'stage mode and hunk' '
+test_expect_success PERL,FILEMODE 'stage mode and hunk' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	echo content >>file &&
 	chmod +x file &&
@@ -190,13 +209,14 @@ test_expect_success FILEMODE 'stage mode and hunk' '
 
 # end of tests disabled when filemode is not usable
 
-test_expect_success 'setup again' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup again' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	test_chmod +x file &&
 	echo content >>file
 '
 
 # Write the patch file with a new line at the top and bottom
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup patch' '
 cat >patch <<EOF
 index 180b47c..b6f2c08 100644
 --- a/file
@@ -207,7 +227,10 @@ index 180b47c..b6f2c08 100644
  content
 +lastline
 EOF
+'
+
 # Expected output, similar to the patch but w/ diff at the top
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup expected' '
 cat >expected <<EOF
 diff --git a/file b/file
 index b6f2c08..61b9053 100755
@@ -219,8 +242,10 @@ index b6f2c08..61b9053 100755
  content
 +lastline
 EOF
+'
+
 # Test splitting the first patch, then adding both
-test_expect_success 'add first line works' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'add first line works' '
 	git commit -am "clear local changes" &&
 	git apply patch &&
 	(echo s; echo y; echo y) | git add -p file &&
@@ -228,6 +253,7 @@ test_expect_success 'add first line works' '
 	test_cmp expected diff
 '
 
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup expected' '
 cat >expected <<EOF
 diff --git a/non-empty b/non-empty
 deleted file mode 100644
@@ -237,7 +263,9 @@ index d95f3ad..0000000
 @@ -1 +0,0 @@
 -content
 EOF
-test_expect_success 'deleting a non-empty file' '
+'
+
+test_expect_success PERL 'deleting a non-empty file' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	echo content >non-empty &&
 	git add non-empty &&
@@ -248,13 +276,15 @@ test_expect_success 'deleting a non-empty file' '
 	test_cmp expected diff
 '
 
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup expected' '
 cat >expected <<EOF
 diff --git a/empty b/empty
 deleted file mode 100644
 index e69de29..0000000
 EOF
+'
 
-test_expect_success 'deleting an empty file' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'deleting an empty file' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	> empty &&
 	git add empty &&
diff --git a/t/t3902-quoted.sh b/t/t3902-quoted.sh
index 147e634cd6..7d49469841 100755
--- a/t/t3902-quoted.sh
+++ b/t/t3902-quoted.sh
@@ -15,11 +15,13 @@ LF='
 DQ='"'
 
 echo foo 2>/dev/null > "Name and an${HT}HT"
-test -f "Name and an${HT}HT" || {
-	# since FAT/NTFS does not allow tabs in filenames, skip this test
-	skip_all='Your filesystem does not allow tabs in filenames, test skipped.'
-	test_done
-}
+if ! test -f "Name and an${HT}HT"
+then
+	# FAT/NTFS does not allow tabs in filenames
+	say 'Your filesystem does not allow tabs in filenames'
+else
+	test_set_prereq TABS_IN_FILENAMES
+fi
 
 for_each_name () {
 	for name in \
@@ -31,7 +33,7 @@ for_each_name () {
 	done
 }
 
-test_expect_success setup '
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'setup' '
 
 	mkdir "$FN" &&
 	for_each_name "echo initial >\"\$name\""
@@ -45,6 +47,7 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 
 '
 
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'setup expected files' '
 cat >expect.quoted <<\EOF
 Name
 "Name and a\nLF"
@@ -72,75 +75,76 @@ With SP in it
 濱野/file
 濱野純
 EOF
+'
 
-test_expect_success 'check fully quoted output from ls-files' '
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'check fully quoted output from ls-files' '
 
 	git ls-files >current && test_cmp expect.quoted current
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'check fully quoted output from diff-files' '
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'check fully quoted output from diff-files' '
 
 	git diff --name-only >current &&
 	test_cmp expect.quoted current
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'check fully quoted output from diff-index' '
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'check fully quoted output from diff-index' '
 
 	git diff --name-only HEAD >current &&
 	test_cmp expect.quoted current
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'check fully quoted output from diff-tree' '
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'check fully quoted output from diff-tree' '
 
 	git diff --name-only HEAD^ HEAD >current &&
 	test_cmp expect.quoted current
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'check fully quoted output from ls-tree' '
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'check fully quoted output from ls-tree' '
 
 	git ls-tree --name-only -r HEAD >current &&
 	test_cmp expect.quoted current
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'setting core.quotepath' '
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'setting core.quotepath' '
 
 	git config --bool core.quotepath false
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'check fully quoted output from ls-files' '
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'check fully quoted output from ls-files' '
 
 	git ls-files >current && test_cmp expect.raw current
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'check fully quoted output from diff-files' '
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'check fully quoted output from diff-files' '
 
 	git diff --name-only >current &&
 	test_cmp expect.raw current
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'check fully quoted output from diff-index' '
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'check fully quoted output from diff-index' '
 
 	git diff --name-only HEAD >current &&
 	test_cmp expect.raw current
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'check fully quoted output from diff-tree' '
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'check fully quoted output from diff-tree' '
 
 	git diff --name-only HEAD^ HEAD >current &&
 	test_cmp expect.raw current
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'check fully quoted output from ls-tree' '
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'check fully quoted output from ls-tree' '
 
 	git ls-tree --name-only -r HEAD >current &&
 	test_cmp expect.raw current
diff --git a/t/t3904-stash-patch.sh b/t/t3904-stash-patch.sh
index f37e3bc6ec..d1819ca23a 100755
--- a/t/t3904-stash-patch.sh
+++ b/t/t3904-stash-patch.sh
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 test_description='git checkout --patch'
 . ./lib-patch-mode.sh
 
-test_expect_success 'setup' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup' '
 	mkdir dir &&
 	echo parent > dir/foo &&
 	echo dummy > bar &&
@@ -19,14 +19,14 @@ test_expect_success 'setup' '
 
 # note: bar sorts before dir, so the first 'n' is always to skip 'bar'
 
-test_expect_success 'saying "n" does nothing' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'saying "n" does nothing' '
 	set_state dir/foo work index
 	(echo n; echo n) | test_must_fail git stash save -p &&
 	verify_state dir/foo work index &&
 	verify_saved_state bar
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'git stash -p' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'git stash -p' '
 	(echo n; echo y) | git stash save -p &&
 	verify_state dir/foo head index &&
 	verify_saved_state bar &&
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git stash -p' '
 	verify_state bar dummy dummy
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'git stash -p --no-keep-index' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'git stash -p --no-keep-index' '
 	set_state dir/foo work index &&
 	set_state bar bar_work bar_index &&
 	(echo n; echo y) | git stash save -p --no-keep-index &&
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git stash -p --no-keep-index' '
 	verify_state bar dummy bar_index
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'none of this moved HEAD' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'none of this moved HEAD' '
 	verify_saved_head
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t4004-diff-rename-symlink.sh b/t/t4004-diff-rename-symlink.sh
index 1a09e8db40..92a65f4852 100755
--- a/t/t4004-diff-rename-symlink.sh
+++ b/t/t4004-diff-rename-symlink.sh
@@ -12,13 +12,7 @@ by an edit for them.
 . ./test-lib.sh
 . "$TEST_DIRECTORY"/diff-lib.sh
 
-if ! test_have_prereq SYMLINKS
-then
-	skip_all='Symbolic links not supported, skipping tests.'
-	test_done
-fi
-
-test_expect_success \
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS \
     'prepare reference tree' \
     'echo xyzzy | tr -d '\\\\'012 >yomin &&
      ln -s xyzzy frotz &&
@@ -26,7 +20,7 @@ test_expect_success \
     tree=$(git write-tree) &&
     echo $tree'
 
-test_expect_success \
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS \
     'prepare work tree' \
     'mv frotz rezrov &&
      rm -f yomin &&
@@ -40,8 +34,9 @@ test_expect_success \
 # rezrov and nitfol are rename/copy of frotz and bozbar should be
 # a new creation.
 
-GIT_DIFF_OPTS=--unified=0 git diff-index -M -p $tree >current
-cat >expected <<\EOF
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'setup diff output' "
+    GIT_DIFF_OPTS=--unified=0 git diff-index -M -p $tree >current &&
+    cat >expected <<\EOF
 diff --git a/bozbar b/bozbar
 new file mode 120000
 --- /dev/null
@@ -65,8 +60,9 @@ deleted file mode 100644
 -xyzzy
 \ No newline at end of file
 EOF
+"
 
-test_expect_success \
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS \
     'validate diff output' \
     'compare_diff_patch current expected'
 
diff --git a/t/t4011-diff-symlink.sh b/t/t4011-diff-symlink.sh
index 918a21a2f4..6f6948925f 100755
--- a/t/t4011-diff-symlink.sh
+++ b/t/t4011-diff-symlink.sh
@@ -9,12 +9,6 @@ test_description='Test diff of symlinks.
 . ./test-lib.sh
 . "$TEST_DIRECTORY"/diff-lib.sh
 
-if ! test_have_prereq SYMLINKS
-then
-	skip_all='Symbolic links not supported, skipping tests.'
-	test_done
-fi
-
 cat > expected << EOF
 diff --git a/frotz b/frotz
 new file mode 120000
@@ -26,7 +20,7 @@ index 0000000..7c465af
 \ No newline at end of file
 EOF
 
-test_expect_success \
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS \
     'diff new symlink' \
     'ln -s xyzzy frotz &&
     git update-index &&
@@ -35,7 +29,7 @@ test_expect_success \
     GIT_DIFF_OPTS=--unified=0 git diff-index -M -p $tree > current &&
     compare_diff_patch current expected'
 
-test_expect_success \
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS \
     'diff unchanged symlink' \
     'tree=$(git write-tree) &&
     git update-index frotz &&
@@ -52,7 +46,7 @@ index 7c465af..0000000
 \ No newline at end of file
 EOF
 
-test_expect_success \
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS \
     'diff removed symlink' \
     'mv frotz frotz2 &&
     git diff-index -M -p $tree > current &&
@@ -62,7 +56,7 @@ cat > expected << EOF
 diff --git a/frotz b/frotz
 EOF
 
-test_expect_success \
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS \
     'diff identical, but newly created symlink' \
     'ln -s xyzzy frotz &&
     git diff-index -M -p $tree > current &&
@@ -80,14 +74,14 @@ index 7c465af..df1db54 120000
 \ No newline at end of file
 EOF
 
-test_expect_success \
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS \
     'diff different symlink' \
     'rm frotz &&
     ln -s yxyyz frotz &&
     git diff-index -M -p $tree > current &&
     compare_diff_patch current expected'
 
-test_expect_success \
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS \
     'diff symlinks with non-existing targets' \
     'ln -s narf pinky &&
     ln -s take\ over brain &&
diff --git a/t/t4016-diff-quote.sh b/t/t4016-diff-quote.sh
index 34e5144eed..ab0c2f0574 100755
--- a/t/t4016-diff-quote.sh
+++ b/t/t4016-diff-quote.sh
@@ -13,12 +13,14 @@ P1='pathname	with HT'
 P2='pathname with SP'
 P3='pathname
 with LF'
-: 2>/dev/null >"$P1" && test -f "$P1" && rm -f "$P1" || {
-	skip_all='Your filesystem does not allow tabs in filenames, test skipped.'
-	test_done
-}
+if : 2>/dev/null >"$P1" && test -f "$P1" && rm -f "$P1"
+then
+	test_set_prereq TABS_IN_FILENAMES
+else
+	say 'Your filesystem does not allow tabs in filenames'
+fi
 
-test_expect_success setup '
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES setup '
 	echo P0.0 >"$P0.0" &&
 	echo P0.1 >"$P0.1" &&
 	echo P0.2 >"$P0.2" &&
@@ -38,6 +40,7 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 	:
 '
 
