diff --git a/tests/test_options.py b/tests/test_options.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0102192
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_options.py
@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+"""
+author: deadc0de6 (https://github.com/deadc0de6)
+Copyright (c) 2017, deadc0de6
+basic unittest for the install function
+"""
+
+# pylint: disable=R0903
+# pylint: disable=W0231
+# pylint: disable=W0212
+
+import os
+import unittest
+from unittest.mock import patch
+from dotdrop.options import Options, Logger
+
+
+class FakeOptions(Options):
+    """fake Options class"""
+
+    def __init__(self, args):
+        """init"""
+        self.args = args
+        self.log = Logger(debug=True)
+
+
+class TestOptions(unittest.TestCase):
+    """test case"""
+
+    def clean_setup(self):
+        """clean stuff"""
+        if 'DOTDROP_CONFIG' in os.environ:
+            del os.environ['DOTDROP_CONFIG']
+        if 'XDG_CONFIG_HOME' in os.environ:
+            del os.environ['XDG_CONFIG_HOME']
+
+    def _get_args(self, more):
+        args = {
+            '--dry': False,
+            '--verbose': True,
+            '--cfg': '',
+        }
+        for k, val in more.items():
+            args[k] = val
+        return args
+
+    def side_effect(self, valid=''):
+        """side effect for os.path.exists"""
+        def inner(filename):
+            print(f'checking if {filename} exists')
+            if filename == valid:
+                return True
+            return False
+        return inner
+
+    def test_get_path_from_cli(self):
+        """from --cli"""
+        self.clean_setup()
+        expected = 'fakepath'
+        args = {}
+        args['--cfg'] = expected
+        fake = FakeOptions(args)
+        self.assertEqual(fake._get_config_path(), expected)
+
+    def test_get_path_from_env(self):
+        """from env"""
+        self.clean_setup()
+        expected = 'envpath'
+        os.environ['DOTDROP_CONFIG'] = expected
+        args = self._get_args({'--cfg': ''})
+        fake = FakeOptions(args)
+        self.assertEqual(fake._get_config_path(), expected)
+
+    @patch('os.path.exists')
+    def test_get_path_from_yaml(self, mock_exists):
+        """from yaml"""
+        self.clean_setup()
+        mock_exists.return_value = True
+        expected = 'config.yaml'
+        args = self._get_args({'--cfg': ''})
+        fake = FakeOptions(args)
+        self.assertEqual(fake._get_config_path(), expected)
+
+    @patch('os.path.exists')
+    def test_get_path_from_toml(self, mock_exists):
+        """from toml"""
+        self.clean_setup()
+        expected = 'config.toml'
+        args = self._get_args({'--cfg': ''})
+        mock_exists.side_effect = self.side_effect(valid=expected)
+        fake = FakeOptions(args)
+        self.assertEqual(fake._get_config_path(), expected)
+
+    @patch('os.path.exists')
+    def test_get_path_xdg_yaml(self, mock_exists):
+        """from xdg"""
+        self.clean_setup()
+        home = os.path.expanduser('~/.config')
+        expected = f'{home}/dotdrop/config.yaml'
+        mock_exists.side_effect = self.side_effect(valid=expected)
+        log = Logger(debug=True)
+        log.dbg(f'expected: {expected}')
+        args = self._get_args({'--cfg': ''})
+        os.environ['XDG_CONFIG_HOME'] = home
+        fake = FakeOptions(args)
+        self.assertEqual(fake._get_config_path(), expected)
+
+    @patch('os.path.exists')
+    def test_get_path_xdg_toml(self, mock_exists):
+        """from xdg toml"""
+        self.clean_setup()
+        home = os.path.expanduser('~/.config')
+        expected = f'{home}/dotdrop/config.toml'
+        mock_exists.side_effect = self.side_effect(valid=expected)
+        log = Logger(debug=True)
+        log.dbg(f'expected: {expected}')
+        args = self._get_args({'--cfg': ''})
+        os.environ['XDG_CONFIG_HOME'] = home
+        fake = FakeOptions(args)
+        self.assertEqual(fake._get_config_path(), expected)
+
+    @patch('os.path.exists')
+    def test_get_path_fs_yaml(self, mock_exists):
+        """from fs yaml"""
+        self.clean_setup()
+        home = os.path.expanduser('~/.config')
+        expected = f'{home}/dotdrop/config.toml'
+        mock_exists.side_effect = self.side_effect(valid=expected)
+        log = Logger(debug=True)
+        log.dbg(f'expected: {expected}')
+        args = self._get_args({'--cfg': ''})
+        fake = FakeOptions(args)
+        self.assertEqual(fake._get_config_path(), expected)
+
+    @patch('os.path.exists')
+    def test_get_path_fs_xdg(self, mock_exists):
+        """from fs xdg"""
+        self.clean_setup()
+        home = os.path.expanduser('/etc/xdg')
+        expected = f'{home}/dotdrop/config.toml'
+        mock_exists.side_effect = self.side_effect(valid=expected)
+        log = Logger(debug=True)
+        log.dbg(f'expected: {expected}')
+        args = self._get_args({'--cfg': ''})
+        fake = FakeOptions(args)
+        self.assertEqual(fake._get_config_path(), expected)
+
+    @patch('os.path.exists')
+    def test_get_path_fs_etc(self, mock_exists):
+        """from fs etc"""
+        self.clean_setup()
+        home = os.path.expanduser('/etc')
+        expected = f'{home}/dotdrop/config.toml'
+        mock_exists.side_effect = self.side_effect(valid=expected)
+        log = Logger(debug=True)
+        log.dbg(f'expected: {expected}')
+        args = self._get_args({'--cfg': ''})
+        fake = FakeOptions(args)
+        self.assertEqual(fake._get_config_path(), expected)
+
+
+def main():
+    """entry point"""
+    unittest.main()
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()