diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 43ffd63..b1735d7 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
   "repository": "https://github.com/get-alex/alex",
   "bugs": "https://github.com/get-alex/alex/issues",
   "funding": {
-     "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/wooorm"
-   },
+    "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/wooorm"
+  },
   "homepage": "https://alexjs.com",
   "keywords": [
     "cli-app",
@@ -75,13 +75,12 @@
     "vfile-sort": "^2.0.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "ava": "^2.0.0",
     "browserify": "^16.0.0",
-    "execa": "^3.0.0",
-    "nyc": "^14.0.0",
+    "nyc": "^15.0.0",
     "prettier": "^1.0.0",
     "remark-cli": "^7.0.0",
     "remark-preset-wooorm": "^6.0.0",
+    "tape": "^4.0.0",
     "tinyify": "^2.0.0",
     "xo": "^0.25.0"
   },
@@ -90,8 +89,8 @@
     "build-bundle": "browserify . -s alex -o alex.js",
     "build-mangle": "browserify . -s alex -p tinyify -o alex.min.js",
     "build": "npm run build-bundle && npm run build-mangle",
-    "test-api": "ava",
-    "test-coverage": "nyc --reporter lcov ava",
+    "test-api": "node test",
+    "test-coverage": "nyc --reporter lcov tape test/index.js",
     "test": "npm run format && npm run build && npm run test-coverage"
   },
   "alex": {
diff --git a/test/api.js b/test/api.js
index c005e0a..5206153 100644
--- a/test/api.js
+++ b/test/api.js
@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@
 
 var fs = require('fs')
 var path = require('path')
-var test = require('ava')
+var test = require('tape')
 var alex = require('..')
 
+var html = fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, 'fixtures', 'three.html'))
+
 // Tests. Note that these are small because alex is in fact
 // just a collection of well-tested modules.
 // See `retextjs/retext-equality` for the gist of what
@@ -29,35 +31,32 @@ test('alex()', function(t) {
       '3:10-3:17: `cripple` may be insensitive, use `person with a ' +
         'limp` instead',
       '5:36-5:40: Be careful with `butt`, it’s profane in some cases'
-    ]
+    ],
+    'should work'
   )
-})
 
-test('alex() with an allow array', function(t) {
-  var messages = alex('Eric is pretty set on beating your butt for sheriff.', [
-    'butt'
-  ]).messages
-
-  t.is(messages.length, 0)
-})
+  t.deepEqual(
+    alex('Eric is pretty set on beating your butt for sheriff.', ['butt'])
+      .messages,
+    [],
+    'should work with an allow array'
+  )
 
-test('alex() with profantity config', function(t) {
-  var messages = alex(
-    'Eric, the asshat, is pretty set on beating your butt for sheriff.',
-    {
+  t.deepEqual(
+    alex('Eric, the asshat, is pretty set on beating your butt for sheriff.', {
       allow: ['asshat'],
       profanitySureness: 1
-    }
-  ).messages
-
-  t.is(messages.length, 0, 'We dont expect any messages')
-})
+    }).messages,
+    [],
+    'should work with profantity config'
+  )
 
-test('alex.markdown()', function(t) {
-  t.deepEqual(alex.markdown('The `boogeyman`.').messages.map(String), [])
-})
+  t.deepEqual(
+    alex.markdown('The `boogeyman`.').messages.map(String),
+    [],
+    'alex.markdown()'
+  )
 
-test('alex.text()', function(t) {
   t.deepEqual(
     alex
       .text(
@@ -70,11 +69,10 @@ test('alex.text()', function(t) {
     [
       '1:6-1:15: `boogeyman` may be insensitive, use `boogeymonster` instead',
       '2:36-2:40: Be careful with `butt`, it’s profane in some cases'
-    ]
+    ],
+    'alex.text()'
   )
-})
 
-test('alex.text() with allow config', function(t) {
   t.deepEqual(
     alex
       .text(
@@ -85,11 +83,10 @@ test('alex.text() with allow config', function(t) {
         {allow: ['butt']}
       )
       .messages.map(String),
-    ['1:6-1:15: `boogeyman` may be insensitive, use `boogeymonster` instead']
+    ['1:6-1:15: `boogeyman` may be insensitive, use `boogeymonster` instead'],
+    'alex.text() with allow config'
   )
-})
 