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'setup expected files' '
 cat >expect <<\EOF
  rename pathname.1 => "Rpathname\twith HT.0" (100%)
  rename pathname.3 => "Rpathname\nwith LF.0" (100%)
@@ -47,11 +50,14 @@ cat >expect <<\EOF
  rename pathname.0 => Rpathname.0 (100%)
  rename "pathname\twith HT.0" => Rpathname.1 (100%)
 EOF
-test_expect_success 'git diff --summary -M HEAD' '
+'
+
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'git diff --summary -M HEAD' '
 	git diff --summary -M HEAD >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'setup expected files' '
 cat >expect <<\EOF
  pathname.1 => "Rpathname\twith HT.0"            |    0
  pathname.3 => "Rpathname\nwith LF.0"            |    0
@@ -62,7 +68,9 @@ cat >expect <<\EOF
  "pathname\twith HT.0" => Rpathname.1            |    0
  7 files changed, 0 insertions(+), 0 deletions(-)
 EOF
-test_expect_success 'git diff --stat -M HEAD' '
+'
+
+test_expect_success TABS_IN_FILENAMES 'git diff --stat -M HEAD' '
 	git diff --stat -M HEAD >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
diff --git a/t/t4023-diff-rename-typechange.sh b/t/t4023-diff-rename-typechange.sh
index 40a95a149e..5d20acf436 100755
--- a/t/t4023-diff-rename-typechange.sh
+++ b/t/t4023-diff-rename-typechange.sh
@@ -4,13 +4,7 @@ test_description='typechange rename detection'
 
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
-if ! test_have_prereq SYMLINKS
-then
-	skip_all='Symbolic links not supported, skipping tests.'
-	test_done
-fi
-
-test_expect_success setup '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS setup '
 
 	rm -f foo bar &&
 	cat "$TEST_DIRECTORY"/../COPYING >foo &&
@@ -56,7 +50,7 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'cross renames to be detected for regular files' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'cross renames to be detected for regular files' '
 
 	git diff-tree five six -r --name-status -B -M | sort >actual &&
 	{
@@ -67,7 +61,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cross renames to be detected for regular files' '
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'cross renames to be detected for typechange' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'cross renames to be detected for typechange' '
 
 	git diff-tree one two -r --name-status -B -M | sort >actual &&
 	{
@@ -78,7 +72,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cross renames to be detected for typechange' '
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'moves and renames' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'moves and renames' '
 
 	git diff-tree three four -r --name-status -B -M | sort >actual &&
 	{
diff --git a/t/t4102-apply-rename.sh b/t/t4102-apply-rename.sh
index 1597965241..e3ea3d5114 100755
--- a/t/t4102-apply-rename.sh
+++ b/t/t4102-apply-rename.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ test_description='git apply handling copy/rename patch.
 
 '
 . ./test-lib.sh
+. "$TEST_DIRECTORY"/lib-prereq-FILEMODE.sh
 
 # setup
 
@@ -31,13 +32,6 @@ test_expect_success setup \
 test_expect_success apply \
     'git apply --index --stat --summary --apply test-patch'
 
-if test "$(git config --bool core.filemode)" = false
-then
-	say 'filemode disabled on the filesystem'
-else
-	test_set_prereq FILEMODE
-fi
-
 test_expect_success FILEMODE validate \
 	    'test -f bar && ls -l bar | grep "^-..x......"'
 
diff --git a/t/t4114-apply-typechange.sh b/t/t4114-apply-typechange.sh
index 164d58c222..f12826fb09 100755
--- a/t/t4114-apply-typechange.sh
+++ b/t/t4114-apply-typechange.sh
@@ -9,13 +9,7 @@ test_description='git apply should not get confused with type changes.
 
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
-if ! test_have_prereq SYMLINKS
-then
-	skip_all='Symbolic links not supported, skipping tests.'
-	test_done
-fi
-
-test_expect_success 'setup repository and commits' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'setup repository and commits' '
 	echo "hello world" > foo &&
 	echo "hi planet" > bar &&
 	git update-index --add foo bar &&
@@ -48,7 +42,7 @@ test_expect_success 'setup repository and commits' '
 	git branch foo-baz-renamed-from-foo
 	'
 
-test_expect_success 'file renamed from foo to foo/baz' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'file renamed from foo to foo/baz' '
 	git checkout -f initial &&
 	git diff-tree -M -p HEAD foo-baz-renamed-from-foo > patch &&
 	git apply --index < patch
@@ -56,7 +50,7 @@ test_expect_success 'file renamed from foo to foo/baz' '
 test_debug 'cat patch'
 
 
-test_expect_success 'file renamed from foo/baz to foo' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'file renamed from foo/baz to foo' '
 	git checkout -f foo-baz-renamed-from-foo &&
 	git diff-tree -M -p HEAD initial > patch &&
 	git apply --index < patch
@@ -64,7 +58,7 @@ test_expect_success 'file renamed from foo/baz to foo' '
 test_debug 'cat patch'
 
 
-test_expect_success 'directory becomes file' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'directory becomes file' '
 	git checkout -f foo-becomes-a-directory &&
 	git diff-tree -p HEAD initial > patch &&
 	git apply --index < patch
@@ -72,7 +66,7 @@ test_expect_success 'directory becomes file' '
 test_debug 'cat patch'
 
 
-test_expect_success 'file becomes directory' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'file becomes directory' '
 	git checkout -f initial &&
 	git diff-tree -p HEAD foo-becomes-a-directory > patch &&
 	git apply --index < patch
@@ -80,7 +74,7 @@ test_expect_success 'file becomes directory' '
 test_debug 'cat patch'
 
 
-test_expect_success 'file becomes symlink' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'file becomes symlink' '
 	git checkout -f initial &&
 	git diff-tree -p HEAD foo-symlinked-to-bar > patch &&
 	git apply --index < patch
@@ -88,21 +82,21 @@ test_expect_success 'file becomes symlink' '
 test_debug 'cat patch'
 
 
-test_expect_success 'symlink becomes file' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'symlink becomes file' '
 	git checkout -f foo-symlinked-to-bar &&
 	git diff-tree -p HEAD foo-back-to-file > patch &&
 	git apply --index < patch
 	'
 test_debug 'cat patch'
 
-test_expect_success 'binary file becomes symlink' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'binary file becomes symlink' '
 	git checkout -f foo-becomes-binary &&
 	git diff-tree -p --binary HEAD foo-symlinked-to-bar > patch &&
 	git apply --index < patch
 	'
 test_debug 'cat patch'
 
-test_expect_success 'symlink becomes binary file' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'symlink becomes binary file' '
 	git checkout -f foo-symlinked-to-bar &&
 	git diff-tree -p --binary HEAD foo-becomes-binary > patch &&
 	git apply --index < patch
@@ -110,7 +104,7 @@ test_expect_success 'symlink becomes binary file' '
 test_debug 'cat patch'
 
 
-test_expect_success 'symlink becomes directory' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'symlink becomes directory' '
 	git checkout -f foo-symlinked-to-bar &&
 	git diff-tree -p HEAD foo-becomes-a-directory > patch &&
 	git apply --index < patch
@@ -118,7 +112,7 @@ test_expect_success 'symlink becomes directory' '
 test_debug 'cat patch'
 
 
-test_expect_success 'directory becomes symlink' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'directory becomes symlink' '
 	git checkout -f foo-becomes-a-directory &&
 	git diff-tree -p HEAD foo-symlinked-to-bar > patch &&
 	git apply --index < patch
diff --git a/t/t4115-apply-symlink.sh b/t/t4115-apply-symlink.sh
index aff4348034..7674dd2ec9 100755
--- a/t/t4115-apply-symlink.sh
+++ b/t/t4115-apply-symlink.sh
@@ -9,13 +9,7 @@ test_description='git apply symlinks and partial files
 
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
-if ! test_have_prereq SYMLINKS
-then
-	skip_all='Symbolic links not supported, skipping tests.'
-	test_done
-fi
-
-test_expect_success setup '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS setup '
 
 	ln -s path1/path2/path3/path4/path5 link1 &&
 	git add link? &&
@@ -34,7 +28,7 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'apply symlink patch' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'apply symlink patch' '
 
 	git checkout side &&
 	git apply patch &&
@@ -43,7 +37,7 @@ test_expect_success 'apply symlink patch' '
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'apply --index symlink patch' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'apply --index symlink patch' '
 
 	git checkout -f side &&
 	git apply --index patch &&
diff --git a/t/t4122-apply-symlink-inside.sh b/t/t4122-apply-symlink-inside.sh
index 923fcab7f9..39407376ba 100755
--- a/t/t4122-apply-symlink-inside.sh
+++ b/t/t4122-apply-symlink-inside.sh
@@ -3,12 +3,6 @@
 test_description='apply to deeper directory without getting fooled with symlink'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
-if ! test_have_prereq SYMLINKS
-then
-	skip_all='Symbolic links not supported, skipping tests.'
-	test_done
-fi
-
 lecho () {
 	for l_
 	do
@@ -16,7 +10,7 @@ lecho () {
 	done
 }
 
-test_expect_success setup '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS setup '
 
 	mkdir -p arch/i386/boot arch/x86_64 &&
 	lecho 1 2 3 4 5 >arch/i386/boot/Makefile &&
@@ -37,7 +31,7 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success apply '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS apply '
 
 	git checkout test &&
 	git diff --exit-code test &&
@@ -46,7 +40,7 @@ test_expect_success apply '
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'check result' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'check result' '
 
 	git diff --exit-code master &&
 	git diff --exit-code --cached master &&
diff --git a/t/t4129-apply-samemode.sh b/t/t4129-apply-samemode.sh
index fc7af04931..0d36ebdc86 100755
--- a/t/t4129-apply-samemode.sh
+++ b/t/t4129-apply-samemode.sh
@@ -3,13 +3,7 @@
 test_description='applying patch with mode bits'
 
 . ./test-lib.sh
-
-if test "$(git config --bool core.filemode)" = false
-then
-	say 'filemode disabled on the filesystem'
-else
-	test_set_prereq FILEMODE
-fi
+. "$TEST_DIRECTORY"/lib-prereq-FILEMODE.sh
 
 test_expect_success setup '
 	echo original >file &&
diff --git a/t/t5503-tagfollow.sh b/t/t5503-tagfollow.sh
index bab1a536f5..8a298a655f 100755
--- a/t/t5503-tagfollow.sh
+++ b/t/t5503-tagfollow.sh
@@ -6,8 +6,11 @@ test_description='test automatic tag following'
 
 case $(uname -s) in
 *MINGW*)
-	skip_all="GIT_DEBUG_SEND_PACK not supported - skipping tests"
-	test_done
+	say "GIT_DEBUG_SEND_PACK not supported - skipping tests"
+	;;
+*)
+	test_set_prereq NOT_MINGW
+	;;
 esac
 
 # End state of the repository:
@@ -19,7 +22,7 @@ esac
 #     \   C - origin/cat    \
 #      origin/master         master
 
-test_expect_success setup '
+test_expect_success NOT_MINGW setup '
 	test_tick &&
 	echo ichi >file &&
 	git add file &&
@@ -42,12 +45,15 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 
 U=UPLOAD_LOG
 
+test_expect_success NOT_MINGW 'setup expect' '
 cat - <<EOF >expect
 #S
 want $A
 #E
 EOF
-test_expect_success 'fetch A (new commit : 1 connection)' '
+'
+
+test_expect_success NOT_MINGW 'fetch A (new commit : 1 connection)' '
 	rm -f $U
 	(
 		cd cloned &&
@@ -59,7 +65,7 @@ test_expect_success 'fetch A (new commit : 1 connection)' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
-test_expect_success "create tag T on A, create C on branch cat" '
+test_expect_success NOT_MINGW "create tag T on A, create C on branch cat" '
 	git tag -a -m tag1 tag1 $A &&
 	T=$(git rev-parse --verify tag1) &&
 
@@ -71,13 +77,16 @@ test_expect_success "create tag T on A, create C on branch cat" '
 	git checkout master
 '
 
