diff --git a/tests/Makefile.am b/tests/Makefile.am
index d8493496d2..dc753e781b 100644
--- a/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 TESTS_ENVIRONMENT = $(SHELL) -e
 
+extra1 = $(shell pwd)/test-tmp/shared
+
 simple.sh: simple.nix
 dependencies.sh: dependencies.nix
 locking.sh: locking.nix
diff --git a/tests/build-hook.sh b/tests/build-hook.sh
index 6a71bbe561..8cd9e8171f 100644
--- a/tests/build-hook.sh
+++ b/tests/build-hook.sh
@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@ source common.sh
 
 export NIX_BUILD_HOOK="build-hook.hook.sh"
 
-drvPath=$($TOP/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate build-hook.nix)
+drvPath=$($nixinstantiate build-hook.nix)
 
 echo "derivation is $drvPath"
 
-outPath=$($TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -quf "$drvPath")
+outPath=$($nixstore -quf "$drvPath")
 
 echo "output path is $outPath"
 
diff --git a/tests/common.sh.in b/tests/common.sh.in
index 979e60db26..ca5ef5ecc8 100644
--- a/tests/common.sh.in
+++ b/tests/common.sh.in
@@ -24,3 +24,8 @@ export aterm_bin=@aterm_bin@
 export dot=@dot@
 
 export version=@version@
+
+export nixinstantiate=$TOP/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate
+export nixstore=$TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store
+export nixenv=$TOP/src/nix-env/nix-env
+export nixhash=$TOP/src/nix-hash/nix-hash
diff --git a/tests/dependencies.sh b/tests/dependencies.sh
index 0d19cd2bb0..cc912f8ef6 100644
--- a/tests/dependencies.sh
+++ b/tests/dependencies.sh
@@ -1,35 +1,35 @@
 source common.sh
 
-drvPath=$($TOP/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate dependencies.nix)
+drvPath=$($nixinstantiate dependencies.nix)
 
 echo "derivation is $drvPath"
 
 $TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -q --tree "$drvPath" | grep '   +---.*builder1.sh'
 
 # Test Graphviz graph generation.
-$TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -q --graph "$drvPath" > $TEST_ROOT/graph
+$nixstore -q --graph "$drvPath" > $TEST_ROOT/graph
 if test -n "$dot"; then
     # Does it parse?
     $dot < $TEST_ROOT/graph
 fi    
 
-outPath=$($TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -rvv "$drvPath")
+outPath=$($nixstore -rvv "$drvPath")
 
 # Test Graphviz graph generation.
-$TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -q --graph "$outPath" > $TEST_ROOT/graph
+$nixstore -q --graph "$outPath" > $TEST_ROOT/graph
 if test -n "$dot"; then
     # Does it parse?
     $dot < $TEST_ROOT/graph
 fi    
 
-$TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -q --tree "$outPath" | grep '+---.*dependencies-input-2'
+$nixstore -q --tree "$outPath" | grep '+---.*dependencies-input-2'
 
 echo "output path is $outPath"
 
 text=$(cat "$outPath"/foobar)
 if test "$text" != "FOOBAR"; then exit 1; fi
 
-deps=$($TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -quR "$drvPath")
+deps=$($nixstore -quR "$drvPath")
 
 echo "output closure contains $deps"
 
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ if echo "$deps" | grep -q "dependencies-input-1"; then exit 1; fi
 input2OutPath=$(echo "$deps" | grep "dependencies-input-2")
 
 # The referrers closure of input-2 should include outPath.
-$TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -q --referrers-closure "$input2OutPath" | grep "$outPath"
+$nixstore -q --referrers-closure "$input2OutPath" | grep "$outPath"
 
 # Check that the derivers are set properly.
-test $($TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -q --deriver "$outPath") = "$drvPath"
-$TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -q --deriver "$input2OutPath" | grep -q -- "-input-2.drv" 
+test $($nixstore -q --deriver "$outPath") = "$drvPath"
+$nixstore -q --deriver "$input2OutPath" | grep -q -- "-input-2.drv" 
diff --git a/tests/fallback.sh b/tests/fallback.sh
index 2ff4b0b9ce..482e4ce5b7 100644
--- a/tests/fallback.sh
+++ b/tests/fallback.sh
@@ -1,16 +1,16 @@
 source common.sh
 