-test('alex.text() with allow array', function(t) {
   t.deepEqual(
     alex
       .text(
@@ -100,37 +97,37 @@ test('alex.text() with allow array', function(t) {
         ['butt']
       )
       .messages.map(String),
-    ['1:6-1:15: `boogeyman` may be insensitive, use `boogeymonster` instead']
+    ['1:6-1:15: `boogeyman` may be insensitive, use `boogeymonster` instead'],
+    'alex.text() with allow array'
   )
-})
-
-test('alex.html()', function(t) {
-  var fp = path.join(__dirname, 'fixtures', 'three.html')
-  var fixture = fs.readFileSync(fp)
-
-  t.deepEqual(alex.html(fixture).messages.map(String), [
-    '9:18-9:20: `He` may be insensitive, use `They`, `It` instead',
-    '10:1-10:4: `She` may be insensitive, use `They`, `It` instead',
-    '11:36-11:40: Be careful with `butt`, it’s profane in some cases'
-  ])
-})
 
-test('alex.html() with allow config', function(t) {
-  var fp = path.join(__dirname, 'fixtures', 'three.html')
-  var fixture = fs.readFileSync(fp)
+  t.deepEqual(
+    alex.html(html).messages.map(String),
+    [
+      '9:18-9:20: `He` may be insensitive, use `They`, `It` instead',
+      '10:1-10:4: `She` may be insensitive, use `They`, `It` instead',
+      '11:36-11:40: Be careful with `butt`, it’s profane in some cases'
+    ],
+    'alex.html()'
+  )
 
-  t.deepEqual(alex.html(fixture, {allow: ['butt']}).messages.map(String), [
-    '9:18-9:20: `He` may be insensitive, use `They`, `It` instead',
-    '10:1-10:4: `She` may be insensitive, use `They`, `It` instead'
-  ])
-})
+  t.deepEqual(
+    alex.html(html, {allow: ['butt']}).messages.map(String),
+    [
+      '9:18-9:20: `He` may be insensitive, use `They`, `It` instead',
+      '10:1-10:4: `She` may be insensitive, use `They`, `It` instead'
+    ],
+    'alex.html() with allow config'
+  )
 
-test('alex.html() with allow array', function(t) {
-  var fp = path.join(__dirname, 'fixtures', 'three.html')
-  var fixture = fs.readFileSync(fp)
+  t.deepEqual(
+    alex.html(html, ['butt']).messages.map(String),
+    [
+      '9:18-9:20: `He` may be insensitive, use `They`, `It` instead',
+      '10:1-10:4: `She` may be insensitive, use `They`, `It` instead'
+    ],
+    'alex.html() with allow array'
+  )
 
-  t.deepEqual(alex.html(fixture, ['butt']).messages.map(String), [
-    '9:18-9:20: `He` may be insensitive, use `They`, `It` instead',
-    '10:1-10:4: `She` may be insensitive, use `They`, `It` instead'
-  ])
+  t.end()
 })
diff --git a/test/cli.js b/test/cli.js
index 1b416e4..4df351a 100644
--- a/test/cli.js
+++ b/test/cli.js
@@ -1,183 +1,302 @@
 'use strict'
 
 var path = require('path')
-var test = require('ava')
-var execa = require('execa')
+var childProcess = require('child_process')
+var test = require('tape')
 
-test('version', async function(t) {
-  var result = await execa('./cli.js', ['-v'])
-  t.is(result.stdout, require('../package').version)
-})
+var pkg = require('../package')
 
-test('help', async function(t) {
-  var result = await execa('./cli.js', ['-h'])
-  t.regex(result.stdout, /Usage: alex \[<glob> ...] /)
-})
+test('alex-cli', function(t) {
+  t.test('version', function(t) {
+    t.plan(1)
 
