diff --git a/helix-term/tests/integration.rs b/helix-term/tests/integration.rs
index b2b78e63..54364e12 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/integration.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/integration.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ mod integration {
             Args::default(),
             Config::default(),
             ("#[\n|]#", "ihello world<esc>", "hello world#[|\n]#"),
+            None,
         )
         .await?;
 
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ mod integration {
 
     mod auto_indent;
     mod auto_pairs;
+    mod commands;
     mod movement;
     mod write;
 }
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/integration/auto_indent.rs b/helix-term/tests/integration/auto_indent.rs
index 74d1ac58..fdfc7dfb 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/integration/auto_indent.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/integration/auto_indent.rs
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ async fn auto_indent_c() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
                 }
             "},
         ),
+        None,
     )
     .await?;
 
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/integration/auto_pairs.rs b/helix-term/tests/integration/auto_pairs.rs
index 52fee55e..d34cd0fd 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/integration/auto_pairs.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/integration/auto_pairs.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ async fn auto_pairs_basic() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         Args::default(),
         Config::default(),
         ("#[\n|]#", "i(<esc>", "(#[|)]#\n"),
+        None,
     )
     .await?;
 
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ async fn auto_pairs_basic() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
             ..Default::default()
         },
         ("#[\n|]#", "i(<esc>", "(#[|\n]#"),
+        None,
     )
     .await?;
 
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/integration/commands.rs b/helix-term/tests/integration/commands.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ec60ac96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/helix-term/tests/integration/commands.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+use helix_core::diagnostic::Severity;
+use helix_term::application::Application;
+
+use super::*;
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn test_write_quit_fail() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    test_key_sequence(
+        &mut Application::new(
+            Args {
+                files: vec![(PathBuf::from("/foo"), Position::default())],
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+            Config::default(),
+        )?,
+        "ihello<esc>:wq<ret>",
+        Some(&|app| {
+            assert_eq!(&Severity::Error, app.editor.get_status().unwrap().1);
+        }),
+        None,
+    )
+    .await?;
+
+    Ok(())
+}
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/integration/helpers.rs b/helix-term/tests/integration/helpers.rs
index df662f07..60bfa331 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/integration/helpers.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/integration/helpers.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ use crossterm::event::{Event, KeyEvent};
 use helix_core::{test, Selection, Transaction};
 use helix_term::{application::Application, args::Args, config::Config};
 use helix_view::{doc, input::parse_macro};
-use tokio::time::timeout;
 use tokio_stream::wrappers::UnboundedReceiverStream;
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
@@ -32,35 +31,48 @@ impl<S: Into<String>> From<(S, S, S)> for TestCase {
     }
 }
 
+#[inline]
 pub async fn test_key_sequence(
     app: &mut Application,
     in_keys: &str,
     test_fn: Option<&dyn Fn(&Application)>,
+    timeout: Option<Duration>,
 ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    test_key_sequences(app, vec![(in_keys, test_fn)], timeout).await
+}
+
+pub async fn test_key_sequences(
+    app: &mut Application,
+    inputs: Vec<(&str, Option<&dyn Fn(&Application)>)>,
+    timeout: Option<Duration>,
+) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    let timeout = timeout.unwrap_or(Duration::from_millis(500));
     let (tx, rx) = tokio::sync::mpsc::unbounded_channel();
+    let mut rx_stream = UnboundedReceiverStream::new(rx);
 
-    for key_event in parse_macro(&in_keys)?.into_iter() {
-        tx.send(Ok(Event::Key(KeyEvent::from(key_event))))?;
-    }
+    for (in_keys, test_fn) in inputs {
+        for key_event in parse_macro(&in_keys)?.into_iter() {
+            tx.send(Ok(Event::Key(KeyEvent::from(key_event))))?;
+        }
 
-    let mut rx_stream = UnboundedReceiverStream::new(rx);
-    let event_loop = app.event_loop(&mut rx_stream);
-    let result = timeout(Duration::from_millis(500), event_loop).await;
+        let event_loop = app.event_loop(&mut rx_stream);
+        let result = tokio::time::timeout(timeout, event_loop).await;
 