+test_expect_success NOT_MINGW 'setup expect' '
 cat - <<EOF >expect
 #S
 want $C
 want $T
 #E
 EOF
-test_expect_success 'fetch C, T (new branch, tag : 1 connection)' '
+'
+
+test_expect_success NOT_MINGW 'fetch C, T (new branch, tag : 1 connection)' '
 	rm -f $U
 	(
 		cd cloned &&
@@ -91,7 +100,7 @@ test_expect_success 'fetch C, T (new branch, tag : 1 connection)' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
-test_expect_success "create commits O, B, tag S on B" '
+test_expect_success NOT_MINGW "create commits O, B, tag S on B" '
 	test_tick &&
 	echo O >file &&
 	git add file &&
@@ -107,13 +116,16 @@ test_expect_success "create commits O, B, tag S on B" '
 	S=$(git rev-parse --verify tag2)
 '
 
+test_expect_success NOT_MINGW 'setup expect' '
 cat - <<EOF >expect
 #S
 want $B
 want $S
 #E
 EOF
-test_expect_success 'fetch B, S (commit and tag : 1 connection)' '
+'
+
+test_expect_success NOT_MINGW 'fetch B, S (commit and tag : 1 connection)' '
 	rm -f $U
 	(
 		cd cloned &&
@@ -127,13 +139,16 @@ test_expect_success 'fetch B, S (commit and tag : 1 connection)' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success NOT_MINGW 'setup expect' '
 cat - <<EOF >expect
 #S
 want $B
 want $S
 #E
 EOF
-test_expect_success 'new clone fetch master and tags' '
+'
+
+test_expect_success NOT_MINGW 'new clone fetch master and tags' '
 	git branch -D cat
 	rm -f $U
 	(
diff --git a/t/t5522-pull-symlink.sh b/t/t5522-pull-symlink.sh
index 298200fa4c..8e9b204e02 100755
--- a/t/t5522-pull-symlink.sh
+++ b/t/t5522-pull-symlink.sh
@@ -4,12 +4,6 @@ test_description='pulling from symlinked subdir'
 
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
-if ! test_have_prereq SYMLINKS
-then
-	skip_all='Symbolic links not supported, skipping tests.'
-	test_done
-fi
-
 # The scenario we are building:
 #
 #   trash\ directory/
@@ -20,7 +14,7 @@ fi
 #
 # The working directory is subdir-link.
 
-test_expect_success setup '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS setup '
 	mkdir subdir &&
 	echo file >subdir/file &&
 	git add subdir/file &&
@@ -36,7 +30,7 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 
 # Demonstrate that things work if we just avoid the symlink
 #
-test_expect_success 'pulling from real subdir' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'pulling from real subdir' '
 	(
 		echo real >subdir/file &&
 		git commit -m real subdir/file &&
@@ -64,7 +58,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pulling from real subdir' '
 # directory.  A POSIX shell's "cd" works a little differently
 # than chdir() in C; "cd -P" is much closer to chdir().
 #
-test_expect_success 'pulling from symlinked subdir' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'pulling from symlinked subdir' '
 	(
 		echo link >subdir/file &&
 		git commit -m link subdir/file &&
@@ -77,7 +71,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pulling from symlinked subdir' '
 # Prove that the remote end really is a repo, and other commands
 # work fine in this context.  It's just that "git pull" breaks.
 #
-test_expect_success 'pushing from symlinked subdir' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'pushing from symlinked subdir' '
 	(
 		cd subdir-link/ &&
 		echo push >file &&
diff --git a/t/t5601-clone.sh b/t/t5601-clone.sh
index 4431dfd02b..987e0c8463 100755
--- a/t/t5601-clone.sh
+++ b/t/t5601-clone.sh
@@ -163,8 +163,6 @@ test_expect_success 'clone a void' '
 
 test_expect_success 'clone respects global branch.autosetuprebase' '
 	(
-		HOME=$(pwd) &&
-		export HOME &&
 		test_config="$HOME/.gitconfig" &&
 		unset GIT_CONFIG_NOGLOBAL &&
 		git config -f "$test_config" branch.autosetuprebase remote &&
diff --git a/t/t5705-clone-2gb.sh b/t/t5705-clone-2gb.sh
index e4d1b6a0fa..e9783c341a 100755
--- a/t/t5705-clone-2gb.sh
+++ b/t/t5705-clone-2gb.sh
@@ -3,12 +3,14 @@
 test_description='Test cloning a repository larger than 2 gigabyte'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
-test -z "$GIT_TEST_CLONE_2GB" &&
-skip_all="Skipping expensive 2GB clone test; enable it with GIT_TEST_CLONE_2GB=t" &&
-test_done &&
-exit
+if test -z "$GIT_TEST_CLONE_2GB"
+then
+	say 'Skipping expensive 2GB clone test; enable it with GIT_TEST_CLONE_2GB=t'
+else
+	test_set_prereq CLONE_2GB
+fi
 
-test_expect_success 'setup' '
+test_expect_success CLONE_2GB 'setup' '
 
 	git config pack.compression 0 &&
 	git config pack.depth 0 &&
@@ -36,13 +38,13 @@ test_expect_success 'setup' '
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'clone - bare' '
+test_expect_success CLONE_2GB 'clone - bare' '
 
 	git clone --bare --no-hardlinks . clone-bare
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'clone - with worktree, file:// protocol' '
+test_expect_success CLONE_2GB 'clone - with worktree, file:// protocol' '
 
 	git clone file://. clone-wt
 
diff --git a/t/t5800-remote-helpers.sh b/t/t5800-remote-helpers.sh
index 637d8e97ac..1fb6380fce 100755
--- a/t/t5800-remote-helpers.sh
+++ b/t/t5800-remote-helpers.sh
@@ -13,13 +13,11 @@ if sys.hexversion < 0x02040000:
     sys.exit(1)
 '
 then
-	:
-else
-	skip_all='skipping git remote-testgit tests: requires Python 2.4 or newer'
-	test_done
+    # Requires Python 2.4 or newer
+	test_set_prereq PYTHON_24
 fi
 
-test_expect_success 'setup repository' '
+test_expect_success PYTHON_24 'setup repository' '
 	git init --bare server/.git &&
 	git clone server public &&
 	(cd public &&
@@ -29,34 +27,34 @@ test_expect_success 'setup repository' '
 	 git push origin master)
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'cloning from local repo' '
+test_expect_success PYTHON_24 'cloning from local repo' '
 	git clone "testgit::${PWD}/server" localclone &&
 	test_cmp public/file localclone/file
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'cloning from remote repo' '
+test_expect_success PYTHON_24 'cloning from remote repo' '
 	git clone "testgit::file://${PWD}/server" clone &&
 	test_cmp public/file clone/file
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'create new commit on remote' '
+test_expect_success PYTHON_24 'create new commit on remote' '
 	(cd public &&
 	 echo content >>file &&
 	 git commit -a -m two &&
 	 git push)
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'pulling from local repo' '
+test_expect_success PYTHON_24 'pulling from local repo' '
 	(cd localclone && git pull) &&
 	test_cmp public/file localclone/file
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'pulling from remote remote' '
+test_expect_success PYTHON_24 'pulling from remote remote' '
 	(cd clone && git pull) &&
 	test_cmp public/file clone/file
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'pushing to local repo' '
+test_expect_success PYTHON_24 'pushing to local repo' '
 	(cd localclone &&
 	echo content >>file &&
 	git commit -a -m three &&
@@ -65,12 +63,12 @@ test_expect_success 'pushing to local repo' '
 	test $HEAD = $(git --git-dir=server/.git rev-parse --verify HEAD)
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'synch with changes from localclone' '
+test_expect_success PYTHON_24 'synch with changes from localclone' '
 	(cd clone &&
 	 git pull)
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'pushing remote local repo' '
+test_expect_success PYTHON_24 'pushing remote local repo' '
 	(cd clone &&
 	echo content >>file &&
 	git commit -a -m four &&
diff --git a/t/t6031-merge-recursive.sh b/t/t6031-merge-recursive.sh
index bd75e0e643..1cd649e245 100755
--- a/t/t6031-merge-recursive.sh
+++ b/t/t6031-merge-recursive.sh
@@ -2,11 +2,7 @@
 
 test_description='merge-recursive: handle file mode'
 . ./test-lib.sh
-
-if ! test "$(git config --bool core.filemode)" = false
-then
-	test_set_prereq FILEMODE
-fi
+. "$TEST_DIRECTORY"/lib-prereq-FILEMODE.sh
 
 test_expect_success 'mode change in one branch: keep changed version' '
 	: >file1 &&
diff --git a/t/t6035-merge-dir-to-symlink.sh b/t/t6035-merge-dir-to-symlink.sh
index dc09513be5..92e02d5d77 100755
--- a/t/t6035-merge-dir-to-symlink.sh
+++ b/t/t6035-merge-dir-to-symlink.sh
@@ -3,13 +3,7 @@
 test_description='merging when a directory was replaced with a symlink'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
-if ! test_have_prereq SYMLINKS
-then
-	skip_all='Symbolic links not supported, skipping tests.'
-	test_done
-fi
-
-test_expect_success 'create a commit where dir a/b changed to symlink' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'create a commit where dir a/b changed to symlink' '
 	mkdir -p a/b/c a/b-2/c &&
 	> a/b/c/d &&
 	> a/b-2/c/d &&
@@ -23,7 +17,7 @@ test_expect_success 'create a commit where dir a/b changed to symlink' '
 	git commit -m "dir to symlink"
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'keep a/b-2/c/d across checkout' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'keep a/b-2/c/d across checkout' '
 	git checkout HEAD^0 &&
 	git reset --hard master &&
 	git rm --cached a/b &&
@@ -32,14 +26,14 @@ test_expect_success 'keep a/b-2/c/d across checkout' '
 	 test -f a/b-2/c/d
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'checkout should not have deleted a/b-2/c/d' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'checkout should not have deleted a/b-2/c/d' '
 	git checkout HEAD^0 &&
 	git reset --hard master &&
 	 git checkout start^0 &&
 	 test -f a/b-2/c/d
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'setup for merge test' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'setup for merge test' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	test -f a/b-2/c/d &&
 	echo x > a/x &&
@@ -48,7 +42,7 @@ test_expect_success 'setup for merge test' '
 	git tag baseline
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'Handle D/F conflict, do not lose a/b-2/c/d in merge (resolve)' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'Handle D/F conflict, do not lose a/b-2/c/d in merge (resolve)' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	git checkout baseline^0 &&
 	git merge -s resolve master &&
@@ -56,7 +50,7 @@ test_expect_success 'Handle D/F conflict, do not lose a/b-2/c/d in merge (resolv
 	test -f a/b-2/c/d
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'Handle D/F conflict, do not lose a/b-2/c/d in merge (recursive)' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'Handle D/F conflict, do not lose a/b-2/c/d in merge (recursive)' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	git checkout baseline^0 &&
 	git merge -s recursive master &&
@@ -64,7 +58,7 @@ test_expect_success 'Handle D/F conflict, do not lose a/b-2/c/d in merge (recurs
 	test -f a/b-2/c/d
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'Handle F/D conflict, do not lose a/b-2/c/d in merge (resolve)' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'Handle F/D conflict, do not lose a/b-2/c/d in merge (resolve)' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	git checkout master^0 &&
 	git merge -s resolve baseline^0 &&
@@ -72,7 +66,7 @@ test_expect_success 'Handle F/D conflict, do not lose a/b-2/c/d in merge (resolv
 	test -f a/b-2/c/d
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'Handle F/D conflict, do not lose a/b-2/c/d in merge (recursive)' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'Handle F/D conflict, do not lose a/b-2/c/d in merge (recursive)' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	git checkout master^0 &&
 	git merge -s recursive baseline^0 &&
@@ -80,7 +74,7 @@ test_expect_success 'Handle F/D conflict, do not lose a/b-2/c/d in merge (recurs
 	test -f a/b-2/c/d
 '
 
