diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9512d8c..49eec85 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -6,20 +6,24 @@ These can be handed to [tar](http://npm.im/tar) like so to make an npm
 package tarball:
 
 ```js
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const packlist = require('npm-packlist')
 const tar = require('tar')
 const packageDir = '/path/to/package'
 const packageTarball = '/path/to/package.tgz'
 
-packlist({ path: packageDir })
-  .then(files => tar.create({
-    prefix: 'package/',
-    cwd: packageDir,
-    file: packageTarball,
-    gzip: true
-  }, files))
-  .then(_ => {
-    // tarball has been created, continue with your day
+const arborist = new Arborist({ path: packageDir })
+arborist.loadActual().then((tree) => {
+  packlist({ path: packageDir, tree })
+    .then(files => tar.create({
+      prefix: 'package/',
+      cwd: packageDir,
+      file: packageTarball,
+      gzip: true
+    }, files))
+    .then(_ => {
+      // tarball has been created, continue with your day
+    })
   })
 ```
 
@@ -97,7 +101,6 @@ Any specific file matched by an exact filename in the package.json `files` list
 
 ## API
 
-Same API as [ignore-walk](http://npm.im/ignore-walk), just hard-coded
-file list and rule sets.
+Same API as [ignore-walk](http://npm.im/ignore-walk), except providing a `tree` is required and there are hard-coded file list and rule sets.
 
-The `Walker` class will load an [arborist](https://github.com/npm/cli/tree/latest/workspaces/arborist) tree, and if any bundled dependencies are found will include them as well as their own dependencies in the resulting file set.
+The `Walker` class requires an [arborist](https://github.com/npm/cli/tree/latest/workspaces/arborist) tree, and if any bundled dependencies are found will include them as well as their own dependencies in the resulting file set.
diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index bcd0a9b..538873f 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 'use strict'
 
-const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const { Walker: IgnoreWalker } = require('ignore-walk')
 const { lstatSync: lstat, readFileSync: readFile } = require('fs')
 const { basename, dirname, extname, join, relative, resolve, sep } = require('path')
@@ -104,7 +103,7 @@ class PackWalker extends IgnoreWalker {
     super(options)
     this.isPackage = options.isPackage
     this.seen = options.seen || new Set()
-    this.tree = options.tree // no default, we'll load the tree later if we need to
+    this.tree = options.tree
     this.requiredFiles = options.requiredFiles || []
 
     const additionalDefaults = []
@@ -202,22 +201,6 @@ class PackWalker extends IgnoreWalker {
     return super.stat(opts, callback)
   }
 
-  // overridden method: we need to load the arborist tree before we actually start running
-  start () {
-    if (this.isPackage && !this.tree) {
-      const arborist = new Arborist({ path: this.path })
-      // loading the tree is async while the start function depends on being sync
-      // eslint-disable-next-line promise/catch-or-return, promise/always-return
-      arborist.loadActual().then((tree) => {
-        this.tree = tree
-        super.start()
-      })
-      return this
-    }
-
-    return super.start()
-  }
-
   // overridden method: this is called to create options for a child walker when we step
   // in to a normal child directory (this will never be a bundle). the default method here
   // copies the root's `ignoreFiles` value, but we don't want to respect package.json for
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 2f3200a..9c92d42 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
   },
   "main": "lib/index.js",
   "dependencies": {
-    "@npmcli/arborist": "^5.0.4 || ^6.0.0 || ^6.0.0-pre.0",
     "ignore-walk": "^5.0.1"
   },
   "author": "GitHub Inc.",
@@ -17,6 +16,7 @@
     "lib/"
   ],
   "devDependencies": {
+    "@npmcli/arborist": "^5.0.4 || ^6.0.0 || ^6.0.0-pre.0",
     "@npmcli/eslint-config": "^3.0.1",
     "@npmcli/template-oss": "4.4.2",
     "mutate-fs": "^2.1.1",
@@ -45,10 +45,8 @@
     "nyc-arg": [
       "--exclude",
       "tap-snapshots/**"
-    ]
-  },
-  "bin": {
-    "npm-packlist": "bin/index.js"
+    ],
+    "files": ["test/*.js"]
   },
   "engines": {
     "node": "^14.17.0 || ^16.13.0 || >=18.0.0"
diff --git a/test/bin.js b/test/bin.js
index 25bd991..b085b77 100644
--- a/test/bin.js
+++ b/test/bin.js
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ const t = require('tap')
 const { spawnSync } = require('child_process')
 