-drvPath=$($TOP/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate fallback.nix)
+drvPath=$($nixinstantiate fallback.nix)
 echo "derivation is $drvPath"
 
-outPath=$($TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -q --fallback "$drvPath")
+outPath=$($nixstore -q --fallback "$drvPath")
 echo "output path is $outPath"
 
 # Register a non-existant substitute
-(echo $outPath && echo "" && echo $TOP/no-such-program && echo 0 && echo 0) | $TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store --register-substitutes
+(echo $outPath && echo "" && echo $TOP/no-such-program && echo 0 && echo 0) | $nixstore --register-substitutes
 
 # Build the derivation
-$TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -r --fallback "$drvPath"
+$nixstore -r --fallback "$drvPath"
 
 text=$(cat "$outPath"/hello)
 if test "$text" != "Hello World!"; then exit 1; fi
diff --git a/tests/gc-concurrent.sh b/tests/gc-concurrent.sh
index 7606a64c87..5004a6e4e2 100644
--- a/tests/gc-concurrent.sh
+++ b/tests/gc-concurrent.sh
@@ -1,19 +1,19 @@
 source common.sh
 
-drvPath1=$($TOP/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate gc-concurrent.nix)
-outPath1=$($TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -q $drvPath1)
+drvPath1=$($nixinstantiate gc-concurrent.nix)
+outPath1=$($nixstore -q $drvPath1)
 
-drvPath2=$($TOP/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate gc-concurrent2.nix)
-outPath2=$($TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -q $drvPath2)
+drvPath2=$($nixinstantiate gc-concurrent2.nix)
+outPath2=$($nixstore -q $drvPath2)
 
 ln -s $drvPath2 "$NIX_STATE_DIR"/gcroots/foo2
 
 # Start build #1 in the background.  It starts immediately.
-$TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -rvv "$drvPath1" &
+$nixstore -rvv "$drvPath1" &
 pid1=$!
 
 # Start build #2 in the background after 3 seconds.
-(sleep 3 && $TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -rvv "$drvPath2") &
+(sleep 3 && $nixstore -rvv "$drvPath2") &
 pid2=$!
 
 # Run the garbage collector while the build is running.  Note: the GC
diff --git a/tests/gc.sh b/tests/gc.sh
index c1bfc9ce41..afbda953ea 100644
--- a/tests/gc.sh
+++ b/tests/gc.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 source common.sh
 
-drvPath=$($TOP/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate dependencies.nix)
-outPath=$($TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -rvv "$drvPath")
+drvPath=$($nixinstantiate dependencies.nix)
+outPath=$($nixstore -rvv "$drvPath")
 
 # Set a GC root.
 ln -s $outPath "$NIX_STATE_DIR"/gcroots/foo
diff --git a/tests/hash.sh b/tests/hash.sh
index fbbf1a761e..c6232539c2 100644
--- a/tests/hash.sh
+++ b/tests/hash.sh
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ source common.sh
 
 try () {
     echo -n "$2" > $TEST_ROOT/vector
-    hash=$($TOP/src/nix-hash/nix-hash $EXTRA --flat --type "$1" $TEST_ROOT/vector)
+    hash=$($nixhash $EXTRA --flat --type "$1" $TEST_ROOT/vector)
     if test "$hash" != "$3"; then
         echo "hash $1, expected $3, got $hash"
         exit 1
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ try sha256 "abc" "1b8m03r63zqhnjf7l5wnldhh7c134ap5vpj0850ymkq1iyzicy5s"
 EXTRA=
 
 try2 () {
-    hash=$($TOP/src/nix-hash/nix-hash --type "$1" $TEST_ROOT/hash-path)
+    hash=$($nixhash --type "$1" $TEST_ROOT/hash-path)
     if test "$hash" != "$2"; then
         echo "hash $1, expected $2, got $hash"
         exit 1
diff --git a/tests/init.sh b/tests/init.sh
index cd9fe60219..a11d63f759 100644
--- a/tests/init.sh
+++ b/tests/init.sh
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ mkdir "$NIX_DB_DIR"
 mkdir "$NIX_CONF_DIR"
 
