diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 2288ae862e..92daf92a18 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-BROWSERIFY := node_modules/.bin/browserify
-ESLINT := node_modules/.bin/eslint
-KARMA := node_modules/.bin/karma
+BROWSERIFY := "node_modules/.bin/browserify"
+ESLINT := "node_modules/.bin/eslint"
+KARMA := "node_modules/.bin/karma"
 
 REPORTER ?= spec
 TM_BUNDLE = JavaScript\ mocha.tmbundle
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 0f794c4981..839329478b 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -324,6 +324,7 @@
     "growl": "1.9.2",
     "jade": "0.26.3",
     "mkdirp": "0.5.1",
+    "os-tmpdir": "1.0.1",
     "supports-color": "1.2.0",
     "to-iso-string": "0.0.2"
   },
diff --git a/test/acceptance/fs.js b/test/acceptance/fs.js
index cdd32166d5..8306208750 100644
--- a/test/acceptance/fs.js
+++ b/test/acceptance/fs.js
@@ -1,16 +1,18 @@
 var fs = require('fs');
+var path = require('path');
+var t = path.join.bind(path, require('os-tmpdir')());
 
 describe('fs.readFile()', function(){
   describe('when the file exists', function(){
     it('should succeed', function(done){
-      fs.writeFile('/tmp/mocha', 'wahoo', done)
+      fs.writeFile(t('mocha'), 'wahoo', done)
     })
   })
 
   describe('when the file does not exist', function(){
     it('should fail', function(done){
       // uncomment
-      // fs.readFile('/tmp/does-not-exist', done);
+      // fs.readFile(t('does-not-exist'), done);
       done();
     })
   })
diff --git a/test/acceptance/lookup-files.js b/test/acceptance/lookup-files.js
index 504d23aab1..5fde6b68b7 100644
--- a/test/acceptance/lookup-files.js
+++ b/test/acceptance/lookup-files.js
@@ -1,56 +1,79 @@
 var utils = require('../../lib/utils');
 
 describe('lookupFiles', function() {
-  var fs = require('fs'), path = require('path'), existsSync = fs.existsSync ||
-    path.existsSync;
+  var fs = require('fs'),
+    path = require('path'),
+    existsSync = fs.existsSync || path.existsSync,
+    tmpdir = require('os-tmpdir')(),
+    t = path.join.bind(path, tmpdir),
+    symlinkSupported = false;
+
+  fs.writeFileSync(t('mocha-utils.js'), 'yippy skippy ying yang yow');
+  try {
+    fs.symlinkSync(t('mocha-utils.js'), t('mocha-utils-link.js'));
+    symlinkSupported = true;
+  } catch (ignored) {
+  }
+
+  cleanup();
 
   beforeEach(function() {
-    fs.writeFileSync('/tmp/mocha-utils.js', 'yippy skippy ying yang yow');
-    fs.symlinkSync('/tmp/mocha-utils.js', '/tmp/mocha-utils-link.js');
+    fs.writeFileSync(t('mocha-utils.js'), 'yippy skippy ying yang yow');
+    if (symlinkSupported) {
+      fs.symlinkSync(t('mocha-utils.js'), t('mocha-utils-link.js'));
+    }
   });
 
-  it('should not choke on symlinks', function() {
-    expect(utils.lookupFiles('/tmp', ['js'], false))
+  (symlinkSupported ? it : it.skip)('should not choke on symlinks', function() {
+    expect(utils.lookupFiles(tmpdir, ['js'], false))
       .to
-      .contain('/tmp/mocha-utils-link.js')
+      .contain(t('mocha-utils-link.js'))
       .and
-      .contain('/tmp/mocha-utils.js')
+      .contain(t('mocha-utils.js'))
       .and
       .have
       .length(2);
-    expect(existsSync('/tmp/mocha-utils-link.js'))
+    expect(existsSync(t('mocha-utils-link.js')))
       .to
       .be(true);
-    fs.renameSync('/tmp/mocha-utils.js', '/tmp/bob');
-    expect(existsSync('/tmp/mocha-utils-link.js'))
+    fs.renameSync(t('mocha-utils.js'), t('bob'));
+    expect(existsSync(t('mocha-utils-link.js')))
       .to
       .be(false);
-    expect(utils.lookupFiles('/tmp', ['js'], false))
+    expect(utils.lookupFiles(tmpdir, ['js'], false))
       .to
       .eql([]);
   });
 
