diff --git a/dotdrop/dotdrop.py b/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
index f044939..b2d9683 100644
--- a/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
+++ b/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
@@ -253,7 +253,13 @@ def cmd_importer(opts, conf, paths):
 
         # create a new dotfile
         dotfile = Dotfile('', dst, src)
-        linkit = opts['link'] or opts['link_by_default']
+
+        linktype = LinkTypes.NOLINK
+        if opts['link'] or opts['link_by_default']:
+            linktype = LinkTypes.PARENTS
+        elif opts['link_children']:
+            linktype = LinkTypes.CHILDREN
+
         if opts['debug']:
             LOG.dbg('new dotfile: {}'.format(dotfile))
 
@@ -272,7 +278,7 @@ def cmd_importer(opts, conf, paths):
             cmd = ['cp', '-R', '-L', dst, srcf]
             if opts['dry']:
                 LOG.dry('would run: {}'.format(' '.join(cmd)))
-                if linkit:
+                if linktype == LinkTypes.PARENTS:
                     LOG.dry('would symlink {} to {}'.format(srcf, dst))
             else:
                 r, _ = run(cmd, raw=False, debug=opts['debug'], checkerr=True)
@@ -280,11 +286,11 @@ def cmd_importer(opts, conf, paths):
                     LOG.err('importing \"{}\" failed!'.format(path))
                     ret = False
                     continue
-                if linkit:
+                if linktype == LinkTypes.PARENTS:
                     remove(dst)
                     os.symlink(srcf, dst)
         retconf, dotfile = conf.new(dotfile, opts['profile'],
-                                    link=linkit, debug=opts['debug'])
+                                    link=linktype, debug=opts['debug'])
         if retconf:
             LOG.sub('\"{}\" imported'.format(path))
             cnt += 1
diff --git a/tests/helpers.py b/tests/helpers.py
index 472069b..be55796 100644
--- a/tests/helpers.py
+++ b/tests/helpers.py
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ def load_config(confpath, profile):
     opts['safe'] = True
     opts['installdiff'] = True
     opts['link'] = False
+    opts['link_children'] = False
     opts['showdiff'] = True
     opts['debug'] = True
     opts['dopts'] = ''
diff --git a/tests/test_install.py b/tests/test_install.py
index 5ebef41..51e0368 100644
--- a/tests/test_install.py
+++ b/tests/test_install.py
@@ -4,14 +4,18 @@ Copyright (c) 2017, deadc0de6
 basic unittest for the install function
 """
 
+import os
 import unittest
 import filecmp
 
-from tests.helpers import *
+from dotdrop.config import Cfg
+from tests.helpers import create_dir, get_string, get_tempdir, clean, \
+    create_random_file, load_config
 from dotdrop.dotfile import Dotfile
 from dotdrop.installer import Installer
 from dotdrop.action import Action
 from dotdrop.dotdrop import cmd_install
+from dotdrop.linktypes import LinkTypes
 
 
 class TestInstall(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -50,7 +54,10 @@ exec bspwm
                 f.write('  {}:\n'.format(d.key))
                 f.write('    dst: {}\n'.format(d.dst))
                 f.write('    src: {}\n'.format(d.src))
-                f.write('    link: {}\n'.format(str(d.link).lower()))
+                f.write('    link: {}\n'
+                        .format(str(d.link == LinkTypes.PARENTS).lower()))
+                f.write('    link_children: {}\n'
+                        .format(str(d.link == LinkTypes.CHILDREN).lower()))
                 if len(d.actions) > 0:
                     f.write('    actions:\n')
                     for action in d.actions:
@@ -101,7 +108,7 @@ exec bspwm
         # to test backup
         f4, c4 = create_random_file(tmp)
         dst4 = os.path.join(dst, get_string(6))
-        d4 = Dotfile(get_string(6), dst4, os.path.basename(f4))
+        d4 = Dotfile(key=get_string(6), dst=dst4, src=os.path.basename(f4))
         with open(dst4, 'w') as f:
             f.write(get_string(16))
 
diff --git a/tests/test_update.py b/tests/test_update.py
index 74f26ee..74808c3 100644
--- a/tests/test_update.py
+++ b/tests/test_update.py
@@ -7,14 +7,12 @@ basic unittest for the update function
 
 import unittest
 import os
-import yaml
 
-from dotdrop.config import Cfg
 from dotdrop.dotdrop import cmd_update
 from dotdrop.dotdrop import cmd_importer
-from dotdrop.dotfile import Dotfile
 
-from tests.helpers import *
+from tests.helpers import create_dir, get_string, get_tempdir, clean, \
+    create_random_file, create_fake_config, load_config, edit_content
 
 
 class TestUpdate(unittest.TestCase):