diff --git a/helix-core/src/syntax.rs b/helix-core/src/syntax.rs
index 61d382fde..f907629fe 100644
--- a/helix-core/src/syntax.rs
+++ b/helix-core/src/syntax.rs
@@ -61,6 +61,12 @@ pub struct Configuration {
     pub language: Vec<LanguageConfiguration>,
 }
 
+impl Default for Configuration {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        crate::config::default_syntax_loader()
+    }
+}
+
 // largely based on tree-sitter/cli/src/loader.rs
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "kebab-case", deny_unknown_fields)]
diff --git a/helix-term/src/application.rs b/helix-term/src/application.rs
index fe53d73d7..4fde2a66d 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/application.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/application.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 use arc_swap::{access::Map, ArcSwap};
 use futures_util::Stream;
 use helix_core::{
-    config::{default_syntax_loader, user_syntax_loader},
     diagnostic::{DiagnosticTag, NumberOrString},
     path::get_relative_path,
     pos_at_coords, syntax, Selection,
@@ -110,7 +109,11 @@ fn restore_term() -> Result<(), Error> {
 }
 
 impl Application {
-    pub fn new(args: Args, config: Config) -> Result<Self, Error> {
+    pub fn new(
+        args: Args,
+        config: Config,
+        syn_loader_conf: syntax::Configuration,
+    ) -> Result<Self, Error> {
         #[cfg(feature = "integration")]
         setup_integration_logging();
 
@@ -137,14 +140,6 @@ impl Application {
             })
             .unwrap_or_else(|| theme_loader.default_theme(true_color));
 
-        let syn_loader_conf = user_syntax_loader().unwrap_or_else(|err| {
-            eprintln!("Bad language config: {}", err);
-            eprintln!("Press <ENTER> to continue with default language config");
-            use std::io::Read;
-            // This waits for an enter press.
-            let _ = std::io::stdin().read(&mut []);
-            default_syntax_loader()
-        });
         let syn_loader = std::sync::Arc::new(syntax::Loader::new(syn_loader_conf));
 
         let mut compositor = Compositor::new().context("build compositor")?;
diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands.rs b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
index 6deecbe26..f6d583f51 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
@@ -2518,7 +2518,8 @@ async fn make_format_callback(
     format: impl Future<Output = Result<Transaction, FormatterError>> + Send + 'static,
     write: Option<(Option<PathBuf>, bool)>,
 ) -> anyhow::Result<job::Callback> {
-    let format = format.await?;
+    let format = format.await;
+
     let call: job::Callback = Callback::Editor(Box::new(move |editor| {
         if !editor.documents.contains_key(&doc_id) {
             return;
@@ -2528,19 +2529,21 @@ async fn make_format_callback(
         let doc = doc_mut!(editor, &doc_id);
         let view = view_mut!(editor);
 
-        if doc.version() == doc_version {
-            apply_transaction(&format, doc, view);
-            doc.append_changes_to_history(view.id);
-            doc.detect_indent_and_line_ending();
-            view.ensure_cursor_in_view(doc, scrolloff);
+        if let Ok(format) = format {
+            if doc.version() == doc_version {
+                apply_transaction(&format, doc, view);
+                doc.append_changes_to_history(view.id);
+                doc.detect_indent_and_line_ending();
+                view.ensure_cursor_in_view(doc, scrolloff);
+            } else {
+                log::info!("discarded formatting changes because the document changed");
+            }
+        }
 
-            if let Some((path, force)) = write {
-                if let Err(err) = doc.save(path, force) {
-                    editor.set_error(format!("Error saving: {}", err));
-                }
+        if let Some((path, force)) = write {
+            if let Err(err) = doc.save(path, force) {
+                editor.set_error(format!("Error saving: {}", err));
             }
-        } else {
-            log::info!("discarded formatting changes because the document changed");
         }
     }));
 
diff --git a/helix-term/src/main.rs b/helix-term/src/main.rs
index 726bf9e3b..96b695c6f 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/main.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/main.rs
@@ -139,8 +139,18 @@ FLAGS:
         Err(err) => return Err(Error::new(err)),
     };
 
+    let syn_loader_conf = helix_core::config::user_syntax_loader().unwrap_or_else(|err| {
+        eprintln!("Bad language config: {}", err);
+        eprintln!("Press <ENTER> to continue with default language config");
+        use std::io::Read;
+        // This waits for an enter press.
+        let _ = std::io::stdin().read(&mut []);
+        helix_core::config::default_syntax_loader()
+    });
+
     // TODO: use the thread local executor to spawn the application task separately from the work pool
-    let mut app = Application::new(args, config).context("unable to create new application")?;
+    let mut app = Application::new(args, config, syn_loader_conf)
+        .context("unable to create new application")?;
 
     let exit_code = app.run(&mut EventStream::new()).await?;
 