   it('should accept a glob "path" value', function() {
-    expect(utils.lookupFiles('/tmp/mocha-utils*', ['js'], false))
+    var res = utils.lookupFiles(t('mocha-utils*'), ['js'], false)
+      .map(path.normalize.bind(path));
+    var ex = expect(res)
       .to
-      .contain('/tmp/mocha-utils-link.js')
-      .and
-      .contain('/tmp/mocha-utils.js')
-      .and
+      .contain(t('mocha-utils.js'));
+
+    if (symlinkSupported) {
+      ex = ex.and
+        .contain(t('mocha-utils-link.js'));
+    }
+
+    ex.and
       .have
-      .length(2);
+      .length(1 + (+symlinkSupported));
   });
 
-  afterEach(function() {
+  afterEach(cleanup);
+
+  function cleanup() {
     [
-      '/tmp/mocha-utils.js',
-      '/tmp/mocha-utils-link.js',
-      '/tmp/bob'
+      'mocha-utils.js',
+      'mocha-utils-link.js',
+      'bob'
     ].forEach(function(path) {
       try {
-        fs.unlinkSync(path);
+        fs.unlinkSync(t(path));
       } catch (ignored) {
       }
     });
-  });
+  }
 });
diff --git a/test/color.js b/test/color.js
index 8c7167b0fa..5d0fa79d23 100644
--- a/test/color.js
+++ b/test/color.js
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 var assert = require('assert');
 var child_process = require('child_process');
+var path = require('path');
 
 describe('Mocha', function() {
   this.timeout(1000);
 
   it('should not output colors to pipe', function(cb) {
-    var command = 'bin/mocha --grep missing-test';
-    child_process.exec(command, function(err, stdout, stderr) {
+    var command = [path.join('bin', 'mocha'), '--grep', 'missing-test'];
+    child_process.execFile(process.argv[0], command, function(err, stdout, stderr) {
       if (err) return cb(err);
 
       assert(stdout.indexOf('[90m') === -1);
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/hooks/multiple.hook.async.error.js b/test/integration/fixtures/hooks/multiple.hook.async.error.js
index c5474ad99b..93ace7ff0d 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/hooks/multiple.hook.async.error.js
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/hooks/multiple.hook.async.error.js
@@ -9,54 +9,54 @@ describe('1', function () {
     console.log('1 before each');
   });
 
-  describe('1.1', function () {
+  describe('1-1', function () {
     before(function () {
-      console.log('1.1 before');
+      console.log('1-1 before');
     });
     beforeEach(function (done) {
-      console.log('1.1 before each');
+      console.log('1-1 before each');
       process.nextTick(function () {
-        throw new Error('1.1 before each hook failed');
+        throw new Error('1-1 before each hook failed');
       });
     });
-    it('1.1 test 1', function () {
-      console.log('1.1 test 1');
+    it('1-1 test 1', function () {
+      console.log('1-1 test 1');
     });
-    it('1.1 test 2', function () {
-      console.log('1.1 test 2');
+    it('1-1 test 2', function () {
+      console.log('1-1 test 2');
     });
     afterEach(function () {
-      console.log('1.1 after each');
+      console.log('1-1 after each');
     });
     after(function (done) {
-      console.log('1.1 after');
+      console.log('1-1 after');
       process.nextTick(function () {
-        throw new Error('1.1 after hook failed');
+        throw new Error('1-1 after hook failed');
       });
     });
   });
 