-test_expect_failure 'do not lose untracked in merge (resolve)' '
+test_expect_failure SYMLINKS 'do not lose untracked in merge (resolve)' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	git checkout baseline^0 &&
 	>a/b/c/e &&
@@ -89,7 +83,7 @@ test_expect_failure 'do not lose untracked in merge (resolve)' '
 	test -f a/b-2/c/d
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'do not lose untracked in merge (recursive)' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'do not lose untracked in merge (recursive)' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	git checkout baseline^0 &&
 	>a/b/c/e &&
@@ -98,21 +92,21 @@ test_expect_success 'do not lose untracked in merge (recursive)' '
 	test -f a/b-2/c/d
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'do not lose modifications in merge (resolve)' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'do not lose modifications in merge (resolve)' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	git checkout baseline^0 &&
 	echo more content >>a/b/c/d &&
 	test_must_fail git merge -s resolve master
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'do not lose modifications in merge (recursive)' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'do not lose modifications in merge (recursive)' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	git checkout baseline^0 &&
 	echo more content >>a/b/c/d &&
 	test_must_fail git merge -s recursive master
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'setup a merge where dir a/b-2 changed to symlink' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'setup a merge where dir a/b-2 changed to symlink' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	git checkout start^0 &&
 	rm -rf a/b-2 &&
@@ -122,7 +116,7 @@ test_expect_success 'setup a merge where dir a/b-2 changed to symlink' '
 	git tag test2
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'merge should not have D/F conflicts (resolve)' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'merge should not have D/F conflicts (resolve)' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	git checkout baseline^0 &&
 	git merge -s resolve test2 &&
@@ -130,7 +124,7 @@ test_expect_success 'merge should not have D/F conflicts (resolve)' '
 	test -f a/b/c/d
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'merge should not have D/F conflicts (recursive)' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'merge should not have D/F conflicts (recursive)' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	git checkout baseline^0 &&
 	git merge -s recursive test2 &&
@@ -138,7 +132,7 @@ test_expect_success 'merge should not have D/F conflicts (recursive)' '
 	test -f a/b/c/d
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'merge should not have F/D conflicts (recursive)' '
+test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'merge should not have F/D conflicts (recursive)' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	git checkout -b foo test2 &&
 	git merge -s recursive baseline^0 &&
diff --git a/t/t7005-editor.sh b/t/t7005-editor.sh
index 26ddf9d496..1b530b5022 100755
--- a/t/t7005-editor.sh
+++ b/t/t7005-editor.sh
@@ -111,13 +111,13 @@ do
 	'
 done
 
-if ! echo 'echo space > "$1"' > "e space.sh"
+if echo 'echo space > "$1"' > "e space.sh"
 then
-	skip_all="Skipping; FS does not support spaces in filenames"
-	test_done
+	# FS supports spaces in filenames
+	test_set_prereq SPACES_IN_FILENAMES
 fi
 
-test_expect_success 'editor with a space' '
+test_expect_success SPACES_IN_FILENAMES 'editor with a space' '
 
 	chmod a+x "e space.sh" &&
 	GIT_EDITOR="./e\ space.sh" git commit --amend &&
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ test_expect_success 'editor with a space' '
 '
 
 unset GIT_EDITOR
-test_expect_success 'core.editor with a space' '
+test_expect_success SPACES_IN_FILENAMES 'core.editor with a space' '
 
 	git config core.editor \"./e\ space.sh\" &&
 	git commit --amend &&
diff --git a/t/t7105-reset-patch.sh b/t/t7105-reset-patch.sh
index c1f4fc3c65..9891e2c1f5 100755
--- a/t/t7105-reset-patch.sh
+++ b/t/t7105-reset-patch.sh
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 test_description='git reset --patch'
 . ./lib-patch-mode.sh
 
-test_expect_success 'setup' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup' '
 	mkdir dir &&
 	echo parent > dir/foo &&
 	echo dummy > bar &&
@@ -17,20 +17,20 @@ test_expect_success 'setup' '
 
 # note: bar sorts before foo, so the first 'n' is always to skip 'bar'
 
-test_expect_success 'saying "n" does nothing' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'saying "n" does nothing' '
 	set_and_save_state dir/foo work work
 	(echo n; echo n) | git reset -p &&
 	verify_saved_state dir/foo &&
 	verify_saved_state bar
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'git reset -p' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'git reset -p' '
 	(echo n; echo y) | git reset -p &&
 	verify_state dir/foo work head &&
 	verify_saved_state bar
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'git reset -p HEAD^' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'git reset -p HEAD^' '
 	(echo n; echo y) | git reset -p HEAD^ &&
 	verify_state dir/foo work parent &&
 	verify_saved_state bar
@@ -41,27 +41,27 @@ test_expect_success 'git reset -p HEAD^' '
 # dir/foo.  There's always an extra 'n' to reject edits to dir/foo in
 # the failure case (and thus get out of the loop).
 
-test_expect_success 'git reset -p dir' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'git reset -p dir' '
 	set_state dir/foo work work
 	(echo y; echo n) | git reset -p dir &&
 	verify_state dir/foo work head &&
 	verify_saved_state bar
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'git reset -p -- foo (inside dir)' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'git reset -p -- foo (inside dir)' '
 	set_state dir/foo work work
 	(echo y; echo n) | (cd dir && git reset -p -- foo) &&
 	verify_state dir/foo work head &&
 	verify_saved_state bar
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'git reset -p HEAD^ -- dir' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'git reset -p HEAD^ -- dir' '
 	(echo y; echo n) | git reset -p HEAD^ -- dir &&
 	verify_state dir/foo work parent &&
 	verify_saved_state bar
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'none of this moved HEAD' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'none of this moved HEAD' '
 	verify_saved_head
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t7300-clean.sh b/t/t7300-clean.sh
index 3a43571cab..7dbbea13ac 100755
--- a/t/t7300-clean.sh
+++ b/t/t7300-clean.sh
@@ -388,16 +388,15 @@ test_expect_success 'core.excludesfile' '
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'removal failure' '
+test_expect_success SANITY 'removal failure' '
 
 	mkdir foo &&
 	touch foo/bar &&
 	(exec <foo/bar &&
 	 chmod 0 foo &&
-	 test_must_fail git clean -f -d)
-
+	 test_must_fail git clean -f -d &&
+	 chmod 755 foo)
 '
-chmod 755 foo
 
 test_expect_success 'nested git work tree' '
 	rm -fr foo bar &&
diff --git a/t/t7508-status.sh b/t/t7508-status.sh
index 9c14b853c0..18b07d9d36 100755
--- a/t/t7508-status.sh
+++ b/t/t7508-status.sh
@@ -793,7 +793,7 @@ test_expect_success 'commit --dry-run submodule summary (--amend)' '
 	test_cmp expect output
 '
 
-test_expect_success POSIXPERM 'status succeeds in a read-only repository' '
+test_expect_success POSIXPERM,SANITY 'status succeeds in a read-only repository' '
 	(
 		chmod a-w .git &&
 		# make dir1/tracked stat-dirty
diff --git a/t/t7800-difftool.sh b/t/t7800-difftool.sh
index 196827e7ea..58dc6f6452 100755
--- a/t/t7800-difftool.sh
+++ b/t/t7800-difftool.sh
@@ -10,11 +10,6 @@ Testing basic diff tool invocation
 
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
-if ! test_have_prereq PERL; then
-	skip_all='skipping difftool tests, perl not available'
-	test_done
-fi
-
 LF='
 '
 
@@ -50,7 +45,7 @@ prompt_given()
 }
 
 # Create a file on master and change it on branch
-test_expect_success 'setup' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup' '
 	echo master >file &&
 	git add file &&
 	git commit -m "added file" &&
@@ -62,7 +57,7 @@ test_expect_success 'setup' '
 '
 
 # Configure a custom difftool.<tool>.cmd and use it
-test_expect_success 'custom commands' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'custom commands' '
 	restore_test_defaults &&
 	git config difftool.test-tool.cmd "cat \$REMOTE" &&
 
@@ -75,13 +70,13 @@ test_expect_success 'custom commands' '
 '
 
 # Ensures that git-difftool ignores bogus --tool values
-test_expect_success 'difftool ignores bad --tool values' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'difftool ignores bad --tool values' '
 	diff=$(git difftool --no-prompt --tool=bad-tool branch)
 	test "$?" = 1 &&
 	test "$diff" = ""
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'difftool honors --gui' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'difftool honors --gui' '
 	git config merge.tool bogus-tool &&
 	git config diff.tool bogus-tool &&
 	git config diff.guitool test-tool &&
@@ -92,7 +87,7 @@ test_expect_success 'difftool honors --gui' '
 	restore_test_defaults
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'difftool --gui works without configured diff.guitool' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'difftool --gui works without configured diff.guitool' '
 	git config diff.tool test-tool &&
 
 	diff=$(git difftool --no-prompt --gui branch) &&
@@ -102,7 +97,7 @@ test_expect_success 'difftool --gui works without configured diff.guitool' '
 '
 
 # Specify the diff tool using $GIT_DIFF_TOOL
-test_expect_success 'GIT_DIFF_TOOL variable' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'GIT_DIFF_TOOL variable' '
 	git config --unset diff.tool
 	GIT_DIFF_TOOL=test-tool &&
 	export GIT_DIFF_TOOL &&
@@ -115,7 +110,7 @@ test_expect_success 'GIT_DIFF_TOOL variable' '
 
 # Test the $GIT_*_TOOL variables and ensure
 # that $GIT_DIFF_TOOL always wins unless --tool is specified
-test_expect_success 'GIT_DIFF_TOOL overrides' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'GIT_DIFF_TOOL overrides' '
 	git config diff.tool bogus-tool &&
 	git config merge.tool bogus-tool &&
 
@@ -136,7 +131,7 @@ test_expect_success 'GIT_DIFF_TOOL overrides' '
 
 # Test that we don't have to pass --no-prompt to difftool
 # when $GIT_DIFFTOOL_NO_PROMPT is true
-test_expect_success 'GIT_DIFFTOOL_NO_PROMPT variable' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'GIT_DIFFTOOL_NO_PROMPT variable' '
 	GIT_DIFFTOOL_NO_PROMPT=true &&
 	export GIT_DIFFTOOL_NO_PROMPT &&
 
@@ -148,7 +143,7 @@ test_expect_success 'GIT_DIFFTOOL_NO_PROMPT variable' '
 
 # git-difftool supports the difftool.prompt variable.
 # Test that GIT_DIFFTOOL_PROMPT can override difftool.prompt = false
-test_expect_success 'GIT_DIFFTOOL_PROMPT variable' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'GIT_DIFFTOOL_PROMPT variable' '
 	git config difftool.prompt false &&
 	GIT_DIFFTOOL_PROMPT=true &&
 	export GIT_DIFFTOOL_PROMPT &&
@@ -160,7 +155,7 @@ test_expect_success 'GIT_DIFFTOOL_PROMPT variable' '
 '
 
 # Test that we don't have to pass --no-prompt when difftool.prompt is false
-test_expect_success 'difftool.prompt config variable is false' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'difftool.prompt config variable is false' '
 	git config difftool.prompt false &&
 
 	diff=$(git difftool branch) &&
@@ -170,7 +165,7 @@ test_expect_success 'difftool.prompt config variable is false' '
 '
 
 # Test that we don't have to pass --no-prompt when mergetool.prompt is false
-test_expect_success 'difftool merge.prompt = false' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'difftool merge.prompt = false' '
 	git config --unset difftool.prompt
 	git config mergetool.prompt false &&
 
@@ -181,7 +176,7 @@ test_expect_success 'difftool merge.prompt = false' '
 '
 
 # Test that the -y flag can override difftool.prompt = true
-test_expect_success 'difftool.prompt can overridden with -y' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'difftool.prompt can overridden with -y' '
 	git config difftool.prompt true &&
 
 	diff=$(git difftool -y branch) &&
@@ -191,7 +186,7 @@ test_expect_success 'difftool.prompt can overridden with -y' '
 '
 
 # Test that the --prompt flag can override difftool.prompt = false
-test_expect_success 'difftool.prompt can overridden with --prompt' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'difftool.prompt can overridden with --prompt' '
 	git config difftool.prompt false &&
 
 	prompt=$(echo | git difftool --prompt branch | tail -1) &&
@@ -201,7 +196,7 @@ test_expect_success 'difftool.prompt can overridden with --prompt' '
 '
 