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/test/auto_indent.rs b/helix-term/tests/test/auto_indent.rs
index 2f638893c..5c093a5db 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/test/auto_indent.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/test/auto_indent.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ async fn auto_indent_c() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
             ..Default::default()
         },
         Config::default(),
+        helpers::test_syntax_conf(None),
         // switches to append mode?
         (
             helpers::platform_line("void foo() {#[|}]#").as_ref(),
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/test/auto_pairs.rs b/helix-term/tests/test/auto_pairs.rs
index ec47a5b4a..caf80bd45 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/test/auto_pairs.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/test/auto_pairs.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ async fn auto_pairs_basic() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
             },
             ..Default::default()
         },
+        helpers::test_syntax_conf(None),
         ("#[\n|]#", "i(<esc>", "(#[|\n]#"),
     )
     .await?;
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/test/commands.rs b/helix-term/tests/test/commands.rs
index 0279e348c..5238cc69b 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/test/commands.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/test/commands.rs
@@ -1,16 +1,18 @@
 use std::ops::RangeInclusive;
 
 use helix_core::diagnostic::Severity;
-use helix_term::application::Application;
 
 use super::*;
 
 #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
 async fn test_write_quit_fail() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let file = helpers::new_readonly_tempfile()?;
+    let mut app = helpers::AppBuilder::new()
+        .with_file(file.path(), None)
+        .build()?;
 
     test_key_sequence(
-        &mut helpers::app_with_file(file.path())?,
+        &mut app,
         Some("ihello<esc>:wq<ret>"),
         Some(&|app| {
             let mut docs: Vec<_> = app.editor.documents().collect();
@@ -30,7 +32,7 @@ async fn test_write_quit_fail() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
 async fn test_buffer_close_concurrent() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     test_key_sequences(
-        &mut Application::new(Args::default(), Config::default())?,
+        &mut helpers::AppBuilder::new().build()?,
         vec![
             (
                 None,
@@ -70,8 +72,12 @@ async fn test_buffer_close_concurrent() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 
     command.push_str(":buffer<minus>close<ret>");
 
+    let mut app = helpers::AppBuilder::new()
+        .with_file(file.path(), None)
+        .build()?;
+
     test_key_sequence(
-        &mut helpers::app_with_file(file.path())?,
+        &mut app,
         Some(&command),
         Some(&|app| {
             assert!(!app.editor.is_err(), "error: {:?}", app.editor.get_status());
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/test/helpers.rs b/helix-term/tests/test/helpers.rs
index ed1a03317..c2fbe9536 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/test/helpers.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/test/helpers.rs
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ pub async fn test_key_sequence_with_input_text<T: Into<TestCase>>(
     let test_case = test_case.into();
     let mut app = match app {
         Some(app) => app,
-        None => Application::new(Args::default(), Config::default())?,
+        None => Application::new(Args::default(), Config::default(), test_syntax_conf(None))?,
     };
 
     let (view, doc) = helix_view::current!(app.editor);
@@ -132,16 +132,30 @@ pub async fn test_key_sequence_with_input_text<T: Into<TestCase>>(
     .await
 }
 
+/// Generates language configs that merge in overrides, like a user language
+/// config. The argument string must be a raw TOML document.
+pub fn test_syntax_conf(overrides: Option<String>) -> helix_core::syntax::Configuration {
+    let mut lang = helix_loader::config::default_lang_config();
+
+    if let Some(overrides) = overrides {
+        let override_toml = toml::from_str(&overrides).unwrap();
+        lang = helix_loader::merge_toml_values(lang, override_toml, 3);
+    }
+
+    lang.try_into().unwrap()
+}
+
 /// Use this for very simple test cases where there is one input
 /// document, selection, and sequence of key presses, and you just
 /// want to verify the resulting document and selection.
 pub async fn test_with_config<T: Into<TestCase>>(
     args: Args,
     config: Config,
+    syn_conf: helix_core::syntax::Configuration,
     test_case: T,
 ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let test_case = test_case.into();
-    let app = Application::new(args, config)?;
+    let app = Application::new(args, config, syn_conf)?;
 
     test_key_sequence_with_input_text(
         Some(app),
@@ -162,7 +176,13 @@ pub async fn test_with_config<T: Into<TestCase>>(
 }
 
 pub async fn test<T: Into<TestCase>>(test_case: T) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
-    test_with_config(Args::default(), Config::default(), test_case).await
+    test_with_config(
+        Args::default(),
+        Config::default(),
+        test_syntax_conf(None),
+        test_case,
+    )
+    .await
 }
 
 pub fn temp_file_with_contents<S: AsRef<str>>(
@@ -207,16 +227,60 @@ pub fn new_readonly_tempfile() -> anyhow::Result<NamedTempFile> {
     Ok(file)
 }
 