-  describe('1.2', function () {
+  describe('1-2', function () {
     before(function () {
-      console.log('1.2 before');
+      console.log('1-2 before');
     });
     beforeEach(function () {
-      console.log('1.2 before each');
+      console.log('1-2 before each');
     });
-    it('1.2 test 1', function () {
-      console.log('1.2 test 1');
+    it('1-2 test 1', function () {
+      console.log('1-2 test 1');
     });
-    it('1.2 test 2', function () {
-      console.log('1.2 test 2');
+    it('1-2 test 2', function () {
+      console.log('1-2 test 2');
     });
     afterEach(function (done) {
-      console.log('1.2 after each');
+      console.log('1-2 after each');
       process.nextTick(function () {
-        throw new Error('1.2 after each hook failed');
+        throw new Error('1-2 after each hook failed');
       });
     });
     after(function () {
-      console.log('1.2 after');
+      console.log('1-2 after');
     });
   });
 
@@ -77,45 +77,45 @@ describe('2', function () {
     });
   });
 
-  describe('2.1', function () {
+  describe('2-1', function () {
     before(function () {
-      console.log('2.1 before');
+      console.log('2-1 before');
     });
     beforeEach(function () {
-      console.log('2.1 before each');
+      console.log('2-1 before each');
     });
-    it('2.1 test 1', function () {
-      console.log('2.1 test 1');
+    it('2-1 test 1', function () {
+      console.log('2-1 test 1');
     });
-    it('2.1 test 2', function () {
-      console.log('2.1 test 2');
+    it('2-1 test 2', function () {
+      console.log('2-1 test 2');
     });
     afterEach(function () {
-      console.log('2.1 after each');
+      console.log('2-1 after each');
     });
     after(function () {
-      console.log('2.1 after');
+      console.log('2-1 after');
     });
   });
 
-  describe('2.2', function () {
+  describe('2-2', function () {
     before(function () {
-      console.log('2.2 before');
+      console.log('2-2 before');
     });
     beforeEach(function () {
-      console.log('2.2 before each');
+      console.log('2-2 before each');
     });
-    it('2.2 test 1', function () {
-      console.log('2.2 test 1');
+    it('2-2 test 1', function () {
+      console.log('2-2 test 1');
     });
-    it('2.2 test 2', function () {
-      console.log('2.2 test 2');
+    it('2-2 test 2', function () {
+      console.log('2-2 test 2');
     });
     afterEach(function () {
-      console.log('2.2 after each');
+      console.log('2-2 after each');
     });
     after(function () {
-      console.log('2.2 after');
+      console.log('2-2 after');
     });
   });
 
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/hooks/multiple.hook.error.js b/test/integration/fixtures/hooks/multiple.hook.error.js
index f0983cf42f..53d167b1cf 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/hooks/multiple.hook.error.js
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/hooks/multiple.hook.error.js
@@ -9,48 +9,48 @@ describe('1', function () {
     console.log('1 before each');
   });
 
-  describe('1.1', function () {
+  describe('1-1', function () {
     before(function () {
-      console.log('1.1 before');
+      console.log('1-1 before');
     });
     beforeEach(function () {
-      console.log('1.1 before each');
-      throw new Error('1.1 before each hook failed');
+      console.log('1-1 before each');
+      throw new Error('1-1 before each hook failed');
     });
-    it('1.1 test 1', function () {
-      console.log('1.1 test 1');
+    it('1-1 test 1', function () {
+      console.log('1-1 test 1');
     });
-    it('1.1 test 2', function () {
-      console.log('1.1 test 2');
+    it('1-1 test 2', function () {
+      console.log('1-1 test 2');
     });
     afterEach(function () {
-      console.log('1.1 after each');
+      console.log('1-1 after each');
     });
     after(function () {
-      console.log('1.1 after');
-      throw new Error('1.1 after hook failed');
+      console.log('1-1 after');
+      throw new Error('1-1 after hook failed');
     });
   });
 