 # Test that the last flag passed on the command-line wins
-test_expect_success 'difftool last flag wins' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'difftool last flag wins' '
 	diff=$(git difftool --prompt --no-prompt branch) &&
 	test "$diff" = "branch" &&
 
@@ -215,7 +210,7 @@ test_expect_success 'difftool last flag wins' '
 
 # git-difftool falls back to git-mergetool config variables
 # so test that behavior here
-test_expect_success 'difftool + mergetool config variables' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'difftool + mergetool config variables' '
 	remove_config_vars
 	git config merge.tool test-tool &&
 	git config mergetool.test-tool.cmd "cat \$LOCAL" &&
@@ -233,7 +228,7 @@ test_expect_success 'difftool + mergetool config variables' '
 	restore_test_defaults
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'difftool.<tool>.path' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'difftool.<tool>.path' '
 	git config difftool.tkdiff.path echo &&
 	diff=$(git difftool --tool=tkdiff --no-prompt branch) &&
 	git config --unset difftool.tkdiff.path &&
@@ -243,32 +238,32 @@ test_expect_success 'difftool.<tool>.path' '
 	restore_test_defaults
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'difftool --extcmd=cat' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'difftool --extcmd=cat' '
 	diff=$(git difftool --no-prompt --extcmd=cat branch) &&
 	test "$diff" = branch"$LF"master
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'difftool --extcmd cat' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'difftool --extcmd cat' '
 	diff=$(git difftool --no-prompt --extcmd cat branch) &&
 	test "$diff" = branch"$LF"master
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'difftool -x cat' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'difftool -x cat' '
 	diff=$(git difftool --no-prompt -x cat branch) &&
 	test "$diff" = branch"$LF"master
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'difftool --extcmd echo arg1' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'difftool --extcmd echo arg1' '
 	diff=$(git difftool --no-prompt --extcmd sh\ -c\ \"echo\ \$1\" branch)
 	test "$diff" = file
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'difftool --extcmd cat arg1' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'difftool --extcmd cat arg1' '
 	diff=$(git difftool --no-prompt --extcmd sh\ -c\ \"cat\ \$1\" branch)
 	test "$diff" = master
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'difftool --extcmd cat arg2' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'difftool --extcmd cat arg2' '
 	diff=$(git difftool --no-prompt --extcmd sh\ -c\ \"cat\ \$2\" branch)
 	test "$diff" = branch
 '
diff --git a/t/t9001-send-email.sh b/t/t9001-send-email.sh
index 23597cc407..71b3df9b55 100755
--- a/t/t9001-send-email.sh
+++ b/t/t9001-send-email.sh
@@ -3,20 +3,17 @@
 test_description='git send-email'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
-if ! test_have_prereq PERL; then
-	skip_all='skipping git send-email tests, perl not available'
-	test_done
-fi
+# May be altered later in the test
+PREREQ="PERL"
 
-PROG='git send-email'
-test_expect_success \
+test_expect_success $PREREQ \
     'prepare reference tree' \
     'echo "1A quick brown fox jumps over the" >file &&
      echo "lazy dog" >>file &&
      git add file &&
      GIT_AUTHOR_NAME="A" git commit -a -m "Initial."'
 
-test_expect_success \
+test_expect_success $PREREQ \
     'Setup helper tool' \
     '(echo "#!$SHELL_PATH"
       echo shift
@@ -36,7 +33,7 @@ clean_fake_sendmail() {
 	rm -f commandline* msgtxt*
 }
 
-test_expect_success 'Extract patches' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'Extract patches' '
     patches=`git format-patch -s --cc="One <one@example.com>" --cc=two@example.com -n HEAD^1`
 '
 
@@ -57,49 +54,56 @@ test_no_confirm () {
 
 # Exit immediately to prevent hang if a no-confirm test fails
 check_no_confirm () {
-	test -f no_confirm_okay || {
-		skip_all='confirm test failed; skipping remaining tests to prevent hanging'
-		test_done
-	}
+	if ! test -f no_confirm_okay
+	then
+		say 'confirm test failed; skipping remaining tests to prevent hanging'
+		PREREQ="$PREREQ,CHECK_NO_CONFIRM"
+	fi
+	return 0
 }
 
-test_expect_success 'No confirm with --suppress-cc' '
-	test_no_confirm --suppress-cc=sob
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'No confirm with --suppress-cc' '
+	test_no_confirm --suppress-cc=sob &&
+	check_no_confirm
 '
-check_no_confirm
 
-test_expect_success 'No confirm with --confirm=never' '
-	test_no_confirm --confirm=never
+
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'No confirm with --confirm=never' '
+	test_no_confirm --confirm=never &&
+	check_no_confirm
 '
-check_no_confirm
 
 # leave sendemail.confirm set to never after this so that none of the
 # remaining tests prompt unintentionally.
-test_expect_success 'No confirm with sendemail.confirm=never' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'No confirm with sendemail.confirm=never' '
 	git config sendemail.confirm never &&
-	test_no_confirm --compose --subject=foo
+	test_no_confirm --compose --subject=foo &&
+	check_no_confirm
 '
-check_no_confirm
 
-test_expect_success 'Send patches' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'Send patches' '
      git send-email --suppress-cc=sob --from="Example <nobody@example.com>" --to=nobody@example.com --smtp-server="$(pwd)/fake.sendmail" $patches 2>errors
 '
 
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'setup expect' '
 cat >expected <<\EOF
 !nobody@example.com!
 !author@example.com!
 !one@example.com!
 !two@example.com!
 EOF
-test_expect_success \
+'
+
+test_expect_success $PREREQ \
     'Verify commandline' \
     'test_cmp expected commandline1'
 
-test_expect_success 'Send patches with --envelope-sender' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'Send patches with --envelope-sender' '
     clean_fake_sendmail &&
      git send-email --envelope-sender="Patch Contributer <patch@example.com>" --suppress-cc=sob --from="Example <nobody@example.com>" --to=nobody@example.com --smtp-server="$(pwd)/fake.sendmail" $patches 2>errors
 '
 
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'setup expect' '
 cat >expected <<\EOF
 !patch@example.com!
 !-i!
@@ -108,15 +112,18 @@ cat >expected <<\EOF
 !one@example.com!
 !two@example.com!
 EOF
-test_expect_success \
+'
+
+test_expect_success $PREREQ \
     'Verify commandline' \
     'test_cmp expected commandline1'
 
-test_expect_success 'Send patches with --envelope-sender=auto' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'Send patches with --envelope-sender=auto' '
     clean_fake_sendmail &&
      git send-email --envelope-sender=auto --suppress-cc=sob --from="Example <nobody@example.com>" --to=nobody@example.com --smtp-server="$(pwd)/fake.sendmail" $patches 2>errors
 '
 
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'setup expect' '
 cat >expected <<\EOF
 !nobody@example.com!
 !-i!
@@ -125,10 +132,13 @@ cat >expected <<\EOF
 !one@example.com!
 !two@example.com!
 EOF
-test_expect_success \
+'
+
+test_expect_success $PREREQ \
     'Verify commandline' \
     'test_cmp expected commandline1'
 
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'setup expect' "
 cat >expected-show-all-headers <<\EOF
 0001-Second.patch
 (mbox) Adding cc: A <author@example.com> from line 'From: A <author@example.com>'
@@ -158,8 +168,9 @@ References: <unique-message-id@example.com>
 
 Result: OK
 EOF
+"
 
-test_expect_success 'Show all headers' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'Show all headers' '
 	git send-email \
 		--dry-run \
 		--suppress-cc=sob \
@@ -177,7 +188,7 @@ test_expect_success 'Show all headers' '
 	test_cmp expected-show-all-headers actual-show-all-headers
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'Prompting works' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'Prompting works' '
 	clean_fake_sendmail &&
 	(echo "Example <from@example.com>"
 	 echo "to@example.com"
@@ -190,7 +201,7 @@ test_expect_success 'Prompting works' '
 		grep "^To: to@example.com\$" msgtxt1
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'cccmd works' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'cccmd works' '
 	clean_fake_sendmail &&
 	cp $patches cccmd.patch &&
 	echo cccmd--cccmd@example.com >>cccmd.patch &&
@@ -209,10 +220,10 @@ test_expect_success 'cccmd works' '
 	grep "^	cccmd@example.com" msgtxt1
 '
 
-z8=zzzzzzzz
-z64=$z8$z8$z8$z8$z8$z8$z8$z8
-z512=$z64$z64$z64$z64$z64$z64$z64$z64
-test_expect_success 'reject long lines' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'reject long lines' '
+	z8=zzzzzzzz &&
+	z64=$z8$z8$z8$z8$z8$z8$z8$z8 &&
+	z512=$z64$z64$z64$z64$z64$z64$z64$z64 &&
 	clean_fake_sendmail &&
 	cp $patches longline.patch &&
 	echo $z512$z512 >>longline.patch &&
@@ -225,11 +236,11 @@ test_expect_success 'reject long lines' '
 	grep longline.patch errors
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'no patch was sent' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'no patch was sent' '
 	! test -e commandline1
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'Author From: in message body' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'Author From: in message body' '
 	clean_fake_sendmail &&
 	git send-email \
 		--from="Example <nobody@example.com>" \
@@ -240,7 +251,7 @@ test_expect_success 'Author From: in message body' '
 	grep "From: A <author@example.com>" msgbody1
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'Author From: not in message body' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'Author From: not in message body' '
 	clean_fake_sendmail &&
 	git send-email \
 		--from="A <author@example.com>" \
@@ -251,7 +262,7 @@ test_expect_success 'Author From: not in message body' '
 	! grep "From: A <author@example.com>" msgbody1
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'allow long lines with --no-validate' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'allow long lines with --no-validate' '
 	git send-email \
 		--from="Example <nobody@example.com>" \
 		--to=nobody@example.com \
@@ -261,7 +272,7 @@ test_expect_success 'allow long lines with --no-validate' '
 		2>errors
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'Invalid In-Reply-To' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'Invalid In-Reply-To' '
 	clean_fake_sendmail &&
 	git send-email \
 		--from="Example <nobody@example.com>" \
@@ -273,7 +284,7 @@ test_expect_success 'Invalid In-Reply-To' '
 	! grep "^In-Reply-To: < *>" msgtxt1
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'Valid In-Reply-To when prompting' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'Valid In-Reply-To when prompting' '
 	clean_fake_sendmail &&
 	(echo "From Example <from@example.com>"
 	 echo "To Example <to@example.com>"
@@ -284,7 +295,7 @@ test_expect_success 'Valid In-Reply-To when prompting' '
 	! grep "^In-Reply-To: < *>" msgtxt1
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'setup fake editor' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'setup fake editor' '
 	(echo "#!$SHELL_PATH" &&
 	 echo "echo fake edit >>\"\$1\""
 	) >fake-editor &&
@@ -293,7 +304,7 @@ test_expect_success 'setup fake editor' '
 
 test_set_editor "$(pwd)/fake-editor"
 
-test_expect_success '--compose works' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ '--compose works' '
 	clean_fake_sendmail &&
 	git send-email \
 	--compose --subject foo \
@@ -304,14 +315,15 @@ test_expect_success '--compose works' '
 	2>errors
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'first message is compose text' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'first message is compose text' '
 	grep "^fake edit" msgtxt1
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'second message is patch' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'second message is patch' '
 	grep "Subject:.*Second" msgtxt2
 '
 
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'setup expect' "
 cat >expected-suppress-sob <<\EOF
 0001-Second.patch
 (mbox) Adding cc: A <author@example.com> from line 'From: A <author@example.com>'
@@ -338,6 +350,7 @@ X-Mailer: X-MAILER-STRING
 
 Result: OK
 EOF
+"
 
 test_suppression () {
 	git send-email \
@@ -354,11 +367,12 @@ test_suppression () {
 	test_cmp expected-suppress-$1${2+"-$2"} actual-suppress-$1${2+"-$2"}
 }
 
-test_expect_success 'sendemail.cc set' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'sendemail.cc set' '
 	git config sendemail.cc cc@example.com &&
 	test_suppression sob
 '
 