 mkdir $NIX_BIN_DIR
-ln -s $TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store $NIX_BIN_DIR/
-ln -s $TOP/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate $NIX_BIN_DIR/
-ln -s $TOP/src/nix-hash/nix-hash $NIX_BIN_DIR/
+ln -s $nixstore $NIX_BIN_DIR/
+ln -s $nixinstantiate $NIX_BIN_DIR/
+ln -s $nixhash $NIX_BIN_DIR/
 ln -s $TOP/scripts/nix-prefetch-url $NIX_BIN_DIR/
 ln -s $TOP/scripts/nix-collect-garbage $NIX_BIN_DIR/
 mkdir $NIX_BIN_DIR/nix
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ chmod +x tmp
 mv tmp $NIX_DATA_DIR/nix/corepkgs/nar/nar.sh
 
 # Initialise the database.
-$TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store --init
+$nixstore --init
 
 # Did anything happen?
 test -e "$NIX_DB_DIR"/validpaths
diff --git a/tests/lang.sh b/tests/lang.sh
index 5e9d8d51e0..f743a18305 100644
--- a/tests/lang.sh
+++ b/tests/lang.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ fail=0
 for i in lang/parse-fail-*.nix; do
     echo "parsing $i (should fail)";
     i=$(basename $i .nix)
-    if $TOP/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate --parse-only - < lang/$i.nix; then
+    if $nixinstantiate --parse-only - < lang/$i.nix; then
         echo "FAIL: $i shouldn't parse"
         fail=1
     fi
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ done
 for i in lang/parse-okay-*.nix; do
     echo "parsing $i (should succeed)";
     i=$(basename $i .nix)
-    if ! $TOP/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate --parse-only - < lang/$i.nix > lang/$i.ast; then
+    if ! $nixinstantiate --parse-only - < lang/$i.nix > lang/$i.ast; then
         echo "FAIL: $i should parse"
         fail=1
     fi
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ done
 for i in lang/eval-fail-*.nix; do
     echo "evaluating $i (should fail)";
     i=$(basename $i .nix)
-    if $TOP/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate --eval-only - < lang/$i.nix; then
+    if $nixinstantiate --eval-only - < lang/$i.nix; then
         echo "FAIL: $i shouldn't evaluate"
         fail=1
     fi
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ done
 for i in lang/eval-okay-*.nix; do
     echo "evaluating $i (should succeed)";
     i=$(basename $i .nix)
-    if ! $TOP/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate --eval-only - < lang/$i.nix > lang/$i.out; then
+    if ! $nixinstantiate --eval-only - < lang/$i.nix > lang/$i.out; then
         echo "FAIL: $i should evaluate"
         fail=1
     fi
diff --git a/tests/locking.sh b/tests/locking.sh
index 3e17886606..4b41de3916 100644
--- a/tests/locking.sh
+++ b/tests/locking.sh
@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@
 source common.sh
 
-drvPath=$($TOP/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate locking.nix)
+drvPath=$($nixinstantiate locking.nix)
 
 echo "derivation is $drvPath"
 
 for i in 1 2 3 4 5; do
     echo "WORKER $i"
-    $TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -rvv "$drvPath" &
+    $nixstore -rvv "$drvPath" &
 done
 
 sleep 5
 
-outPath=$($TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -qvvf "$drvPath")
+outPath=$($nixstore -qvvf "$drvPath")
 
 echo "output path is $outPath"
 
diff --git a/tests/misc.sh b/tests/misc.sh
index 2220ea18cb..9be2ac2f04 100644
--- a/tests/misc.sh
+++ b/tests/misc.sh
@@ -3,10 +3,14 @@ source common.sh
 # Tests miscellaneous commands.
 
