diff --git a/.github/workflows/dev-push-check.yml b/.github/workflows/dev-push-check.yml
index 6fc17a8..f1e0f72 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dev-push-check.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dev-push-check.yml
@@ -30,5 +30,5 @@ jobs:
         run: sudo apt install -y tmux git
       - name: checkout repo
         uses: actions/checkout@main
-      - name: dummy test setup
+      - name: run all linux tests
         run: ./tests/run_all_linux_tests.sh
diff --git a/tests/linux/test_linux_default_startup.sh b/tests/linux/test_linux_default_startup.sh
index 81cc2b5..bfa0454 100755
--- a/tests/linux/test_linux_default_startup.sh
+++ b/tests/linux/test_linux_default_startup.sh
@@ -26,6 +26,11 @@ EOF
 
   cat ~/.tmux.conf
 
+  echo "Current DIR: $CURRENT_DIR"
+
+  # link current repo to plugin list
+  ln -sf ~/.tmux/plugins/tmux-gruvbox/ "$CURRENT_DIR/../"
+
   helper_install_tpm_plugins
 
   # start new detached session
@@ -34,10 +39,12 @@ EOF
   # get status of something from theme
   _status_left_current=$(tmux show-option -gqv status-left)
   if [[ "$STATUS_LEFT_DEFAULT" != "$_status_left_current" ]]; then
-    helper_print_fail_and_exit "Status left did not match"
+    helper_print_fail "status-left did not match"
+  else
+    helper_print_success "status-left match"
   fi
 
-  helper_print_success_and_exit "Status left match"
+  helper_teardown
 }
 
 main "$@"
diff --git a/tests/tmux_helpers.sh b/tests/tmux_helpers.sh
index d9d826f..38d10dd 100644
--- a/tests/tmux_helpers.sh
+++ b/tests/tmux_helpers.sh
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-helper_teardown_tmux() {
+helper_teardown() {
   rm -rf ~/.tmux.conf
   rm -rf ~/.tmux/
   tmux kill-server >/dev/null 2>&1
 }
 
-helper_tearup_linux_tmux() {
+helper_tearup_linux() {
   if [[ "$(uname)" != "Linux" ]]; then
     echo "NOT LINUX. Failed & exit."
     exit 1
@@ -21,15 +21,23 @@ helper_tearup_linux_tmux() {
   git clone https://github.com/tmux-plugins/tpm ~/.tmux/plugins/tpm
 }
 
-helper_print_fail_and_exit() {
+helper_print_fail() {
   local _msg="${1:-}"
   printf "FAIL. %s\n" "${_msg}"
+}
+
+helper_print_success() {
+  local _msg="${1:-}"
+  printf "SUCCESS. %s\n" "${_msg}"
+}
+
+helper_print_fail_and_exit() {
+  helper_print_fail "$1"
   exit 1
 }
 
 helper_print_success_and_exit() {
-  local _msg="${1:-}"
-  printf "SUCCESS. %s\n" "${_msg}"
+  helper_print_success "$1"
   exit 0
 }