diff --git a/tests/test_empty.yaml b/tests/test_empty.yaml
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29..0000000
diff --git a/tests/test_pieces.py b/tests/test_pieces.py
index c3cf36c..4c20654 100644
--- a/tests/test_pieces.py
+++ b/tests/test_pieces.py
@@ -18,6 +18,17 @@ def test_rootio():
     rom.configure({'target': ''})
     rom.finalize()
 
+    # this is also for coverage completeness (see that we get everything if no selector is set for the input module)
+    import subprocess
+    chk = subprocess.run("python -m histgrinder.make_sample_file",
+                         shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
+    print(chk.stdout)
+    chk.check_returncode()
+
+    rim.configure({'source': 'example.root'})
+    inputs = list(rim.iterate(dryrun=True))
+    assert len(inputs) == 101
+
 
 def test_badconfig():
     from histgrinder.config import read_configuration
diff --git a/tests/test_run.py b/tests/test_run.py
index b9a3f93..12617e7 100644
--- a/tests/test_run.py
+++ b/tests/test_run.py
@@ -41,10 +41,13 @@ def test_run_newfile():
     pytest.importorskip("ROOT")
 
     import subprocess
+    import os.path
     chk = subprocess.run("python -m histgrinder.make_sample_file",
                          shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
     print(chk.stdout)
     chk.check_returncode()
+    if os.path.exists('new.root'):
+        os.remove('new.root')
     chk = subprocess.run("python -m histgrinder.engine example.root new.root -c tests/test_functional.yaml --prefix prefix",
                          shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
     print(chk.stdout)
@@ -73,17 +76,20 @@ def test_run_absprefix():
     pytest.importorskip("ROOT")
 
     import subprocess
+    import os.path
     chk = subprocess.run("python -m histgrinder.make_sample_file",
                          shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
     print(chk.stdout)
     chk.check_returncode()
-    chk = subprocess.run("python -m histgrinder.engine example.root example.root "
+    if os.path.exists('new.root'):
+        os.remove('new.root')
+    chk = subprocess.run("python -m histgrinder.engine example.root new.root "
                          "-c tests/test_functional.yaml --prefix /prefix",
                          shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
     print(chk.stdout)
     chk.check_returncode()
 
-    return content_verify()
+    return content_verify(newfile=True)
 
 
 def test_run_defer():
@@ -179,20 +185,6 @@ def test_run_bad_prefix():
     chk.check_returncode()
 
 
-def test_run_nocode():
-    pytest.importorskip("ROOT")
-
-    import subprocess
-    chk = subprocess.run("python -m histgrinder.make_sample_file",
-                         shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
-    print(chk.stdout)
-    chk.check_returncode()
-    chk = subprocess.run("python -m histgrinder.engine example.root example.root -c tests/test_empty.yaml --prefix /prefix",
-                         shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
-    print(chk.stdout)
-    chk.check_returncode()
-
-
 def test_run_badtype():
     pytest.importorskip("ROOT")