 const nodePath = process.execPath
-const binPath = require.resolve('../bin/index.js')
+const binPath = require.resolve('./utils/bin.js')
 
 const cwd = t.testdir({
   'package.json': JSON.stringify({
diff --git a/test/bundle-missing-dep.js b/test/bundle-missing-dep.js
index 7cc9e1e..21888cc 100644
--- a/test/bundle-missing-dep.js
+++ b/test/bundle-missing-dep.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -24,8 +25,10 @@ t.test('skips bundling deps with missing edges', async (t) => {
       },
     },
   })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
 
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'index.js',
     'package.json',
diff --git a/test/bundled-cycle.js b/test/bundled-cycle.js
index f8eb4a9..dd2ba66 100644
--- a/test/bundled-cycle.js
+++ b/test/bundled-cycle.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -41,7 +42,9 @@ t.test('correctly bundles cyclic deps', async (t) => {
     },
   })
 
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'index.js',
     'node_modules/a/index.js',
diff --git a/test/bundled-file-in-workspace.js b/test/bundled-file-in-workspace.js
index 695eb26..0fde3c4 100644
--- a/test/bundled-file-in-workspace.js
+++ b/test/bundled-file-in-workspace.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -29,7 +30,9 @@ t.test('correctly filters files from workspace subdirectory', async (t) => {
     },
   })
 
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'index.js',
     'package.json',
@@ -76,7 +79,9 @@ t.test('does not filter based on package.json if subdirectory is not a workspace
     },
   })
 
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'index.js',
     'package.json',
diff --git a/test/bundled-files.js b/test/bundled-files.js
index 9fb6110..a0fe15c 100644
--- a/test/bundled-files.js
+++ b/test/bundled-files.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -36,7 +37,9 @@ t.test('includes bundled dependency using bundleDependencies', async (t) => {
     },
   })
 
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'elf.js',
     'node_modules/history/index.js',
@@ -73,7 +76,9 @@ t.test('includes bundled dependency using bundledDependencies', async (t) => {
     },
   })
 
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'elf.js',
     'node_modules/history/index.js',
diff --git a/test/bundled-scoped-symlink.js b/test/bundled-scoped-symlink.js
index 55675e5..2d58cb6 100644
--- a/test/bundled-scoped-symlink.js
+++ b/test/bundled-scoped-symlink.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('..')
 
@@ -51,7 +52,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 }) + '/pkg'
 
 t.test('includes bundled dependency', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'elf.js',
     'node_modules/@npmwombat/history/index.js',
diff --git a/test/bundled-scoped.js b/test/bundled-scoped.js
index 7942758..2a02da0 100644
--- a/test/bundled-scoped.js
+++ b/test/bundled-scoped.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -37,7 +38,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('includes bundled dependency', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'elf.js',
     'node_modules/@npmwombat/history/index.js',
diff --git a/test/bundled-symlink.js b/test/bundled-symlink.js
index fc0cfd4..eb7fcbc 100644
--- a/test/bundled-symlink.js
+++ b/test/bundled-symlink.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -49,7 +50,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 }) + '/pkg'
 
 t.test('includes bundled dependency', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'elf.js',
     'node_modules/history/index.js',
diff --git a/test/bundled-workspace.js b/test/bundled-workspace.js
index bd2cd5a..905f67d 100644
--- a/test/bundled-workspace.js
+++ b/test/bundled-workspace.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -42,7 +43,9 @@ t.test('packs workspace dependencies correctly', async (t) => {
     },
   })
 
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'index.js',
     'node_modules/bar/index.js',
diff --git a/test/bundled.js b/test/bundled.js
index 6c78e35..18c34f8 100644
--- a/test/bundled.js
+++ b/test/bundled.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -35,7 +36,9 @@ t.test('includes bundled dependency using bundleDependencies', async (t) => {
     },
   })
 
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'elf.js',
     'node_modules/history/index.js',
@@ -71,7 +74,9 @@ t.test('includes bundled dependency using bundledDependencies', async (t) => {
     },
   })
 