 # Do all commands have help?
-$TOP/src/nix-env/nix-env --help | grep -q install
-$TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store --help | grep -q realise
-$TOP/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate --help | grep -q eval-only
-$TOP/src/nix-hash/nix-hash --help | grep -q base32
+$nixenv --help | grep -q install
+$nixstore --help | grep -q realise
+$nixinstantiate --help | grep -q eval-only
+$nixhash --help | grep -q base32
 
 # Can we ask for the version number?
-$TOP/src/nix-env/nix-env --version | grep "$version"
+$nixenv --version | grep "$version"
+
+# Usage errors.
+$nixenv --foo 2>&1 | grep "no operation"
+$nixenv -q --foo 2>&1 | grep "unknown flag"
diff --git a/tests/nix-pull.sh b/tests/nix-pull.sh
index a8dca8feaa..146227b71a 100644
--- a/tests/nix-pull.sh
+++ b/tests/nix-pull.sh
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ clearStore () {
     mkdir "$NIX_STORE_DIR"
     rm -rf "$NIX_DB_DIR"
     mkdir "$NIX_DB_DIR"
-    $TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store --init
+    $nixstore --init
 }
 
 pullCache () {
@@ -18,11 +18,11 @@ pullCache () {
 clearStore
 pullCache
 
-drvPath=$($TOP/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate dependencies.nix)
-outPath=$($TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -q $drvPath)
+drvPath=$($nixinstantiate dependencies.nix)
+outPath=$($nixstore -q $drvPath)
 
 echo "building $outPath using substitutes..."
-$TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -r $outPath
+$nixstore -r $outPath
 
 cat $outPath/input-2/bar
 
@@ -30,10 +30,10 @@ clearStore
 pullCache
 
 echo "building $drvPath using substitutes..."
-$TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -r $drvPath
+$nixstore -r $drvPath
 
 cat $outPath/input-2/bar
 
 # Check that the derivers are set properly.
-test $($TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -q --deriver "$outPath") = "$drvPath"
-$TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -q --deriver $(/bin/ls -l $outPath/input-2 | sed 's/.*->\ //') | grep -q -- "-input-2.drv" 
+test $($nixstore -q --deriver "$outPath") = "$drvPath"
+$nixstore -q --deriver $(/bin/ls -l $outPath/input-2 | sed 's/.*->\ //') | grep -q -- "-input-2.drv" 
diff --git a/tests/nix-push.sh b/tests/nix-push.sh
index 6dbb248401..46f1edb401 100644
--- a/tests/nix-push.sh
+++ b/tests/nix-push.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 source common.sh
 
-drvPath=$($TOP/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate dependencies.nix)
-outPath=$($TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -r $drvPath)
+drvPath=$($nixinstantiate dependencies.nix)
+outPath=$($nixstore -r $drvPath)
 
 echo "pushing $drvPath"
 
diff --git a/tests/parallel.sh b/tests/parallel.sh
index 2382db7834..84326978e7 100644
--- a/tests/parallel.sh
+++ b/tests/parallel.sh
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 source common.sh
 
-drvPath=$($TOP/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate parallel.nix)
+drvPath=$($nixinstantiate parallel.nix)
 
 echo "derivation is $drvPath"
 
-outPath=$($TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -qfvv -j10000 "$drvPath")
+outPath=$($nixstore -qfvv -j10000 "$drvPath")
 
 echo "output path is $outPath"
 
diff --git a/tests/referrers.sh b/tests/referrers.sh
index 2ee97e65b5..9744a30d44 100644
--- a/tests/referrers.sh
+++ b/tests/referrers.sh
@@ -4,14 +4,14 @@ max=5000
 
 reference=$NIX_STORE_DIR/abcdef
 touch $reference
-(echo $reference && echo && echo 0) | $TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store --register-validity 
+(echo $reference && echo && echo 0) | $nixstore --register-validity 
 
 echo "registering..."
 time for ((n = 0; n < $max; n++)); do
     storePath=$NIX_STORE_DIR/$n
     touch $storePath
     (echo $storePath && echo && echo 1 && echo $reference)
-done | $TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store --register-validity 
+done | $nixstore --register-validity 
 
 echo "collecting garbage..."
-time $TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store --gc 2> /dev/null
+time $nixstore --gc 2> /dev/null
diff --git a/tests/simple.sh b/tests/simple.sh
index 3e58bcc845..225e7c5224 100644
--- a/tests/simple.sh
+++ b/tests/simple.sh
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 source common.sh
 