-  describe('1.2', function () {
+  describe('1-2', function () {
     before(function () {
-      console.log('1.2 before');
+      console.log('1-2 before');
     });
     beforeEach(function () {
-      console.log('1.2 before each');
+      console.log('1-2 before each');
     });
-    it('1.2 test 1', function () {
-      console.log('1.2 test 1');
+    it('1-2 test 1', function () {
+      console.log('1-2 test 1');
     });
-    it('1.2 test 2', function () {
-      console.log('1.2 test 2');
+    it('1-2 test 2', function () {
+      console.log('1-2 test 2');
     });
     afterEach(function () {
-      console.log('1.2 after each');
-      throw new Error('1.2 after each hook failed');
+      console.log('1-2 after each');
+      throw new Error('1-2 after each hook failed');
     });
     after(function () {
-      console.log('1.2 after');
+      console.log('1-2 after');
     });
   });
 
@@ -69,45 +69,45 @@ describe('2', function () {
     throw new Error('2 before each hook failed');
   });
 
-  describe('2.1', function () {
+  describe('2-1', function () {
     before(function () {
-      console.log('2.1 before');
+      console.log('2-1 before');
     });
     beforeEach(function () {
-      console.log('2.1 before each');
+      console.log('2-1 before each');
     });
-    it('2.1 test 1', function () {
-      console.log('2.1 test 1');
+    it('2-1 test 1', function () {
+      console.log('2-1 test 1');
     });
-    it('2.1 test 2', function () {
-      console.log('2.1 test 2');
+    it('2-1 test 2', function () {
+      console.log('2-1 test 2');
     });
     afterEach(function () {
-      console.log('2.1 after each');
+      console.log('2-1 after each');
     });
     after(function () {
-      console.log('2.1 after');
+      console.log('2-1 after');
     });
   });
 
-  describe('2.2', function () {
+  describe('2-2', function () {
     before(function () {
-      console.log('2.2 before');
+      console.log('2-2 before');
     });
     beforeEach(function () {
-      console.log('2.2 before each');
+      console.log('2-2 before each');
     });
-    it('2.2 test 1', function () {
-      console.log('2.2 test 1');
+    it('2-2 test 1', function () {
+      console.log('2-2 test 1');
     });
-    it('2.2 test 2', function () {
-      console.log('2.2 test 2');
+    it('2-2 test 2', function () {
+      console.log('2-2 test 2');
     });
     afterEach(function () {
-      console.log('2.2 after each');
+      console.log('2-2 after each');
     });
     after(function () {
-      console.log('2.2 after');
+      console.log('2-2 after');
     });
   });
 
diff --git a/test/integration/helpers.js b/test/integration/helpers.js
index d63756c0a1..548c72295a 100644
--- a/test/integration/helpers.js
+++ b/test/integration/helpers.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 var spawn = require('child_process').spawn;
 var path  = require('path');
 var fs = require('fs');
+var baseReporter = require('../../lib/reporters/base');
 
 module.exports = {
   /**
@@ -142,14 +143,20 @@ module.exports = {
     return diffs.map(function(diff) {
       return diff.slice(1, -3).join('\n');
     });
-  }
+  },
+
+  /**
+   * regular expression used for splitting lines based on new line / dot symbol.
+   */
+  splitRegExp: new RegExp('[\\n' + baseReporter.symbols.dot + ']+')
 };
 
 function invokeMocha(args, fn) {
   var output, mocha, listener;
 
   output = '';
-  mocha = spawn('./bin/mocha', args);
+  args = [path.join('bin', 'mocha')].concat(args);
+  mocha = spawn(process.argv[0], args);
 