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'elf.js',
     'node_modules/history/index.js',
diff --git a/test/callbacks.js b/test/callbacks.js
index 558530e..f1fa23d 100644
--- a/test/callbacks.js
+++ b/test/callbacks.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -9,15 +10,20 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
   }),
 })
 
-t.test('export supports callbacks', (t) => {
-  packlist({ path: pkg }, (err, files) => {
-    if (err) {
-      throw err
-    }
+t.test('export supports callbacks', async (t) => {
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
 
-    t.same(files, [
-      'package.json',
-    ])
-    t.end()
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    packlist({ path: pkg, tree }, (err, files) => {
+      if (err) {
+        reject(err)
+      }
+
+      t.same(files, [
+        'package.json',
+      ])
+      resolve(files)
+    })
   })
 })
diff --git a/test/cannot-exclude-package-json.js b/test/cannot-exclude-package-json.js
index aeadbc6..0955e01 100644
--- a/test/cannot-exclude-package-json.js
+++ b/test/cannot-exclude-package-json.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // cannot exclude package.json in the root
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -12,7 +13,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('try to exclude package.json but cannot', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     '.npmignore',
     'package.json',
diff --git a/test/cannot-exclude-readme.js b/test/cannot-exclude-readme.js
index e752c84..8fef82a 100644
--- a/test/cannot-exclude-readme.js
+++ b/test/cannot-exclude-readme.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // cannot exclude readme.md in the root
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -18,7 +19,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('try to exclude package.json but cannot', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     '.npmignore',
     'package.json',
diff --git a/test/cannot-exclude-shrinkwrap.js b/test/cannot-exclude-shrinkwrap.js
index 3082998..1b3fb13 100644
--- a/test/cannot-exclude-shrinkwrap.js
+++ b/test/cannot-exclude-shrinkwrap.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // cannot exclude npm-shrinkwrap.json in the root
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -13,7 +14,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('package with negated files', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     '.npmignore',
     'npm-shrinkwrap.json',
diff --git a/test/cannot-include-non-file-or-directory.js b/test/cannot-include-non-file-or-directory.js
index fbfb071..d1c5bcd 100644
--- a/test/cannot-include-non-file-or-directory.js
+++ b/test/cannot-include-non-file-or-directory.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const fs = require('fs')
 const t = require('tap')
 const { join } = require('path')
@@ -54,7 +55,9 @@ t.test('cannot include something that exists but is neither a file nor a directo
     },
   })
 
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'index.js',
     'package.json',
diff --git a/test/cannot-include-package-lock.js b/test/cannot-include-package-lock.js
index 597732b..0072883 100644
--- a/test/cannot-include-package-lock.js
+++ b/test/cannot-include-package-lock.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // cannot include package-lock.json in the root
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -15,7 +16,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('try to include package-lock.json but cannot', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     '.npmignore',
     'package.json',
diff --git a/test/constructor.js b/test/constructor.js
index 07cdca3..2a94ab7 100644
--- a/test/constructor.js
+++ b/test/constructor.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -15,7 +16,9 @@ t.test('Walker constructor allows ommitting options entirely', async (t) => {
   t.teardown(() => process.cwd = cwd)
   process.cwd = () => pkg
 
-  const walker = new packlist.Walker()
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const walker = new packlist.Walker({ tree })
   const files = await new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
     walker
       .on('done', resolve)
diff --git a/test/cwd.js b/test/cwd.js
index ee8f212..7c9f87a 100644
--- a/test/cwd.js
+++ b/test/cwd.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -44,7 +45,9 @@ t.test('follows npm package ignoring rules', async (t) => {
   t.teardown(() => process.chdir(cwd))
   process.chdir(pkg)
 
-  const files = await packlist()
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'deps/foo/config/config.gypi',
     'elf.js',
diff --git a/test/empty-npmignore.js b/test/empty-npmignore.js
index 17cd2ab..a41c92b 100644
--- a/test/empty-npmignore.js
+++ b/test/empty-npmignore.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -47,7 +48,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('follows npm package ignoring rules', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'deps/foo/config/config.gypi',
     'elf.js',
diff --git a/test/ignore-file-included-by-globstar.js b/test/ignore-file-included-by-globstar.js
index 0e12b4c..eac6bf4 100644
--- a/test/ignore-file-included-by-globstar.js
+++ b/test/ignore-file-included-by-globstar.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -21,7 +22,9 @@ t.test('include a globstar, then exclude one of them', async (t) => {
     }),
   })
 