-/// Creates a new Application with default config that opens the given file
-/// path
-pub fn app_with_file<P: Into<PathBuf>>(path: P) -> anyhow::Result<Application> {
-    Application::new(
-        Args {
-            files: vec![(path.into(), helix_core::Position::default())],
-            ..Default::default()
-        },
-        Config::default(),
-    )
+#[derive(Default)]
+pub struct AppBuilder {
+    args: Args,
+    config: Config,
+    syn_conf: helix_core::syntax::Configuration,
+    input: Option<(String, Selection)>,
+}
+
+impl AppBuilder {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        AppBuilder::default()
+    }
+
+    pub fn with_file<P: Into<PathBuf>>(
+        mut self,
+        path: P,
+        pos: Option<helix_core::Position>,
+    ) -> Self {
+        self.args.files.push((path.into(), pos.unwrap_or_default()));
+        self
+    }
+
+    pub fn with_config(mut self, config: Config) -> Self {
+        self.config = config;
+        self
+    }
+
+    pub fn with_input_text<S: Into<String>>(mut self, input_text: S) -> Self {
+        self.input = Some(test::print(&input_text.into()));
+        self
+    }
+
+    pub fn with_lang_config(mut self, syn_conf: helix_core::syntax::Configuration) -> Self {
+        self.syn_conf = syn_conf;
+        self
+    }
+
+    pub fn build(self) -> anyhow::Result<Application> {
+        let mut app = Application::new(self.args, self.config, self.syn_conf)?;
+
+        if let Some((text, selection)) = self.input {
+            let (view, doc) = helix_view::current!(app.editor);
+            let sel = doc.selection(view.id).clone();
+            let trans = Transaction::change_by_selection(doc.text(), &sel, |_| {
+                (0, doc.text().len_chars(), Some((text.clone()).into()))
+            })
+            .with_selection(selection);
+
+            // replace the initial text with the input text
+            doc.apply(&trans, view.id);
+        }
+
+        Ok(app)
+    }
 }
 
 pub fn assert_file_has_content(file: &mut File, content: &str) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/test/movement.rs b/helix-term/tests/test/movement.rs
index 45aae39e1..7212d026f 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/test/movement.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/test/movement.rs
@@ -70,7 +70,9 @@ async fn insert_to_normal_mode_cursor_position() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 async fn cursor_position_newly_opened_file() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let test = |content: &str, expected_sel: Selection| -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         let file = helpers::temp_file_with_contents(content)?;
-        let mut app = helpers::app_with_file(file.path())?;
+        let mut app = helpers::AppBuilder::new()
+            .with_file(file.path(), None)
+            .build()?;
 
         let (view, doc) = helix_view::current!(app.editor);
         let sel = doc.selection(view.id).clone();
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/test/prompt.rs b/helix-term/tests/test/prompt.rs
index 2ab9604c6..62ec03f1b 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/test/prompt.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/test/prompt.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,9 @@
 use super::*;
 
-use helix_term::application::Application;
-
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn test_history_completion() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     test_key_sequence(
-        &mut Application::new(Args::default(), Config::default())?,
+        &mut AppBuilder::new().build()?,
         Some(":asdf<ret>:theme d<C-n><tab>"),
         Some(&|app| {
             assert!(!app.editor.is_err());
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/test/splits.rs b/helix-term/tests/test/splits.rs
index 70a517be4..5807413a2 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/test/splits.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/test/splits.rs
@@ -6,8 +6,12 @@ async fn test_split_write_quit_all() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let mut file2 = tempfile::NamedTempFile::new()?;
     let mut file3 = tempfile::NamedTempFile::new()?;
 
+    let mut app = helpers::AppBuilder::new()
+        .with_file(file1.path(), None)
+        .build()?;
+
     test_key_sequences(
-        &mut helpers::app_with_file(file1.path())?,
+        &mut app,
         vec![
             (
                 Some(&format!(
@@ -66,9 +70,12 @@ async fn test_split_write_quit_all() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
 async fn test_split_write_quit_same_file() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let mut file = tempfile::NamedTempFile::new()?;
+    let mut app = helpers::AppBuilder::new()
+        .with_file(file.path(), None)
+        .build()?;
 
     test_key_sequences(
-        &mut helpers::app_with_file(file.path())?,
+        &mut app,
         vec![
             (
                 Some("O<esc>ihello<esc>:sp<ret>ogoodbye<esc>"),
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/test/write.rs b/helix-term/tests/test/write.rs
index 7d1054316..6aa51a315 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/test/write.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/test/write.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ use std::{
 };
 