   listener = function(data) {
     output += data;
diff --git a/test/integration/hook.err.js b/test/integration/hook.err.js
index ca1a8fe1bb..cf3d7c7c7b 100644
--- a/test/integration/hook.err.js
+++ b/test/integration/hook.err.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 var assert = require('assert');
 var runMocha = require('./helpers').runMocha;
+var splitRegExp = require('./helpers').splitRegExp;
 
 describe('hook error handling', function() {
   this.timeout(1000);
@@ -63,30 +64,30 @@ describe('hook error handling', function() {
         lines,
         [
           'root before',
-          '1.1 before',
+          '1-1 before',
           'root before each',
           '1 before each',
-          '1.1 before each',
-          '1.1 after each',
+          '1-1 before each',
+          '1-1 after each',
           '1 after each',
           'root after each',
-          '1.1 after',
-          '1.2 before',
+          '1-1 after',
+          '1-2 before',
           'root before each',
           '1 before each',
-          '1.2 before each',
-          '1.2 test 1',
-          '1.2 after each',
+          '1-2 before each',
+          '1-2 test 1',
+          '1-2 after each',
           '1 after each',
           'root after each',
-          '1.2 after',
+          '1-2 after',
           '1 after',
-          '2.1 before',
+          '2-1 before',
           'root before each',
           '2 before each',
           '2 after each',
           'root after each',
-          '2.1 after',
+          '2-1 after',
           '2 after',
           'root after'
         ]
@@ -151,30 +152,30 @@ describe('hook error handling', function() {
         lines,
         [
           'root before',
-          '1.1 before',
+          '1-1 before',
           'root before each',
           '1 before each',
-          '1.1 before each',
-          '1.1 after each',
+          '1-1 before each',
+          '1-1 after each',
           '1 after each',
           'root after each',
-          '1.1 after',
-          '1.2 before',
+          '1-1 after',
+          '1-2 before',
           'root before each',
           '1 before each',
-          '1.2 before each',
-          '1.2 test 1',
-          '1.2 after each',
+          '1-2 before each',
+          '1-2 test 1',
+          '1-2 after each',
           '1 after each',
           'root after each',
-          '1.2 after',
+          '1-2 after',
           '1 after',
-          '2.1 before',
+          '2-1 before',
           'root before each',
           '2 before each',
           '2 after each',
           'root after each',
-          '2.1 after',
+          '2-1 after',
           '2 after',
           'root after'
         ]
@@ -188,7 +189,7 @@ describe('hook error handling', function() {
         assert.ifError(err);
 
         lines = res.output
-          .split(/[\n․]+/)
+          .split(splitRegExp)
           .map(function(line) {
             return line.trim();
           })
diff --git a/test/integration/hooks.js b/test/integration/hooks.js
index 4236c7f82d..127af18965 100644
--- a/test/integration/hooks.js
+++ b/test/integration/hooks.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 var assert = require('assert');
 var run    = require('./helpers').runMocha;
+var splitRegExp = require('./helpers').splitRegExp;
 var args   = [];
 
 describe('hooks', function() {
@@ -11,7 +12,7 @@ describe('hooks', function() {
 
       assert(!err);
 
-      lines = res.output.split(/[\n․]+/).map(function(line) {
+      lines = res.output.split(splitRegExp).map(function(line) {
         return line.trim();
       }).filter(function(line) {
         return line.length;
diff --git a/test/integration/retries.js b/test/integration/retries.js
index 68a8bca3e2..756cc9dd9b 100644
--- a/test/integration/retries.js
+++ b/test/integration/retries.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ describe('retries', function() {
 
       assert(!err);
 
-      lines = res.output.split(/[\n․]+/).map(function(line) {
+      lines = res.output.split(helpers.splitRegExp).map(function(line) {
         return line.trim();
       }).filter(function(line) {
         return line.length;
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ describe('retries', function() {
 
       assert(!err);
 
-      lines = res.output.split(/[\n․]+/).map(function(line) {
+      lines = res.output.split(helpers.splitRegExp).map(function(line) {
         return line.trim();
       }).filter(function(line) {
         return line.length;