-  const files = await packlist({ path })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'bar.js',
     'bar/bar.js',
diff --git a/test/ignores.js b/test/ignores.js
index 81d4b2a..847b44c 100644
--- a/test/ignores.js
+++ b/test/ignores.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -80,7 +81,9 @@ readme.md
 })
 
 t.test('follows npm package ignoring rules', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'core',
     'deps/foo/config/config.gypi',
diff --git a/test/include-gitignore.js b/test/include-gitignore.js
index 585bd59..47ccae3 100644
--- a/test/include-gitignore.js
+++ b/test/include-gitignore.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -44,7 +45,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('follows npm package ignoring rules', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'z/.gitignore',
     'deps/foo/config/config.gypi',
diff --git a/test/nested-lock-and-core.js b/test/nested-lock-and-core.js
index ec19d03..90b1240 100644
--- a/test/nested-lock-and-core.js
+++ b/test/nested-lock-and-core.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -33,7 +34,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('follows npm package ignoring rules', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'lib/core',
     'lib/package-lock.json',
diff --git a/test/package-json-bin-multiple.js b/test/package-json-bin-multiple.js
index 82f672b..52d1006 100644
--- a/test/package-json-bin-multiple.js
+++ b/test/package-json-bin-multiple.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -34,7 +35,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('follows npm package ignoring rules', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     '__bin_bar',
     '__bin_foo',
diff --git a/test/package-json-bin-single.js b/test/package-json-bin-single.js
index ec0f750..7653a55 100644
--- a/test/package-json-bin-single.js
+++ b/test/package-json-bin-single.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -30,7 +31,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('follows npm package ignoring rules', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     '__bin',
     'lib/elf.js',
diff --git a/test/package-json-empty.js b/test/package-json-empty.js
index 8c5049b..17dd51c 100644
--- a/test/package-json-empty.js
+++ b/test/package-json-empty.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -44,7 +45,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('follows npm package ignoring rules', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'elf.js',
     'package.json',
diff --git a/test/package-json-filed-dir-nested-npmignore.js b/test/package-json-filed-dir-nested-npmignore.js
index 0e1c012..a4a0686 100644
--- a/test/package-json-filed-dir-nested-npmignore.js
+++ b/test/package-json-filed-dir-nested-npmignore.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -20,7 +21,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('package with negated files', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'lib/for.js',
     'lib/one.js',
diff --git a/test/package-json-files-and-containing-dir.js b/test/package-json-files-and-containing-dir.js
index 60ba99e..22e460d 100644
--- a/test/package-json-files-and-containing-dir.js
+++ b/test/package-json-files-and-containing-dir.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 // in ways that will have them included from multiple directions
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -27,7 +28,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('package with negated files', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'lib/for.js',
     'lib/one.js',
diff --git a/test/package-json-files-dir-and-nested-ignore.js b/test/package-json-files-dir-and-nested-ignore.js
index f1a4ebc..fe568c6 100644
--- a/test/package-json-files-dir-and-nested-ignore.js
+++ b/test/package-json-files-dir-and-nested-ignore.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 // 'files' array matches a dir, but not any specific files.
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -22,7 +23,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('package with negated files', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'lib/for.js',
     'lib/one.js',
diff --git a/test/package-json-files-including-npmignore.js b/test/package-json-files-including-npmignore.js
index fc00a67..d058a5d 100644
--- a/test/package-json-files-including-npmignore.js
+++ b/test/package-json-files-including-npmignore.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -23,7 +24,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('package with negated files', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'lib/.npmignore',
     'lib/sub/for.js',
diff --git a/test/package-json-files-nested-dir-and-nested-ignore.js b/test/package-json-files-nested-dir-and-nested-ignore.js
index 357b1e5..98cb899 100644
--- a/test/package-json-files-nested-dir-and-nested-ignore.js
+++ b/test/package-json-files-nested-dir-and-nested-ignore.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 // 'files' array matches a dir that passes by it.
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -24,7 +25,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('package with negated files', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'lib/dir/for.js',
     'lib/dir/one.js',
diff --git a/test/package-json-files-no-dir-nested-npmignore.js b/test/package-json-files-no-dir-nested-npmignore.js
