Execute(Open a file some directory down): silent! cd /testplugin/test :e! top/middle/bottom/dummy.txt Then(We should be able to find a configuration file further up): AssertEqual expand('%:p:h:h:h:h') . '/top/example.ini', ale#util#FindNearestFile(bufnr('%'), 'example.ini') Execute(Do nothing): Then(We shouldn't find anything for files which don't match): AssertEqual '', ale#util#FindNearestFile(bufnr('%'), 'cantfindthis')