-test('stdin', async function(t) {
-  try {
-    await execa('./cli.js', ['--stdin'], {input: 'His'})
-  } catch (error) {
-    t.is(
-      error.stderr,
-      [
-        '<stdin>',
-        '  1:1-1:4  warning  `His` may be insensitive, when referring to a person, use `Their`, `Theirs`, `Them` instead  her-him  retext-equality',
-        '',
-        '⚠ 1 warning'
-      ].join('\n')
-    )
-  }
-})
+    childProcess.exec('./cli.js -v', onexec)
 
-test('stdin and globs', async function(t) {
-  var filePath = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'one.md')
+    function onexec(err, stdout, stderr) {
+      t.deepEqual(
+        [err, stderr, stdout],
+        [null, '', pkg.version + '\n'],
+        'should work'
+      )
+    }
+  })
 
-  try {
-    await execa('./cli.js', ['--stdin', filePath])
-  } catch (error) {
-    t.regex(error.stderr, /Do not pass globs with `--stdin`/)
-  }
-})
+  t.test('help', function(t) {
+    t.plan(1)
 
-test('markdown by default', async function(t) {
-  var filePath = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'one.md')
-  var result = await execa('./cli.js', [filePath])
+    childProcess.exec('./cli.js -h', onexec)
 
-  t.is(result.stderr, filePath + ': no issues found')
-})
+    function onexec(err, stdout, stderr) {
+      t.deepEqual(
+        [err, stderr, /Usage: alex \[<glob> ...] /.test(stdout)],
+        [null, '', true],
+        'should work'
+      )
+    }
+  })
 
-test('text optional', async function(t) {
-  var filePath = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'one.md')
-
-  try {
-    await execa('./cli.js', [filePath, '--text'])
-  } catch (error) {
-    t.is(
-      error.stderr,
-      [
-        filePath,
-        '  1:18-1:21  warning  `his` may be insensitive, when referring to a person, use `their`, `theirs`, `them` instead  her-him  retext-equality',
-        '',
-        '⚠ 1 warning'
-      ].join('\n')
-    )
-  }
-})
+  t.test('stdin', function(t) {
+    t.plan(1)
 
-test('text on html', async function(t) {
-  var filePath = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'three.html')
+    var subprocess = childProcess.exec('./cli.js --stdin', onexec)
 
-  try {
-    await execa('./cli.js', [filePath, '--text'])
-  } catch (error) {
-    t.regex(error.stderr, /9 warnings/)
-  }
-})
+    setTimeout(end, 10)
 
-test('html optional', async function(t) {
-  var filePath = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'three.html')
-
-  try {
-    await execa('./cli.js', [filePath, '--html'])
-  } catch (error) {
-    t.is(
-      error.stderr,
-      [
-        filePath,
-        '  9:18-9:20  warning  `He` may be insensitive, use `They`, `It` instead   he-she  retext-equality',
-        '  10:1-10:4  warning  `She` may be insensitive, use `They`, `It` instead  he-she  retext-equality',
-        '',
-        '⚠ 2 warnings'
-      ].join('\n')
-    )
-  }
-})
+    function end() {
+      subprocess.stdin.end('His')
+    }
 
-test('successful files', async function(t) {
-  var filePath = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'ok.txt')
-  var result = await execa('./cli.js', [filePath])
+    function onexec(err, stdout, stderr) {
+      t.deepEqual(
+        [err.code, stderr, stdout],
+        [
+          1,
+          [
+            '<stdin>',
+            '  1:1-1:4  warning  `His` may be insensitive, when referring to a person, use `Their`, `Theirs`, `Them` instead  her-him  retext-equality',
+            '',
+            '⚠ 1 warning',
+            ''
+          ].join('\n'),
+          ''
+        ],
+        'should work'
+      )
+    }
+  })
 
-  t.is(result.stderr, filePath + ': no issues found')
-})
+  t.test('stdin and globs', function(t) {
+    var fp = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'one.md')
 
-test('quiet on ok files', async function(t) {
-  var fp = path.join(__dirname, 'fixtures', 'ok.txt')
-  var result = await execa('./cli.js', [fp, '-q'])
+    t.plan(1)
 
-  t.is(result.stderr, '')
-})
+    childProcess.exec('./cli.js --stdin ' + fp, onexec)
 