-    if result.is_ok() {
-        bail!("application exited before test function could run");
-    }
+        if result.is_ok() {
+            bail!("application exited before test function could run");
+        }
 
-    if let Some(test) = test_fn {
-        test(app);
-    };
+        if let Some(test) = test_fn {
+            test(app);
+        };
+    }
 
     for key_event in parse_macro("<esc>:q!<ret>")?.into_iter() {
         tx.send(Ok(Event::Key(KeyEvent::from(key_event))))?;
     }
 
     let event_loop = app.event_loop(&mut rx_stream);
-    timeout(Duration::from_millis(5000), event_loop).await?;
+    tokio::time::timeout(timeout, event_loop).await?;
     app.close().await?;
 
     Ok(())
@@ -70,6 +82,7 @@ pub async fn test_key_sequence_with_input_text<T: Into<TestCase>>(
     app: Option<Application>,
     test_case: T,
     test_fn: &dyn Fn(&Application),
+    timeout: Option<Duration>,
 ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let test_case = test_case.into();
     let mut app =
@@ -87,7 +100,7 @@ pub async fn test_key_sequence_with_input_text<T: Into<TestCase>>(
         view.id,
     );
 
-    test_key_sequence(&mut app, &test_case.in_keys, Some(test_fn)).await
+    test_key_sequence(&mut app, &test_case.in_keys, Some(test_fn), timeout).await
 }
 
 /// Use this for very simple test cases where there is one input
@@ -97,20 +110,26 @@ pub async fn test_key_sequence_text_result<T: Into<TestCase>>(
     args: Args,
     config: Config,
     test_case: T,
+    timeout: Option<Duration>,
 ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let test_case = test_case.into();
     let app = Application::new(args, config).unwrap();
 
-    test_key_sequence_with_input_text(Some(app), test_case.clone(), &|app| {
-        let doc = doc!(app.editor);
-        assert_eq!(&test_case.out_text, doc.text());
-
-        let mut selections: Vec<_> = doc.selections().values().cloned().collect();
-        assert_eq!(1, selections.len());
-
-        let sel = selections.pop().unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(test_case.out_selection, sel);
-    })
+    test_key_sequence_with_input_text(
+        Some(app),
+        test_case.clone(),
+        &|app| {
+            let doc = doc!(app.editor);
+            assert_eq!(&test_case.out_text, doc.text());
+
+            let mut selections: Vec<_> = doc.selections().values().cloned().collect();
+            assert_eq!(1, selections.len());
+
+            let sel = selections.pop().unwrap();
+            assert_eq!(test_case.out_selection, sel);
+        },
+        timeout,
+    )
     .await
 }
 
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/integration/movement.rs b/helix-term/tests/integration/movement.rs
index cac10852..a1d294c6 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/integration/movement.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/integration/movement.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ async fn insert_mode_cursor_position() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
             out_text: String::new(),
             out_selection: Selection::single(0, 0),
         },
+        None,
     )
     .await?;
 
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ async fn insert_mode_cursor_position() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         Args::default(),
         Config::default(),
         ("#[\n|]#", "i", "#[|\n]#"),
+        None,
     )
     .await?;
 
@@ -28,6 +30,7 @@ async fn insert_mode_cursor_position() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         Args::default(),
         Config::default(),
         ("#[\n|]#", "i<esc>", "#[|\n]#"),
+        None,
     )
     .await?;
 
@@ -35,6 +38,7 @@ async fn insert_mode_cursor_position() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         Args::default(),
         Config::default(),
         ("#[\n|]#", "i<esc>i", "#[|\n]#"),
+        None,
     )
     .await?;
 
@@ -48,6 +52,7 @@ async fn insert_to_normal_mode_cursor_position() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         Args::default(),
         Config::default(),
         ("#[f|]#oo\n", "vll<A-;><esc>", "#[|foo]#\n"),
+        None,
     )
     .await?;
 
@@ -65,6 +70,7 @@ async fn insert_to_normal_mode_cursor_position() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
                 #(|bar)#"
             },
         ),
+        None,
     )
     .await?;
 