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'setup expect' "
 cat >expected-suppress-sob <<\EOF
 0001-Second.patch
 (mbox) Adding cc: A <author@example.com> from line 'From: A <author@example.com>'
@@ -383,12 +397,14 @@ X-Mailer: X-MAILER-STRING
 
 Result: OK
 EOF
+"
 
-test_expect_success 'sendemail.cc unset' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'sendemail.cc unset' '
 	git config --unset sendemail.cc &&
 	test_suppression sob
 '
 
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'setup expect' "
 cat >expected-suppress-cccmd <<\EOF
 0001-Second.patch
 (mbox) Adding cc: A <author@example.com> from line 'From: A <author@example.com>'
@@ -416,14 +432,16 @@ X-Mailer: X-MAILER-STRING
 
 Result: OK
 EOF
+"
 
-test_expect_success 'sendemail.cccmd' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'sendemail.cccmd' '
 	echo echo cc-cmd@example.com > cccmd &&
 	chmod +x cccmd &&
 	git config sendemail.cccmd ./cccmd &&
 	test_suppression cccmd
 '
 
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'setup expect' '
 cat >expected-suppress-all <<\EOF
 0001-Second.patch
 Dry-OK. Log says:
@@ -439,11 +457,13 @@ X-Mailer: X-MAILER-STRING
 
 Result: OK
 EOF
+'
 
-test_expect_success '--suppress-cc=all' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ '--suppress-cc=all' '
 	test_suppression all
 '
 
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'setup expect' "
 cat >expected-suppress-body <<\EOF
 0001-Second.patch
 (mbox) Adding cc: A <author@example.com> from line 'From: A <author@example.com>'
@@ -471,11 +491,13 @@ X-Mailer: X-MAILER-STRING
 
 Result: OK
 EOF
+"
 
-test_expect_success '--suppress-cc=body' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ '--suppress-cc=body' '
 	test_suppression body
 '
 
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'setup expect' "
 cat >expected-suppress-body-cccmd <<\EOF
 0001-Second.patch
 (mbox) Adding cc: A <author@example.com> from line 'From: A <author@example.com>'
@@ -500,11 +522,13 @@ X-Mailer: X-MAILER-STRING
 
 Result: OK
 EOF
+"
 
-test_expect_success '--suppress-cc=body --suppress-cc=cccmd' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ '--suppress-cc=body --suppress-cc=cccmd' '
 	test_suppression body cccmd
 '
 
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'setup expect' "
 cat >expected-suppress-sob <<\EOF
 0001-Second.patch
 (mbox) Adding cc: A <author@example.com> from line 'From: A <author@example.com>'
@@ -529,12 +553,14 @@ X-Mailer: X-MAILER-STRING
 
 Result: OK
 EOF
+"
 
-test_expect_success '--suppress-cc=sob' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ '--suppress-cc=sob' '
 	git config --unset sendemail.cccmd
 	test_suppression sob
 '
 
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'setup expect' "
 cat >expected-suppress-bodycc <<\EOF
 0001-Second.patch
 (mbox) Adding cc: A <author@example.com> from line 'From: A <author@example.com>'
@@ -562,11 +588,13 @@ X-Mailer: X-MAILER-STRING
 
 Result: OK
 EOF
+"
 
-test_expect_success '--suppress-cc=bodycc' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ '--suppress-cc=bodycc' '
 	test_suppression bodycc
 '
 
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'setup expect' "
 cat >expected-suppress-cc <<\EOF
 0001-Second.patch
 (mbox) Adding cc: A <author@example.com> from line 'From: A <author@example.com>'
@@ -588,8 +616,9 @@ X-Mailer: X-MAILER-STRING
 
 Result: OK
 EOF
+"
 
-test_expect_success '--suppress-cc=cc' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ '--suppress-cc=cc' '
 	test_suppression cc
 '
 
@@ -604,23 +633,23 @@ test_confirm () {
 	grep "Send this email" stdout
 }
 
-test_expect_success '--confirm=always' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ '--confirm=always' '
 	test_confirm --confirm=always --suppress-cc=all
 '
 
-test_expect_success '--confirm=auto' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ '--confirm=auto' '
 	test_confirm --confirm=auto
 '
 
-test_expect_success '--confirm=cc' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ '--confirm=cc' '
 	test_confirm --confirm=cc
 '
 
-test_expect_success '--confirm=compose' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ '--confirm=compose' '
 	test_confirm --confirm=compose --compose
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'confirm by default (due to cc)' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'confirm by default (due to cc)' '
 	CONFIRM=$(git config --get sendemail.confirm) &&
 	git config --unset sendemail.confirm &&
 	test_confirm
@@ -629,7 +658,7 @@ test_expect_success 'confirm by default (due to cc)' '
 	test $ret = "0"
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'confirm by default (due to --compose)' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'confirm by default (due to --compose)' '
 	CONFIRM=$(git config --get sendemail.confirm) &&
 	git config --unset sendemail.confirm &&
 	test_confirm --suppress-cc=all --compose
@@ -638,7 +667,7 @@ test_expect_success 'confirm by default (due to --compose)' '
 	test $ret = "0"
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'confirm detects EOF (inform assumes y)' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'confirm detects EOF (inform assumes y)' '
 	CONFIRM=$(git config --get sendemail.confirm) &&
 	git config --unset sendemail.confirm &&
 	rm -fr outdir &&
@@ -654,7 +683,7 @@ test_expect_success 'confirm detects EOF (inform assumes y)' '
 	test $ret = "0"
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'confirm detects EOF (auto causes failure)' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'confirm detects EOF (auto causes failure)' '
 	CONFIRM=$(git config --get sendemail.confirm) &&
 	git config sendemail.confirm auto &&
 	GIT_SEND_EMAIL_NOTTY=1 &&
@@ -669,7 +698,7 @@ test_expect_success 'confirm detects EOF (auto causes failure)' '
 	test $ret = "0"
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'confirm doesnt loop forever' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'confirm doesnt loop forever' '
 	CONFIRM=$(git config --get sendemail.confirm) &&
 	git config sendemail.confirm auto &&
 	GIT_SEND_EMAIL_NOTTY=1 &&
@@ -684,7 +713,7 @@ test_expect_success 'confirm doesnt loop forever' '
 	test $ret = "0"
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'utf8 Cc is rfc2047 encoded' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'utf8 Cc is rfc2047 encoded' '
 	clean_fake_sendmail &&
 	rm -fr outdir &&
 	git format-patch -1 -o outdir --cc="àéìöú <utf8@example.com>" &&
@@ -697,7 +726,7 @@ test_expect_success 'utf8 Cc is rfc2047 encoded' '
 	grep "=?UTF-8?q?=C3=A0=C3=A9=C3=AC=C3=B6=C3=BA?= <utf8@example.com>"
 '
 
-test_expect_success '--compose adds MIME for utf8 body' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ '--compose adds MIME for utf8 body' '
 	clean_fake_sendmail &&
 	(echo "#!$SHELL_PATH" &&
 	 echo "echo utf8 body: àéìöú >>\"\$1\""
@@ -714,7 +743,7 @@ test_expect_success '--compose adds MIME for utf8 body' '
 	grep "^Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8" msgtxt1
 '
 
-test_expect_success '--compose respects user mime type' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ '--compose respects user mime type' '
 	clean_fake_sendmail &&
 	(echo "#!$SHELL_PATH" &&
 	 echo "(echo MIME-Version: 1.0"
@@ -737,7 +766,7 @@ test_expect_success '--compose respects user mime type' '
 	! grep "^Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8" msgtxt1
 '
 
-test_expect_success '--compose adds MIME for utf8 subject' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ '--compose adds MIME for utf8 subject' '
 	clean_fake_sendmail &&
 	  GIT_EDITOR="\"$(pwd)/fake-editor\"" \
 	  git send-email \
@@ -750,7 +779,7 @@ test_expect_success '--compose adds MIME for utf8 subject' '
 	grep "^Subject: =?UTF-8?q?utf8-s=C3=BCbj=C3=ABct?=" msgtxt1
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'detects ambiguous reference/file conflict' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'detects ambiguous reference/file conflict' '
 	echo master > master &&
 	git add master &&
 	git commit -m"add master" &&
@@ -758,7 +787,7 @@ test_expect_success 'detects ambiguous reference/file conflict' '
 	grep disambiguate errors
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'feed two files' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'feed two files' '
 	rm -fr outdir &&
 	git format-patch -2 -o outdir &&
 	git send-email \
@@ -771,7 +800,7 @@ test_expect_success 'feed two files' '
 	test "z$(sed -n -e 2p subjects)" = "zSubject: [PATCH 2/2] add master"
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'in-reply-to but no threading' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'in-reply-to but no threading' '
 	git send-email \
 		--dry-run \
 		--from="Example <nobody@example.com>" \
@@ -782,7 +811,7 @@ test_expect_success 'in-reply-to but no threading' '
 	grep "In-Reply-To: <in-reply-id@example.com>"
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'no in-reply-to and no threading' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'no in-reply-to and no threading' '
 	git send-email \
 		--dry-run \
 		--from="Example <nobody@example.com>" \
@@ -792,7 +821,7 @@ test_expect_success 'no in-reply-to and no threading' '
 	! grep "In-Reply-To: " stdout
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'threading but no chain-reply-to' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'threading but no chain-reply-to' '
 	git send-email \
 		--dry-run \
 		--from="Example <nobody@example.com>" \
@@ -803,7 +832,7 @@ test_expect_success 'threading but no chain-reply-to' '
 	grep "In-Reply-To: " stdout
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'warning with an implicit --chain-reply-to' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'warning with an implicit --chain-reply-to' '
 	git send-email \
 	--dry-run \
 	--from="Example <nobody@example.com>" \
@@ -812,7 +841,7 @@ test_expect_success 'warning with an implicit --chain-reply-to' '
 	grep "no-chain-reply-to" errors
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'no warning with an explicit --chain-reply-to' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'no warning with an explicit --chain-reply-to' '
 	git send-email \
 	--dry-run \
 	--from="Example <nobody@example.com>" \
@@ -822,7 +851,7 @@ test_expect_success 'no warning with an explicit --chain-reply-to' '
 	! grep "no-chain-reply-to" errors
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'no warning with an explicit --no-chain-reply-to' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'no warning with an explicit --no-chain-reply-to' '
 	git send-email \
 	--dry-run \
 	--from="Example <nobody@example.com>" \
@@ -832,7 +861,7 @@ test_expect_success 'no warning with an explicit --no-chain-reply-to' '
 	! grep "no-chain-reply-to" errors
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'no warning with sendemail.chainreplyto = false' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'no warning with sendemail.chainreplyto = false' '
 	git config sendemail.chainreplyto false &&
 	git send-email \
 	--dry-run \
@@ -842,7 +871,7 @@ test_expect_success 'no warning with sendemail.chainreplyto = false' '
 	! grep "no-chain-reply-to" errors
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'no warning with sendemail.chainreplyto = true' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'no warning with sendemail.chainreplyto = true' '
 	git config sendemail.chainreplyto true &&
 	git send-email \
 	--dry-run \
@@ -852,7 +881,7 @@ test_expect_success 'no warning with sendemail.chainreplyto = true' '
 	! grep "no-chain-reply-to" errors
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'sendemail.to works' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'sendemail.to works' '
 	git config --replace-all sendemail.to "Somebody <somebody@ex.com>" &&
 	git send-email \
 		--dry-run \
@@ -861,7 +890,7 @@ test_expect_success 'sendemail.to works' '
 	grep "To: Somebody <somebody@ex.com>" stdout
 '
 
-test_expect_success '--no-to overrides sendemail.to' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ '--no-to overrides sendemail.to' '
 	git send-email \
 		--dry-run \
 		--from="Example <nobody@example.com>" \
@@ -872,7 +901,7 @@ test_expect_success '--no-to overrides sendemail.to' '
 	! grep "To: Somebody <somebody@ex.com>" stdout
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'sendemail.cc works' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'sendemail.cc works' '
 	git config --replace-all sendemail.cc "Somebody <somebody@ex.com>" &&
 	git send-email \
 		--dry-run \
@@ -882,7 +911,7 @@ test_expect_success 'sendemail.cc works' '
 	grep "Cc: Somebody <somebody@ex.com>" stdout
 '
 