-test('quiet on nok files', async function(t) {
-  var filePath = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'one.md')
-
-  try {
-    await execa('./cli.js', [filePath, '--text'])
-  } catch (error) {
-    t.is(
-      error.stderr,
-      [
-        filePath,
-        '  1:18-1:21  warning  `his` may be insensitive, when referring to a person, use `their`, `theirs`, `them` instead  her-him  retext-equality',
-        '',
-        '⚠ 1 warning'
-      ].join('\n')
-    )
-  }
-})
+    function onexec(err, stdout, stderr) {
+      t.deepEqual(
+        [err.code, /Do not pass globs with `--stdin`/.test(stderr), stdout],
+        [1, true, ''],
+        'should work'
+      )
+    }
+  })
 
-test('binary (default)', async function(t) {
-  var filePath = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'binary', 'two.md')
-  var result = await execa('./cli.js', [filePath])
+  t.test('markdown by default', function(t) {
+    var fp = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'one.md')
 
-  t.is(result.stderr, filePath + ': no issues found')
-})
+    t.plan(1)
 
-test('non-binary (optional)', async function(t) {
-  var filePath = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'non-binary', 'two.md')
-
-  try {
-    await execa('./cli.js', [filePath])
-  } catch (error) {
-    t.is(
-      error.stderr,
-      [
-        filePath,
-        '   1:1-1:3  warning  `He` may be insensitive, use `They`, `It` instead   he-she  retext-equality',
-        '  1:7-1:10  warning  `she` may be insensitive, use `they`, `it` instead  he-she  retext-equality',
-        '',
-        '⚠ 2 warnings'
-      ].join('\n')
-    )
-  }
-})
+    childProcess.exec('./cli.js ' + fp, onexec)
 
-test('profanity (default)', async function(t) {
-  var filePath = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'profanity', 'two.md')
-
-  try {
-    await execa('./cli.js', [filePath])
-  } catch (error) {
-    var expected = [
-      filePath,
-      '  1:5-1:11  warning  Be careful with `beaver`, it’s profane in some cases  beaver  retext-profanities',
-      '',
-      '⚠ 1 warning'
-    ].join('\n')
-
-    t.is(error.stderr, expected)
-  }
-})
+    function onexec(err, stdout, stderr) {
+      t.deepEqual(
+        [err, stderr, stdout],
+        [null, fp + ': no issues found\n', ''],
+        'should work'
+      )
+    }
+  })
 
-test('profanity (profanitySureness: 1)', async function(t) {
-  var filePath = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'profanity-sureness', 'two.md')
-  var result = await execa('./cli.js', [filePath])
+  t.test('optionally html', function(t) {
+    var fp = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'three.html')
 