@@ -82,6 +88,7 @@ async fn insert_to_normal_mode_cursor_position() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
                 #(ba|)#r"
             },
         ),
+        None,
     )
     .await?;
 
@@ -99,6 +106,7 @@ async fn insert_to_normal_mode_cursor_position() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
                 #(b|)#ar"
             },
         ),
+        None,
     )
     .await?;
 
diff --git a/helix-term/tests/integration/write.rs b/helix-term/tests/integration/write.rs
index 47e56288..27f97a45 100644
--- a/helix-term/tests/integration/write.rs
+++ b/helix-term/tests/integration/write.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 use std::{
     io::{Read, Write},
-    ops::RangeInclusive,
+    time::Duration,
 };
 
+use helix_core::diagnostic::Severity;
 use helix_term::application::Application;
+use helix_view::doc;
 
 use super::*;
 
@@ -21,6 +23,7 @@ async fn test_write() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         )?,
         "ii can eat glass, it will not hurt me<ret><esc>:w<ret>",
         None,
+        Some(Duration::from_millis(1000)),
     )
     .await?;
 
@@ -35,35 +38,73 @@ async fn test_write() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]
-async fn test_write_concurrent() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
-    let mut file = tempfile::NamedTempFile::new().unwrap();
-    let mut command = String::new();
-    const RANGE: RangeInclusive<i32> = 1..=1000;
-
-    for i in RANGE {
-        let cmd = format!("%c{}<esc>:w<ret>", i);
-        command.push_str(&cmd);
-    }
-
-    test_key_sequence(
+async fn test_write_fail_mod_flag() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    test_key_sequences(
         &mut Application::new(
             Args {
-                files: vec![(file.path().to_path_buf(), Position::default())],
+                files: vec![(PathBuf::from("/foo"), Position::default())],
                 ..Default::default()
             },
             Config::default(),
         )?,
-        &command,
+        vec![
+            (
+                "",
+                Some(&|app| {
+                    let doc = doc!(app.editor);
+                    assert!(!doc.is_modified());
+                }),
+            ),
+            (
+                "ihello<esc>",
+                Some(&|app| {
+                    let doc = doc!(app.editor);
+                    assert!(doc.is_modified());
+                }),
+            ),
+            (
+                ":w<ret>",
+                Some(&|app| {
+                    assert_eq!(&Severity::Error, app.editor.get_status().unwrap().1);
+
+                    let doc = doc!(app.editor);
+                    assert!(doc.is_modified());
+                }),
+            ),
+        ],
         None,
     )
     .await?;
 
-    file.as_file_mut().flush()?;
-    file.as_file_mut().sync_all()?;
+    Ok(())
+}
 
-    let mut file_content = String::new();
-    file.as_file_mut().read_to_string(&mut file_content)?;
-    assert_eq!(RANGE.end().to_string(), file_content);
+#[tokio::test]
+#[ignore]
+async fn test_write_fail_new_path() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    test_key_sequences(
+        &mut Application::new(Args::default(), Config::default())?,
+        vec![
+            (
+                "",
+                Some(&|app| {
+                    let doc = doc!(app.editor);
+                    assert_eq!(None, app.editor.get_status());
+                    assert_eq!(None, doc.path());
+                }),
+            ),
+            (
+                ":w /foo<ret>",
+                Some(&|app| {
+                    let doc = doc!(app.editor);
+                    assert_eq!(&Severity::Error, app.editor.get_status().unwrap().1);
+                    assert_eq!(None, doc.path());
+                }),
+            ),
+        ],
+        Some(Duration::from_millis(1000)),
+    )
+    .await?;
 
     Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/helix-view/src/editor.rs b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
index 8607c65a..d828f9ec 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/editor.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
@@ -571,6 +571,11 @@ impl Editor {
         self.status_msg = Some((error.into(), Severity::Error));
     }
 
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn get_status(&self) -> Option<(&Cow<'static, str>, &Severity)> {
+        self.status_msg.as_ref().map(|(status, sev)| (status, sev))
+    }
+
     pub fn set_theme(&mut self, theme: Theme) {
         // `ui.selection` is the only scope required to be able to render a theme.
         if theme.find_scope_index("ui.selection").is_none() {