index 2dd50a8..bdb3158 100644
--- a/test/package-json-files-no-dir-nested-npmignore.js
+++ b/test/package-json-files-no-dir-nested-npmignore.js
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+'use strict'
+
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -18,7 +21,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('package with negated files', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'lib/for.js',
     'lib/one.js',
diff --git a/test/package-json-files-with-slashes.js b/test/package-json-files-with-slashes.js
index 612d953..146eb1d 100644
--- a/test/package-json-files-with-slashes.js
+++ b/test/package-json-files-with-slashes.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 // list as a file path, it will be included no matter what.
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -27,7 +28,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('package with negated files', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'lib/for.js',
     'lib/one.js',
diff --git a/test/package-json-main.js b/test/package-json-main.js
index 4284b6a..674d8d1 100644
--- a/test/package-json-main.js
+++ b/test/package-json-main.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -49,7 +50,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('follows npm package ignoring rules', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'deps/foo/config/config.gypi',
     '__main.js',
diff --git a/test/package-json-negated-files.js b/test/package-json-negated-files.js
index 8f7ee4c..578e4da 100644
--- a/test/package-json-negated-files.js
+++ b/test/package-json-negated-files.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -21,7 +22,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('package with negated files', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'lib/for',
     'lib/tre',
diff --git a/test/package-json-nested-readme-include-npmignore.js b/test/package-json-nested-readme-include-npmignore.js
index c06ab85..77b57ff 100644
--- a/test/package-json-nested-readme-include-npmignore.js
+++ b/test/package-json-nested-readme-include-npmignore.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // include readme.* files anywhere in a package
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -51,7 +52,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('package with negated files', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'lib/a/a.js',
     'lib/a/b/b.js',
diff --git a/test/package-json-nested-readme.js b/test/package-json-nested-readme.js
index ef7499d..0013f10 100644
--- a/test/package-json-nested-readme.js
+++ b/test/package-json-nested-readme.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // include readme.* files anywhere in a package
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -48,7 +49,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('package with negated files', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'lib/a/a.js',
     'lib/a/b/b.js',
diff --git a/test/package-json-nested.js b/test/package-json-nested.js
index 02bd25d..792b1a2 100644
--- a/test/package-json-nested.js
+++ b/test/package-json-nested.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -20,7 +21,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('includes nested package.json file', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'nest/foo.js',
     'nest/index.js',
diff --git a/test/package-json-roots-and-nests.js b/test/package-json-roots-and-nests.js
index c803393..b31b566 100644
--- a/test/package-json-roots-and-nests.js
+++ b/test/package-json-roots-and-nests.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -56,7 +57,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('package with negated files', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'node_modules/@foo/bar/.DS_Store',
     'inc/foo',
diff --git a/test/package-json.js b/test/package-json.js
index 9219a1d..abb8b47 100644
--- a/test/package-json.js
+++ b/test/package-json.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -45,7 +46,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('follows npm package ignoring rules', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'deps/foo/config/config.gypi',
     'elf.js',
diff --git a/test/package-not-json.js b/test/package-not-json.js
index 368148e..6154bdd 100644
--- a/test/package-not-json.js
+++ b/test/package-not-json.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -36,7 +37,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('follows npm package ignoring rules', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'deps/foo/config/config.gypi',
     'elf.js',
diff --git a/test/scoped.js b/test/scoped.js
index efce01d..2c105af 100644
--- a/test/scoped.js
+++ b/test/scoped.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -39,7 +40,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('includes bundledDependencies', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, bundled: ['@npmwombat/scoped'] })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, bundled: ['@npmwombat/scoped'], tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'elf.js',
     'node_modules/@npmwombat/scoped/index.js',
diff --git a/test/star-names.js b/test/star-names.js
index 7e38fd6..fe51b53 100644
--- a/test/star-names.js
+++ b/test/star-names.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const fs = require('fs')
 