-  t.is(result.stderr, filePath + ': no issues found')
-})
+    t.plan(1)
+
+    childProcess.exec('./cli.js ' + fp + ' --html', onexec)
+
+    function onexec(err, stdout, stderr) {
+      t.deepEqual(
+        [err.code, /2 warnings/.test(stderr), stdout],
+        [1, true, ''],
+        'should work'
+      )
+    }
+  })
+
+  t.test('optionally text (on markdown)', function(t) {
+    var fp = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'one.md')
+
+    t.plan(1)
+
+    childProcess.exec('./cli.js ' + fp + ' --text', onexec)
+
+    function onexec(err, stdout, stderr) {
+      t.deepEqual(
+        [err.code, /1 warning/.test(stderr), stdout],
+        [1, true, ''],
+        'should work'
+      )
+    }
+  })
+
+  t.test('optionally text (on html)', function(t) {
+    var fp = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'three.html')
+
+    t.plan(1)
+
+    childProcess.exec('./cli.js ' + fp + ' --text', onexec)
+
+    function onexec(err, stdout, stderr) {
+      t.deepEqual(
+        [err.code, /9 warnings/.test(stderr), stdout],
+        [1, true, ''],
+        'should work'
+      )
+    }
+  })
+
+  t.test('successful', function(t) {
+    var fp = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'ok.txt')
+
+    t.plan(1)
+
+    childProcess.exec('./cli.js ' + fp, onexec)
+
+    function onexec(err, stdout, stderr) {
+      t.deepEqual(
+        [err, stderr, stdout],
+        [null, fp + ': no issues found\n', ''],
+        'should work'
+      )
+    }
+  })
+
+  t.test('quiet (ok)', function(t) {
+    var fp = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'ok.txt')
+
+    t.plan(1)
+
+    childProcess.exec('./cli.js ' + fp + ' -q', onexec)
+
+    function onexec(err, stdout, stderr) {
+      t.deepEqual([err, stderr, stdout], [null, '', ''], 'should work')
+    }
+  })
+
+  t.test('quiet (on error)', function(t) {
+    var fp = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'one.md')
+
+    t.plan(1)
+
+    childProcess.exec('./cli.js ' + fp + ' -q --text', onexec)
+
+    function onexec(err, stdout, stderr) {
+      t.deepEqual(
+        [err.code, stderr, stdout],
+        [
+          1,
+          [
+            fp,
+            '  1:18-1:21  warning  `his` may be insensitive, when referring to a person, use `their`, `theirs`, `them` instead  her-him  retext-equality',
+            '',
+            '⚠ 1 warning',
+            ''
+          ].join('\n'),
+          ''
+        ],
+        'should work'
+      )
+    }
+  })
+
+  t.test('binary (default: ok)', function(t) {
+    var fp = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'binary', 'two.md')
+
+    t.plan(1)
+
+    childProcess.exec('./cli.js ' + fp, onexec)
+
+    function onexec(err, stdout, stderr) {
+      t.deepEqual(
+        [err, stderr, stdout],
+        [null, fp + ': no issues found\n', ''],
+        'should work'
+      )
+    }
+  })
+
+  t.test('binary (with config file)', function(t) {
+    var fp = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'non-binary', 'two.md')
+
+    t.plan(1)
+
+    childProcess.exec('./cli.js ' + fp, onexec)
+
+    function onexec(err, stdout, stderr) {
+      t.deepEqual(
+        [err.code, stderr, stdout],
+        [
+          1,
+          [
+            fp,
+            '   1:1-1:3  warning  `He` may be insensitive, use `They`, `It` instead   he-she  retext-equality',
+            '  1:7-1:10  warning  `she` may be insensitive, use `they`, `it` instead  he-she  retext-equality',
+            '',
+            '⚠ 2 warnings',
+            ''
+          ].join('\n'),
+          ''
+        ],
+        'should work'
+      )
+    }
+  })
+
+  t.test('profanity (default)', function(t) {
+    var fp = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'profanity', 'two.md')
+
+    t.plan(1)
+
+    childProcess.exec('./cli.js ' + fp, onexec)
+
+    function onexec(err, stdout, stderr) {
+      t.deepEqual(
+        [err.code, stderr, stdout],
+        [
+          1,
+          [
+            fp,
+            '  1:5-1:11  warning  Be careful with `beaver`, it’s profane in some cases  beaver  retext-profanities',
+            '',
+            '⚠ 1 warning',
+            ''
+          ].join('\n'),
+          ''
+        ],
+        'should work'
+      )
+    }
+  })
+
+  t.test('profanity (with config file)', function(t) {
+    var fp = path.join('test', 'fixtures', 'profanity-sureness', 'two.md')
+
+    t.plan(1)
+
+    childProcess.exec('./cli.js ' + fp, onexec)
+
+    function onexec(err, stdout, stderr) {
+      t.deepEqual(
+        [err, stderr, stdout],
+        [null, fp + ': no issues found\n', ''],
+        'should work'
+      )
+    }
+  })
+
+  t.test('default globs', function(t) {
+    t.plan(1)
+
+    childProcess.exec('./cli.js', onexec)
 
-test('default globs', async function(t) {
-  var result = await execa('./cli.js')
+    function onexec(err, stdout, stderr) {
+      t.deepEqual(
+        [err, stderr, stdout],
+        [null, 'readme.md: no issues found\n', ''],
+        'should work'
+      )
+    }
+  })
 
-  t.is(result.stderr, 'readme.md: no issues found')
+  t.end()
 })
diff --git a/test/index.js b/test/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8ff5c64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+'use strict'
+
+/* eslint-disable import/no-unassigned-import, ava/no-import-test-files */
+require('./api')
+require('./cli')
+/* eslint-enable import/no-unassigned-import, ava/no-import-test-files */