diff --git a/rhodecode/tests/__init__.py b/rhodecode/tests/__init__.py
--- a/rhodecode/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/rhodecode/tests/__init__.py
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ command.
 This module initializes the application via ``websetup`` (`paster
 setup-app`) and provides the base testing objects.
 """
+import os
+from os.path import join as jn
+
 from unittest import TestCase
 
 from paste.deploy import loadapp
@@ -14,7 +17,7 @@ from paste.script.appinstall import Setu
 from pylons import config, url
 from routes.util import URLGenerator
 from webtest import TestApp
-import os
+
 from rhodecode.model import meta
 import logging
 
@@ -24,19 +27,22 @@ log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 import pylons.test
 
 __all__ = ['environ', 'url', 'TestController', 'TESTS_TMP_PATH', 'HG_REPO',
-           'GIT_REPO', 'NEW_HG_REPO', 'NEW_GIT_REPO', 'HG_FORK', 'GIT_FORK', ]
+           'GIT_REPO', 'NEW_HG_REPO', 'NEW_GIT_REPO', 'HG_FORK', 'GIT_FORK',
+           'TEST_USER_ADMIN_LOGIN', 'TEST_USER_ADMIN_PASS' ]
 
 # Invoke websetup with the current config file
 #SetupCommand('setup-app').run([config_file])
 
 ##RUNNING DESIRED TESTS
-#nosetests -x rhodecode.tests.functional.test_admin_settings:TestSettingsController.test_my_account
-
+# nosetests -x rhodecode.tests.functional.test_admin_settings:TestSettingsController.test_my_account
+# nosetests --pdb --pdb-failures 
 environ = {}
 
 #SOME GLOBALS FOR TESTS
-TESTS_TMP_PATH = '/tmp'
-
+from tempfile import _RandomNameSequence
+TESTS_TMP_PATH = jn('/', 'tmp', 'rc_test_%s' % _RandomNameSequence().next())
+TEST_USER_ADMIN_LOGIN = 'test_admin'
+TEST_USER_ADMIN_PASS = 'test12'
 HG_REPO = 'vcs_test_hg'
 GIT_REPO = 'vcs_test_git'
 
@@ -58,15 +64,22 @@ class TestController(TestCase):
         self.index_location = config['app_conf']['index_dir']
         TestCase.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
 
-    def log_user(self, username='test_admin', password='test12'):
+    def log_user(self, username=TEST_USER_ADMIN_LOGIN,
+                 password=TEST_USER_ADMIN_PASS):
         response = self.app.post(url(controller='login', action='index'),
                                  {'username':username,
                                   'password':password})
-        print response
 
         if 'invalid user name' in response.body:
-            assert False, 'could not login using %s %s' % (username, password)
+            self.fail('could not login using %s %s' % (username, password))
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status, '302 Found')
+        self.assertEqual(response.session['rhodecode_user'].username, username)
+        return response.follow()
 
-        assert response.status == '302 Found', 'Wrong response code from login got %s' % response.status
-        assert response.session['rhodecode_user'].username == username, 'wrong logged in user got %s expected %s' % (response.session['rhodecode_user'].username, username)
-        return response.follow()
+
+
+    def checkSessionFlash(self, response, msg):
+        self.assertTrue('flash' in response.session)
+        self.assertTrue(msg in response.session['flash'][0][1])
+