diff --git a/py/path/local/testing/test_local.py b/py/path/local/testing/test_local.py
index 9aeb09492..e86e4d3e6 100644
--- a/py/path/local/testing/test_local.py
+++ b/py/path/local/testing/test_local.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import py
 import sys
 from py.path import local
-from py.__.path.common import checker
 from py.__.path.testing.fscommon import CommonFSTests, setuptestfs
 
 class LocalSetup:
@@ -343,7 +342,6 @@ class TestExecution(LocalSetup):
 
 def test_pypkgdir():
     datadir = py.test.ensuretemp("pypkgdir")
-
     pkg = datadir.ensure('pkg1', dir=1)
     pkg.ensure("__init__.py")
     pkg.ensure("subdir/__init__.py")
@@ -354,12 +352,3 @@ def test_homedir():
     homedir = py.path.local._gethomedir()
     assert homedir.check(dir=1)
 
-#class XTestLocalPath(TestLocalPath):
-#    def __init__(self):
-#        TestLocalPath.__init__(self)
-#        self.root = local(self.root)
-#
-#class XXTestLocalPath(TestLocalPath):
-#    def __init__(self):
-#        TestLocalPath.__init__(self)
-#        self.root = local(self.root)
diff --git a/py/path/local/testing/test_posix.py b/py/path/local/testing/test_posix.py
index cab903a1a..ee2fe4129 100644
--- a/py/path/local/testing/test_posix.py
+++ b/py/path/local/testing/test_posix.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import py
 
 class TestPOSIXLocalPath:
-    #root = local(TestLocalPath.root)
     disabled = py.std.sys.platform == 'win32'
 
     def setup_class(cls):
@@ -103,16 +102,17 @@ class TestPOSIXLocalPath:
         assert gid == stat.gid 
         assert group == stat.group 
 
-    def XXXtest_atime(self):
-        # XXX disabled. this test is just not platform independent enough
-        #     because acesstime resolution is very different through
-        #     filesystems even on one platform.
+    def test_atime(self):
         import time
-        path = self.root.join('samplefile')
-        atime = path.atime()
-        time.sleep(1)
-        path.read(1)
-        assert path.atime() != atime
+        path = self.root.ensure('samplefile')
+        now = time.time()
+        atime1 = path.atime()
+        # we could wait here but timer resolution is very
+        # system dependent 
+        path.read()
+        atime2 = path.atime()
+        duration = time.time() - now
+        assert (atime2-atime1) <= duration
 
     def test_commondir(self):
         # XXX This is here in local until we find a way to implement this
diff --git a/py/path/svn/testing/test_wccommand.py b/py/path/svn/testing/test_wccommand.py
index 82ee187cc..1b7887412 100644
--- a/py/path/svn/testing/test_wccommand.py
+++ b/py/path/svn/testing/test_wccommand.py
@@ -6,9 +6,6 @@ from py.__.path.svn.wccommand import parse_wcinfotime
 from py.__.path.svn import svncommon
 from py.__.conftest import option
 
-if py.path.local.sysfind('svn') is None:
-    py.test.skip("cannot test py.path.svn, 'svn' binary not found")
-
 if sys.platform != 'win32':
     def normpath(p):
         return p
@@ -24,8 +21,11 @@ else:
             p = win32api.GetShortPathName(p)
             return os.path.normpath(os.path.normcase(p))
 
-class TestWCSvnCommandPath(CommonSvnTests):
+def setup_module(mod):
+    if py.path.local.sysfind('svn') is None:
+        py.test.skip("cannot test py.path.svn, 'svn' binary not found")
 
+class TestWCSvnCommandPath(CommonSvnTests):
     def setup_class(cls): 
         repo, cls.root = getrepowc()