-test_expect_success '--no-cc overrides sendemail.cc' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ '--no-cc overrides sendemail.cc' '
 	git send-email \
 		--dry-run \
 		--from="Example <nobody@example.com>" \
@@ -894,7 +923,7 @@ test_expect_success '--no-cc overrides sendemail.cc' '
 	! grep "Cc: Somebody <somebody@ex.com>" stdout
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'sendemail.bcc works' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'sendemail.bcc works' '
 	git config --replace-all sendemail.bcc "Other <other@ex.com>" &&
 	git send-email \
 		--dry-run \
@@ -905,7 +934,7 @@ test_expect_success 'sendemail.bcc works' '
 	grep "RCPT TO:<other@ex.com>" stdout
 '
 
-test_expect_success '--no-bcc overrides sendemail.bcc' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ '--no-bcc overrides sendemail.bcc' '
 	git send-email \
 		--dry-run \
 		--from="Example <nobody@example.com>" \
@@ -918,6 +947,7 @@ test_expect_success '--no-bcc overrides sendemail.bcc' '
 	! grep "RCPT TO:<other@ex.com>" stdout
 '
 
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'setup expect' '
 cat >email-using-8bit <<EOF
 From fe6ecc66ece37198fe5db91fa2fc41d9f4fe5cc4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
 Message-Id: <bogus-message-id@example.com>
@@ -927,14 +957,17 @@ Subject: subject goes here
 
 Dieser deutsche Text enthält einen Umlaut!
 EOF
+'
 
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'setup expect' '
 cat >content-type-decl <<EOF
 MIME-Version: 1.0
 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
 EOF
+'
 
-test_expect_success 'asks about and fixes 8bit encodings' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'asks about and fixes 8bit encodings' '
 	clean_fake_sendmail &&
 	echo |
 	git send-email --from=author@example.com --to=nobody@example.com \
@@ -947,7 +980,7 @@ test_expect_success 'asks about and fixes 8bit encodings' '
 	test_cmp actual content-type-decl
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'sendemail.8bitEncoding works' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'sendemail.8bitEncoding works' '
 	clean_fake_sendmail &&
 	git config sendemail.assume8bitEncoding UTF-8 &&
 	echo bogus |
@@ -958,7 +991,7 @@ test_expect_success 'sendemail.8bitEncoding works' '
 	test_cmp actual content-type-decl
 '
 
-test_expect_success '--8bit-encoding overrides sendemail.8bitEncoding' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ '--8bit-encoding overrides sendemail.8bitEncoding' '
 	clean_fake_sendmail &&
 	git config sendemail.assume8bitEncoding "bogus too" &&
 	echo bogus |
@@ -970,6 +1003,7 @@ test_expect_success '--8bit-encoding overrides sendemail.8bitEncoding' '
 	test_cmp actual content-type-decl
 '
 
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'setup expect' '
 cat >email-using-8bit <<EOF
 From fe6ecc66ece37198fe5db91fa2fc41d9f4fe5cc4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
 Message-Id: <bogus-message-id@example.com>
@@ -979,12 +1013,15 @@ Subject: Dieser Betreff enthält auch einen Umlaut!
 
 Nothing to see here.
 EOF
+'
 
+test_expect_success $PREREQ 'setup expect' '
 cat >expected <<EOF
 Subject: =?UTF-8?q?Dieser=20Betreff=20enth=C3=A4lt=20auch=20einen=20Umlaut!?=
 EOF
+'
 
-test_expect_success '--8bit-encoding also treats subject' '
+test_expect_success $PREREQ '--8bit-encoding also treats subject' '
 	clean_fake_sendmail &&
 	echo bogus |
 	git send-email --from=author@example.com --to=nobody@example.com \
diff --git a/t/t9130-git-svn-authors-file.sh b/t/t9130-git-svn-authors-file.sh
index 3c4f31925f..ec0a106614 100755
--- a/t/t9130-git-svn-authors-file.sh
+++ b/t/t9130-git-svn-authors-file.sh
@@ -95,8 +95,6 @@ test_expect_success 'fresh clone with svn.authors-file in config' '
 	(
 		rm -r "$GIT_DIR" &&
 		test x = x"$(git config svn.authorsfile)" &&
-		HOME="`pwd`" &&
-		export HOME &&
 		test_config="$HOME"/.gitconfig &&
 		unset GIT_CONFIG_NOGLOBAL &&
 		unset GIT_DIR &&
diff --git a/t/t9200-git-cvsexportcommit.sh b/t/t9200-git-cvsexportcommit.sh
index ee39b36d78..e5da65b99f 100755
--- a/t/t9200-git-cvsexportcommit.sh
+++ b/t/t9200-git-cvsexportcommit.sh
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 test_description='Test export of commits to CVS'
 
 . ./test-lib.sh
+. "$TEST_DIRECTORY"/lib-prereq-FILEMODE.sh
 
 if ! test_have_prereq PERL; then
 	skip_all='skipping git cvsexportcommit tests, perl not available'
@@ -229,11 +230,6 @@ test_expect_success \
       test_must_fail git cvsexportcommit -c $id
       )'
 
-if ! test "$(git config --bool core.filemode)" = false
-then
-	test_set_prereq FILEMODE
-fi
-
 test_expect_success FILEMODE \
      'Retain execute bit' \
      'mkdir G &&
diff --git a/t/t9600-cvsimport.sh b/t/t9600-cvsimport.sh
index 2eff9cd68c..559ce41795 100755
--- a/t/t9600-cvsimport.sh
+++ b/t/t9600-cvsimport.sh
@@ -3,17 +3,14 @@
 test_description='git cvsimport basic tests'
 . ./lib-cvs.sh
 
-if ! test_have_prereq PERL; then
-	skip_all='skipping git cvsimport tests, perl not available'
-	test_done
-fi
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup cvsroot environment' '
+	CVSROOT=$(pwd)/cvsroot &&
+	export CVSROOT
+'
 
-CVSROOT=$(pwd)/cvsroot
-export CVSROOT
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup cvsroot' '$CVS init'
 
-test_expect_success 'setup cvsroot' '$CVS init'
-
-test_expect_success 'setup a cvs module' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'setup a cvs module' '
 
 	mkdir "$CVSROOT/module" &&
 	$CVS co -d module-cvs module &&
@@ -45,23 +42,23 @@ EOF
 	cd ..
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'import a trivial module' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'import a trivial module' '
 
 	git cvsimport -a -R -z 0 -C module-git module &&
 	test_cmp module-cvs/o_fortuna module-git/o_fortuna
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'pack refs' 'cd module-git && git gc && cd ..'
+test_expect_success PERL 'pack refs' 'cd module-git && git gc && cd ..'
 
-test_expect_success 'initial import has correct .git/cvs-revisions' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'initial import has correct .git/cvs-revisions' '
 
 	(cd module-git &&
 	 git log --format="o_fortuna 1.1 %H" -1) > expected &&
 	test_cmp expected module-git/.git/cvs-revisions
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'update cvs module' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'update cvs module' '
 
 	cd module-cvs &&
 	cat <<EOF >o_fortuna &&
@@ -90,7 +87,7 @@ EOF
 	cd ..
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'update git module' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'update git module' '
 
 	cd module-git &&
 	git cvsimport -a -R -z 0 module &&
@@ -100,7 +97,7 @@ test_expect_success 'update git module' '
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'update has correct .git/cvs-revisions' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'update has correct .git/cvs-revisions' '
 
 	(cd module-git &&
 	 git log --format="o_fortuna 1.1 %H" -1 HEAD^ &&
@@ -108,7 +105,7 @@ test_expect_success 'update has correct .git/cvs-revisions' '
 	test_cmp expected module-git/.git/cvs-revisions
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'update cvs module' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'update cvs module' '
 
 	cd module-cvs &&
 		echo 1 >tick &&
@@ -118,7 +115,7 @@ test_expect_success 'update cvs module' '
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'cvsimport.module config works' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'cvsimport.module config works' '
 
 	cd module-git &&
 		git config cvsimport.module module &&
@@ -129,7 +126,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cvsimport.module config works' '
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'second update has correct .git/cvs-revisions' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'second update has correct .git/cvs-revisions' '
 
 	(cd module-git &&
 	 git log --format="o_fortuna 1.1 %H" -1 HEAD^^ &&
@@ -138,7 +135,7 @@ test_expect_success 'second update has correct .git/cvs-revisions' '
 	test_cmp expected module-git/.git/cvs-revisions
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'import from a CVS working tree' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'import from a CVS working tree' '
 
 	$CVS co -d import-from-wt module &&
 	cd import-from-wt &&
@@ -150,12 +147,12 @@ test_expect_success 'import from a CVS working tree' '
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'no .git/cvs-revisions created by default' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'no .git/cvs-revisions created by default' '
 
 	! test -e import-from-wt/.git/cvs-revisions
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'test entire HEAD' 'test_cmp_branch_tree master'
+test_expect_success PERL 'test entire HEAD' 'test_cmp_branch_tree master'
 
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t9601-cvsimport-vendor-branch.sh b/t/t9601-cvsimport-vendor-branch.sh
index 3afaf56526..827d39f5bf 100755
--- a/t/t9601-cvsimport-vendor-branch.sh
+++ b/t/t9601-cvsimport-vendor-branch.sh
@@ -34,50 +34,49 @@
 test_description='git cvsimport handling of vendor branches'
 . ./lib-cvs.sh
 
-CVSROOT="$TEST_DIRECTORY"/t9601/cvsroot
-export CVSROOT
+setup_cvs_test_repository t9601
 
-test_expect_success 'import a module with a vendor branch' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'import a module with a vendor branch' '
 
 	git cvsimport -C module-git module
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'check HEAD out of cvs repository' 'test_cvs_co master'
+test_expect_success PERL 'check HEAD out of cvs repository' 'test_cvs_co master'
 
-test_expect_success 'check master out of git repository' 'test_git_co master'
+test_expect_success PERL 'check master out of git repository' 'test_git_co master'
 
-test_expect_success 'check a file that was imported once' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'check a file that was imported once' '
 
 	test_cmp_branch_file master imported-once.txt
 
 '
 
-test_expect_failure 'check a file that was imported twice' '
+test_expect_failure PERL 'check a file that was imported twice' '
 
 	test_cmp_branch_file master imported-twice.txt
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'check a file that was imported then modified on HEAD' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'check a file that was imported then modified on HEAD' '
 
 	test_cmp_branch_file master imported-modified.txt
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'check a file that was imported, modified, then imported again' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'check a file that was imported, modified, then imported again' '
 
 	test_cmp_branch_file master imported-modified-imported.txt
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'check a file that was added to HEAD then imported' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'check a file that was added to HEAD then imported' '
 
 	test_cmp_branch_file master added-imported.txt
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'a vendor branch whose tag has been removed' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'a vendor branch whose tag has been removed' '
 
 	test_cmp_branch_file master imported-anonymously.txt
 
diff --git a/t/t9602-cvsimport-branches-tags.sh b/t/t9602-cvsimport-branches-tags.sh
index 67878b2d0c..e1db323f54 100755
--- a/t/t9602-cvsimport-branches-tags.sh
+++ b/t/t9602-cvsimport-branches-tags.sh
@@ -6,70 +6,69 @@
 test_description='git cvsimport handling of branches and tags'
 . ./lib-cvs.sh
 
-CVSROOT="$TEST_DIRECTORY"/t9602/cvsroot
-export CVSROOT
+setup_cvs_test_repository t9602
 
-test_expect_success 'import module' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'import module' '
 
 	git cvsimport -C module-git module
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'test branch master' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'test branch master' '
 
 	test_cmp_branch_tree master
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'test branch vendorbranch' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'test branch vendorbranch' '
 
 	test_cmp_branch_tree vendorbranch
 
 '
 