-drvPath=$($TOP/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate simple.nix)
+drvPath=$($nixinstantiate simple.nix)
 
 echo "derivation is $drvPath"
 
-outPath=$($TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -rvv "$drvPath")
+outPath=$($nixstore -rvv "$drvPath")
 
 echo "output path is $outPath"
 
diff --git a/tests/substitutes.sh b/tests/substitutes.sh
index 680f114b5e..c44f012f59 100644
--- a/tests/substitutes.sh
+++ b/tests/substitutes.sh
@@ -1,22 +1,22 @@
 source common.sh
 
 # Instantiate.
-drvPath=$($TOP/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate substitutes.nix)
+drvPath=$($nixinstantiate substitutes.nix)
 echo "derivation is $drvPath"
 
 # Find the output path.
-outPath=$($TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -qvv "$drvPath")
+outPath=$($nixstore -qvv "$drvPath")
 echo "output path is $outPath"
 
 regSub() {
-    (echo $1 && echo "" && echo $2 && echo 3 && echo $outPath && echo Hallo && echo Wereld && echo 0) | $TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store --register-substitutes
+    (echo $1 && echo "" && echo $2 && echo 3 && echo $outPath && echo Hallo && echo Wereld && echo 0) | $nixstore --register-substitutes
 }
 
 # Register a substitute for the output path.
 regSub $outPath $(pwd)/substituter.sh
 
 
-$TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -rvv "$drvPath"
+$nixstore -rvv "$drvPath"
 
 text=$(cat "$outPath"/hello)
 if test "$text" != "Hallo Wereld"; then exit 1; fi
diff --git a/tests/substitutes2.sh b/tests/substitutes2.sh
index 7303255af0..416e815360 100644
--- a/tests/substitutes2.sh
+++ b/tests/substitutes2.sh
@@ -1,15 +1,15 @@
 source common.sh
 
 # Instantiate.
-drvPath=$($TOP/src/nix-instantiate/nix-instantiate substitutes2.nix)
+drvPath=$($nixinstantiate substitutes2.nix)
 echo "derivation is $drvPath"
 
 # Find the output path.
-outPath=$($TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -qvvvvv "$drvPath")
+outPath=$($nixstore -qvvvvv "$drvPath")
 echo "output path is $outPath"
 
 regSub() {
-    (echo $1 && echo "" && echo $2 && echo 3 && echo $outPath && echo Hallo && echo Wereld && echo 0) | $TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store --register-substitutes
+    (echo $1 && echo "" && echo $2 && echo 3 && echo $outPath && echo Hallo && echo Wereld && echo 0) | $nixstore --register-substitutes
 }
 
 # Register a substitute for the output path.
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ regSub $outPath $(pwd)/substituter.sh
 # precedence over the previous one.  It will fail.
 regSub $outPath $(pwd)/substituter2.sh
 
-$TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store -rvv "$drvPath"
+$nixstore -rvv "$drvPath"
 
 text=$(cat "$outPath"/hello)
 if test "$text" != "Hallo Wereld"; then exit 1; fi
diff --git a/tests/user-envs.sh b/tests/user-envs.sh
index eddd4c22ab..debba74ff2 100644
--- a/tests/user-envs.sh
+++ b/tests/user-envs.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 source common.sh
 
-nixenv=$TOP/src/nix-env/nix-env
 profiles="$NIX_STATE_DIR"/profiles
 
 # Query installed: should be empty.
diff --git a/tests/verify.sh b/tests/verify.sh
index a38544331a..39609c7cec 100644
--- a/tests/verify.sh
+++ b/tests/verify.sh
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 source common.sh
 
-$TOP/src/nix-store/nix-store --verify
+$nixstore --verify