@@ -65,7 +66,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('follows npm package ignoring rules', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'deps/foo/config/config.gypi',
     'elf.js',
diff --git a/test/strip-slash-from-package-files-list-entries.js b/test/strip-slash-from-package-files-list-entries.js
index cc319b6..849c3f2 100644
--- a/test/strip-slash-from-package-files-list-entries.js
+++ b/test/strip-slash-from-package-files-list-entries.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -48,7 +49,9 @@ t.test('should strip / from package.json files array entry results', async (t) =
     },
   })
 
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'dist/bar',
     'dist/baz/boo',
diff --git a/test/symlink.js b/test/symlink.js
index 52c320b..e1e42f2 100644
--- a/test/symlink.js
+++ b/test/symlink.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const t = require('tap')
 const packlist = require('../')
 
@@ -64,7 +65,9 @@ const pkg = t.testdir({
 })
 
 t.test('follows npm package ignoring rules', async (t) => {
-  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg })
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: pkg })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+  const files = await packlist({ path: pkg, tree })
   t.same(files, [
     'test/resolver/multirepo/packages/a/README',
     'deps/foo/config/config.gypi',
diff --git a/bin/index.js b/test/utils/bin.js
similarity index 67%
rename from bin/index.js
rename to test/utils/bin.js
index 48a6b87..3474dea 100755
--- a/bin/index.js
+++ b/test/utils/bin.js
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env node
 'use strict'
 
-const packlist = require('../')
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
+const packlist = require('../../')
 
 const dirs = []
 let doSort = false
@@ -20,12 +21,17 @@ const sort = list => doSort ? list.sort((a, b) => a.localeCompare(b, 'en')) : li
 
 const main = async () => {
   if (!dirs.length) {
-    const results = await packlist({ path: process.cwd() })
+    const path = process.cwd()
+    const arborist = new Arborist({ path })
+    const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
+    const results = await packlist({ path, tree })
     console.log(sort(results).join('\n'))
   } else {
     for (const dir of dirs) {
+      const arborist = new Arborist({ path: dir })
+      const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
       console.group(`> ${dir}`)
-      const results = await packlist({ path: dir })
+      const results = await packlist({ path: dir, tree })
       console.log(sort(results).join('\n'))
       console.groupEnd()
     }
diff --git a/test/workspace.js b/test/workspace.js
index ed0f449..e92cff0 100644
--- a/test/workspace.js
+++ b/test/workspace.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const Arborist = require('@npmcli/arborist')
 const path = require('path')
 const t = require('tap')
 
@@ -34,11 +35,14 @@ t.test('respects workspace root ignore files', async (t) => {
   })
 
   const workspacePath = path.join(root, 'workspaces', 'foo')
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: workspacePath })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
   // this simulates what it looks like when a user does i.e. npm pack -w ./workspaces/foo
   const files = await packlist({
     path: workspacePath,
     prefix: root,
     workspaces: [workspacePath],
+    tree,
   })
   t.same(files, [
     'child.js',
@@ -50,6 +54,7 @@ t.test('respects workspace root ignore files', async (t) => {
   const secondFiles = await packlist({
     path: workspacePath,
     prefix: root,
+    tree,
   })
   t.same(secondFiles, [
     'ignore-me',
@@ -89,10 +94,13 @@ t.test('packing a workspace root does not include children', async (t) => {
 
   const workspacePath = path.join(root, 'workspaces', 'foo')
   // this simulates what it looks like when a user does `npm pack` from a workspace root
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: root })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
   const files = await packlist({
     path: root,
     prefix: root,
     workspaces: [workspacePath],
+    tree,
   })
   t.same(files, [
     'root.js',
@@ -103,6 +111,7 @@ t.test('packing a workspace root does not include children', async (t) => {
   const secondFiles = await packlist({
     path: root,
     prefix: root,
+    tree,
   })
   t.same(secondFiles, [
     'workspaces/foo/child.js',
@@ -149,10 +158,13 @@ t.test('.gitignore is discarded if .npmignore exists outside of tree', async (t)
 
   const workspacePath = path.join(root, 'workspaces', 'foo')
   // this simulates what it looks like when a user does i.e. npm pack -w ./workspaces/foo
+  const arborist = new Arborist({ path: workspacePath })
+  const tree = await arborist.loadActual()
   const files = await packlist({
     path: workspacePath,
     prefix: root,
     workspaces: [workspacePath],
+    tree,
   })
   t.same(files, [
     'dont-ignore-me',
@@ -165,6 +177,7 @@ t.test('.gitignore is discarded if .npmignore exists outside of tree', async (t)
   const secondFiles = await packlist({
     path: workspacePath,
     prefix: root,
+    tree,
   })
   t.same(secondFiles, [
     'dont-ignore-me',