 use helix_core::diagnostic::Severity;
-use helix_term::application::Application;
 use helix_view::doc;
 
 use super::*;
@@ -12,9 +11,12 @@ use super::*;
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn test_write() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let mut file = tempfile::NamedTempFile::new()?;
+    let mut app = helpers::AppBuilder::new()
+        .with_file(file.path(), None)
+        .build()?;
 
     test_key_sequence(
-        &mut helpers::app_with_file(file.path())?,
+        &mut app,
         Some("ithe gostak distims the doshes<ret><esc>:w<ret>"),
         None,
         false,
@@ -38,9 +40,12 @@ async fn test_write() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
 async fn test_write_quit() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let mut file = tempfile::NamedTempFile::new()?;
+    let mut app = helpers::AppBuilder::new()
+        .with_file(file.path(), None)
+        .build()?;
 
     test_key_sequence(
-        &mut helpers::app_with_file(file.path())?,
+        &mut app,
         Some("ithe gostak distims the doshes<ret><esc>:wq<ret>"),
         None,
         true,
@@ -66,19 +71,16 @@ async fn test_write_concurrent() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let mut file = tempfile::NamedTempFile::new()?;
     let mut command = String::new();
     const RANGE: RangeInclusive<i32> = 1..=5000;
+    let mut app = helpers::AppBuilder::new()
+        .with_file(file.path(), None)
+        .build()?;
 
     for i in RANGE {
         let cmd = format!("%c{}<esc>:w<ret>", i);
         command.push_str(&cmd);
     }
 
-    test_key_sequence(
-        &mut helpers::app_with_file(file.path())?,
-        Some(&command),
-        None,
-        false,
-    )
-    .await?;
+    test_key_sequence(&mut app, Some(&command), None, false).await?;
 
     file.as_file_mut().flush()?;
     file.as_file_mut().sync_all()?;
@@ -93,9 +95,12 @@ async fn test_write_concurrent() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn test_write_fail_mod_flag() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let file = helpers::new_readonly_tempfile()?;
+    let mut app = helpers::AppBuilder::new()
+        .with_file(file.path(), None)
+        .build()?;
 
     test_key_sequences(
-        &mut helpers::app_with_file(file.path())?,
+        &mut app,
         vec![
             (
                 None,
@@ -133,7 +138,7 @@ async fn test_write_scratch_to_new_path() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let mut file = tempfile::NamedTempFile::new()?;
 
     test_key_sequence(
-        &mut Application::new(Args::default(), Config::default())?,
+        &mut AppBuilder::new().build()?,
         Some(format!("ihello<esc>:w {}<ret>", file.path().to_string_lossy()).as_ref()),
         Some(&|app| {
             assert!(!app.editor.is_err());
@@ -174,19 +179,40 @@ async fn test_write_scratch_no_path_fails() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn test_write_auto_format_fails_still_writes() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    let mut file = tempfile::Builder::new().suffix(".rs").tempfile()?;
+
+    let lang_conf = indoc! {r#"
+            [[language]]
+            name = "rust"
+            formatter = { command = "bash", args = [ "-c", "exit 1" ] }
+        "#};
+
+    let mut app = helpers::AppBuilder::new()
+        .with_file(file.path(), None)
+        .with_input_text("#[l|]#et foo = 0;\n")
+        .with_lang_config(helpers::test_syntax_conf(Some(lang_conf.into())))
+        .build()?;
+
+    test_key_sequences(&mut app, vec![(Some(":w<ret>"), None)], false).await?;
+
+    // file still saves
+    helpers::assert_file_has_content(file.as_file_mut(), "let foo = 0;\n")?;
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn test_write_new_path() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let mut file1 = tempfile::NamedTempFile::new().unwrap();
     let mut file2 = tempfile::NamedTempFile::new().unwrap();
+    let mut app = helpers::AppBuilder::new()
+        .with_file(file1.path(), None)
+        .build()?;
 
     test_key_sequences(
-        &mut Application::new(
-            Args {
-                files: vec![(file1.path().to_path_buf(), Position::default())],
-                ..Default::default()
-            },
-            Config::default(),
-        )?,
+        &mut app,
         vec![
             (
                 Some("ii can eat glass, it will not hurt me<ret><esc>:w<ret>"),
@@ -228,7 +254,7 @@ async fn test_write_fail_new_path() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let file = helpers::new_readonly_tempfile()?;
 
     test_key_sequences(
-        &mut Application::new(Args::default(), Config::default())?,
+        &mut AppBuilder::new().build()?,
         vec![
             (
                 None,