-test_expect_failure 'test branch B_FROM_INITIALS' '
+test_expect_failure PERL 'test branch B_FROM_INITIALS' '
 
 	test_cmp_branch_tree B_FROM_INITIALS
 
 '
 
-test_expect_failure 'test branch B_FROM_INITIALS_BUT_ONE' '
+test_expect_failure PERL 'test branch B_FROM_INITIALS_BUT_ONE' '
 
 	test_cmp_branch_tree B_FROM_INITIALS_BUT_ONE
 
 '
 
-test_expect_failure 'test branch B_MIXED' '
+test_expect_failure PERL 'test branch B_MIXED' '
 
 	test_cmp_branch_tree B_MIXED
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'test branch B_SPLIT' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'test branch B_SPLIT' '
 
 	test_cmp_branch_tree B_SPLIT
 
 '
 
-test_expect_failure 'test tag vendortag' '
+test_expect_failure PERL 'test tag vendortag' '
 
 	test_cmp_branch_tree vendortag
 
 '
 
-test_expect_success 'test tag T_ALL_INITIAL_FILES' '
+test_expect_success PERL 'test tag T_ALL_INITIAL_FILES' '
 
 	test_cmp_branch_tree T_ALL_INITIAL_FILES
 
 '
 
-test_expect_failure 'test tag T_ALL_INITIAL_FILES_BUT_ONE' '
+test_expect_failure PERL 'test tag T_ALL_INITIAL_FILES_BUT_ONE' '
 
 	test_cmp_branch_tree T_ALL_INITIAL_FILES_BUT_ONE
 
 '
 
-test_expect_failure 'test tag T_MIXED' '
+test_expect_failure PERL 'test tag T_MIXED' '
 
 	test_cmp_branch_tree T_MIXED
 
diff --git a/t/t9603-cvsimport-patchsets.sh b/t/t9603-cvsimport-patchsets.sh
index 958bdce4dd..93c4fa885e 100755
--- a/t/t9603-cvsimport-patchsets.sh
+++ b/t/t9603-cvsimport-patchsets.sh
@@ -14,8 +14,7 @@
 test_description='git cvsimport testing for correct patchset estimation'
 . ./lib-cvs.sh
 
-CVSROOT="$TEST_DIRECTORY"/t9603/cvsroot
-export CVSROOT
+setup_cvs_test_repository t9603
 
 test_expect_failure 'import with criss cross times on revisions' '
 
diff --git a/t/test-lib.sh b/t/test-lib.sh
index 3a3d4c4723..dff5e25ae6 100644
--- a/t/test-lib.sh
+++ b/t/test-lib.sh
@@ -331,12 +331,35 @@ test_set_prereq () {
 satisfied=" "
 
 test_have_prereq () {
-	case $satisfied in
-	*" $1 "*)
-		: yes, have it ;;
-	*)
-		! : nope ;;
-	esac
+	# prerequisites can be concatenated with ','
+	save_IFS=$IFS
+	IFS=,
+	set -- $*
+	IFS=$save_IFS
+
+	total_prereq=0
+	ok_prereq=0
+	missing_prereq=
+
+	for prerequisite
+	do
+		total_prereq=$(($total_prereq + 1))
+		case $satisfied in
+		*" $prerequisite "*)
+			ok_prereq=$(($ok_prereq + 1))
+			;;
+		*)
+			# Keep a list of missing prerequisites
+			if test -z "$missing_prereq"
+			then
+				missing_prereq=$prerequisite
+			else
+				missing_prereq="$prerequisite,$missing_prereq"
+			fi
+		esac
+	done
+
+	test $total_prereq = $ok_prereq
 }
 
 # You are not expected to call test_ok_ and test_failure_ directly, use
@@ -398,8 +421,14 @@ test_skip () {
 	fi
 	case "$to_skip" in
 	t)
+		of_prereq=
+		if test "$missing_prereq" != "$prereq"
+		then
+			of_prereq=" of $prereq"
+		fi
+
 		say_color skip >&3 "skipping test: $@"
-		say_color skip "ok $test_count # skip $1"
+		say_color skip "ok $test_count # skip $1 (missing $missing_prereq${of_prereq})"
 		: true
 		;;
 	*)
@@ -657,28 +686,31 @@ test_when_finished () {
 test_create_repo () {
 	test "$#" = 1 ||
 	error "bug in the test script: not 1 parameter to test-create-repo"
-	owd=`pwd`
 	repo="$1"
 	mkdir -p "$repo"
-	cd "$repo" || error "Cannot setup test environment"
-	"$GIT_EXEC_PATH/git-init" "--template=$TEST_DIRECTORY/../templates/blt/" >&3 2>&4 ||
-	error "cannot run git init -- have you built things yet?"
-	mv .git/hooks .git/hooks-disabled
-	cd "$owd"
+	(
+		cd "$repo" || error "Cannot setup test environment"
+		"$GIT_EXEC_PATH/git-init" "--template=$GIT_BUILD_DIR/templates/blt/" >&3 2>&4 ||
+		error "cannot run git init -- have you built things yet?"
+		mv .git/hooks .git/hooks-disabled
+	) || exit
 }
 
 test_done () {
 	GIT_EXIT_OK=t
-	test_results_dir="$TEST_DIRECTORY/test-results"
-	mkdir -p "$test_results_dir"
-	test_results_path="$test_results_dir/${0%.sh}-$$.counts"
 
-	echo "total $test_count" >> $test_results_path
-	echo "success $test_success" >> $test_results_path
-	echo "fixed $test_fixed" >> $test_results_path
-	echo "broken $test_broken" >> $test_results_path
-	echo "failed $test_failure" >> $test_results_path
-	echo "" >> $test_results_path
+	if test -z "$HARNESS_ACTIVE"; then
+		test_results_dir="$TEST_DIRECTORY/test-results"
+		mkdir -p "$test_results_dir"
+		test_results_path="$test_results_dir/${0%.sh}-$$.counts"
+
+		echo "total $test_count" >> $test_results_path
+		echo "success $test_success" >> $test_results_path
+		echo "fixed $test_fixed" >> $test_results_path
+		echo "broken $test_broken" >> $test_results_path
+		echo "failed $test_failure" >> $test_results_path
+		echo "" >> $test_results_path
+	fi
 
 	if test "$test_fixed" != 0
 	then
@@ -720,7 +752,15 @@ test_done () {
 
 # Test the binaries we have just built.  The tests are kept in
 # t/ subdirectory and are run in 'trash directory' subdirectory.
-TEST_DIRECTORY=$(pwd)
+if test -z "$TEST_DIRECTORY"
+then
+	# We allow tests to override this, in case they want to run tests
+	# outside of t/, e.g. for running tests on the test library
+	# itself.
+	TEST_DIRECTORY=$(pwd)
+fi
+GIT_BUILD_DIR="$TEST_DIRECTORY"/..
+
 if test -n "$valgrind"
 then
 	make_symlink () {
@@ -747,7 +787,7 @@ then
 		test -x "$1" || return
 
 		base=$(basename "$1")
-		symlink_target=$TEST_DIRECTORY/../$base
+		symlink_target=$GIT_BUILD_DIR/$base
 		# do not override scripts
 		if test -x "$symlink_target" &&
 		    test ! -d "$symlink_target" &&
@@ -766,7 +806,7 @@ then
 	# override all git executables in TEST_DIRECTORY/..
 	GIT_VALGRIND=$TEST_DIRECTORY/valgrind
 	mkdir -p "$GIT_VALGRIND"/bin
-	for file in $TEST_DIRECTORY/../git* $TEST_DIRECTORY/../test-*
+	for file in $GIT_BUILD_DIR/git* $GIT_BUILD_DIR/test-*
 	do
 		make_valgrind_symlink $file
 	done
@@ -787,10 +827,10 @@ then
 elif test -n "$GIT_TEST_INSTALLED" ; then
 	GIT_EXEC_PATH=$($GIT_TEST_INSTALLED/git --exec-path)  ||
 	error "Cannot run git from $GIT_TEST_INSTALLED."
-	PATH=$GIT_TEST_INSTALLED:$TEST_DIRECTORY/..:$PATH
+	PATH=$GIT_TEST_INSTALLED:$GIT_BUILD_DIR:$PATH
 	GIT_EXEC_PATH=${GIT_TEST_EXEC_PATH:-$GIT_EXEC_PATH}
 else # normal case, use ../bin-wrappers only unless $with_dashes:
-	git_bin_dir="$TEST_DIRECTORY/../bin-wrappers"
+	git_bin_dir="$GIT_BUILD_DIR/bin-wrappers"
 	if ! test -x "$git_bin_dir/git" ; then
 		if test -z "$with_dashes" ; then
 			say "$git_bin_dir/git is not executable; using GIT_EXEC_PATH"
@@ -798,18 +838,18 @@ else # normal case, use ../bin-wrappers only unless $with_dashes:
 		with_dashes=t
 	fi
 	PATH="$git_bin_dir:$PATH"
-	GIT_EXEC_PATH=$TEST_DIRECTORY/..
+	GIT_EXEC_PATH=$GIT_BUILD_DIR
 	if test -n "$with_dashes" ; then
-		PATH="$TEST_DIRECTORY/..:$PATH"
+		PATH="$GIT_BUILD_DIR:$PATH"
 	fi
 fi
-GIT_TEMPLATE_DIR=$(pwd)/../templates/blt
+GIT_TEMPLATE_DIR="$GIT_BUILD_DIR"/templates/blt
 unset GIT_CONFIG
 GIT_CONFIG_NOSYSTEM=1
 GIT_CONFIG_NOGLOBAL=1
 export PATH GIT_EXEC_PATH GIT_TEMPLATE_DIR GIT_CONFIG_NOSYSTEM GIT_CONFIG_NOGLOBAL
 
-. ../GIT-BUILD-OPTIONS
+. "$GIT_BUILD_DIR"/GIT-BUILD-OPTIONS
 
 if test -z "$GIT_TEST_CMP"
 then
@@ -821,22 +861,22 @@ then
 	fi
 fi
 
-GITPERLLIB=$(pwd)/../perl/blib/lib:$(pwd)/../perl/blib/arch/auto/Git
+GITPERLLIB="$GIT_BUILD_DIR"/perl/blib/lib:"$GIT_BUILD_DIR"/perl/blib/arch/auto/Git
 export GITPERLLIB
-test -d ../templates/blt || {
+test -d "$GIT_BUILD_DIR"/templates/blt || {
 	error "You haven't built things yet, have you?"
 }
 
 if test -z "$GIT_TEST_INSTALLED" && test -z "$NO_PYTHON"
 then
-	GITPYTHONLIB="$(pwd)/../git_remote_helpers/build/lib"
+	GITPYTHONLIB="$GIT_BUILD_DIR/git_remote_helpers/build/lib"
 	export GITPYTHONLIB
-	test -d ../git_remote_helpers/build || {
+	test -d "$GIT_BUILD_DIR"/git_remote_helpers/build || {
 		error "You haven't built git_remote_helpers yet, have you?"
 	}
 fi
 
-if ! test -x ../test-chmtime; then
+if ! test -x "$GIT_BUILD_DIR"/test-chmtime; then
 	echo >&2 'You need to build test-chmtime:'
 	echo >&2 'Run "make test-chmtime" in the source (toplevel) directory'
 	exit 1
@@ -861,6 +901,9 @@ test_create_repo "$test"
 # in subprocesses like git equals our $PWD (for pathname comparisons).
 cd -P "$test" || exit 1
 
+HOME=$(pwd)
+export HOME
+
 this_test=${0##*/}
 this_test=${this_test%%-*}
 for skp in $GIT_SKIP_TESTS
@@ -922,3 +965,7 @@ test -z "$NO_PYTHON" && test_set_prereq PYTHON
 # test whether the filesystem supports symbolic links
 ln -s x y 2>/dev/null && test -h y 2>/dev/null && test_set_prereq SYMLINKS
 rm -f y
+
+# When the tests are run as root, permission tests will report that
+# things are writable when they shouldn't be.
+test -w / || test_set_prereq SANITY