diff --git a/spec/00-helpers_spec.lua b/spec/00-helpers_spec.lua
index 1672be6..0451499 100644
--- a/spec/00-helpers_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/00-helpers_spec.lua
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ describe("Spec helpers", function()
     it("returns bytes from the helper _readkey buffer", function()
       helpers.load()
 
-      helpers._push_input("ab")
+      helpers.push_kb_input("ab")
 
       local b1 = helpers._readkey()
       local b2 = helpers._readkey()
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ describe("Spec helpers", function()
     it("returns nil and error when pushing an error entry", function()
       helpers.load()
 
-      helpers._push_input(nil, "some-error")
+      helpers.push_kb_input(nil, "some-error")
 
       local b, err = helpers._readkey()
       assert.is_nil(b)
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ describe("Spec helpers", function()
     it("patches system._readkey to use the mock buffer", function()
       helpers.load()
 
-      helpers._push_input("X")
+      helpers.push_kb_input("X")
 
       local system = require("system")
       local b = system._readkey()
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ describe("Spec helpers", function()
     it("terminal.input.readansi() returns data read from the mock buffer", function()
       local terminal = helpers.load()
 
-      helpers._push_input("X")
+      helpers.push_kb_input("X")
 
       local rawkey, keytype = terminal.input.readansi(0.01)
       assert.equals("X", rawkey)
diff --git a/spec/02-input_spec.lua b/spec/02-input_spec.lua
index 31cafe8..425ab62 100644
--- a/spec/02-input_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/02-input_spec.lua
@@ -1,42 +1,17 @@
-describe("input:", function()
-
-  local t, sys, old_readkey
-  local keyboard_buffer
-
-  setup(function()
-    sys = require("system")
-
-    -- patch low level readkey, such that it won't block during tests
-    old_readkey = sys._readkey
-    sys._readkey = function()
-      if keyboard_buffer == "" then
-        return nil
-      end
-      local char = keyboard_buffer:sub(1, 1)
-      keyboard_buffer = keyboard_buffer:sub(2)
-      return string.byte(char)
-    end
-  end)
+local helpers = require "spec.helpers"
 
 
-  teardown(function()
-    sys._readkey = old_readkey
-  end)
+describe("input:", function()
 
+  local t
 
   before_each(function()
-    keyboard_buffer = ""
-    t = require("terminal")
+    t = helpers.load()
   end)
 
 
   after_each(function()
-    -- forcefully unload module
-    for mod in pairs(package.loaded) do
-      if mod:match("^terminal") then
-        package.loaded[mod] = nil
-      end
-    end
+    helpers.unload()
   end)
 
 
@@ -45,6 +20,7 @@ describe("input:", function()
   describe("sys_readansi()", function()
 
     it("matches system.readansi()", function()
+      local sys = require("system")
       assert.are.equal(sys.readansi, t.input.sys_readansi)
     end)
 
@@ -68,13 +44,13 @@ describe("input:", function()
 
 
     it("reads a single character", function()
-      keyboard_buffer = "a"
+      helpers.push_kb_input("a")
       assert.are.equal("a", t.input.readansi(0.01))
     end)
 
 
     it("reads from the buffer first", function()
-      keyboard_buffer = "a"
+      helpers.push_kb_input("a")
       t.input.push_input("b", "key", nil)
       assert.are.equal("b", t.input.readansi(0.01))
       assert.are.equal("a", t.input.readansi(0.01))
@@ -87,10 +63,8 @@ describe("input:", function()
   describe("preread()", function()
 
     it("empties the keyboard-buffer into the preread-buffer", function()
-      keyboard_buffer = "abc"
+      helpers.push_kb_input("abc")
       t.input.preread()
-      assert.are.equal("", keyboard_buffer)
-
       assert.are.equal("a", t.input.readansi(0.01))
       assert.are.equal("b", t.input.readansi(0.01))
       assert.are.equal("c", t.input.readansi(0.01))
@@ -109,7 +83,7 @@ describe("input:", function()
     setup(function()
       -- returns an ANSWER sequence to the cursor-position query
       add_cpos = function(row, col)
-        keyboard_buffer = keyboard_buffer .. ("\027[%d;%dR"):format(row, col)
+        helpers.push_kb_input(("\027[%d;%dR"):format(row, col))
       end
       cursor_answer_pattern = "^\27%[(%d+);(%d+)R$"
     end)
@@ -124,11 +98,10 @@ describe("input:", function()
 
 
     it("leaves other 'char' input in the buffers", function()
-      keyboard_buffer = "abc"
+      helpers.push_kb_input("abc")
       add_cpos(12, 34)
-      keyboard_buffer = keyboard_buffer .. "123"
+      helpers.push_kb_input("123")
       assert.are.same({{"12", "34"}}, t.input.read_query_answer(cursor_answer_pattern, 1))
-      assert.are.equal("123", keyboard_buffer)
       assert.are.equal("a", t.input.readansi(0))
       assert.are.equal("b", t.input.readansi(0))
       assert.are.equal("c", t.input.readansi(0))
@@ -139,9 +112,8 @@ describe("input:", function()
 
 
     it("leaves other 'ansi' input in the buffers", function()
-      keyboard_buffer = "\27[8;10;80t\027[12;34R\027[56;78R\027[90;12R"
+      helpers.push_kb_input("\27[8;10;80t\027[12;34R\027[56;78R\027[90;12R")
       assert.are.same({{"12", "34"},{"56", "78"}}, t.input.read_query_answer(cursor_answer_pattern, 2))
-      assert.are.equal("\027[90;12R", keyboard_buffer)
       local binstring = require("luassert.formatters.binarystring")
       assert:add_formatter(binstring)
       local r = {t.input.readansi(0)}
diff --git a/spec/04-scroll_spec.lua b/spec/04-scroll_spec.lua
index 05be6d5..98b4fd4 100644
--- a/spec/04-scroll_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/04-scroll_spec.lua
@@ -1,22 +1,18 @@
+local helpers = require "spec.helpers"
+
+
 describe("Scroll Module Tests", function()
 
-  local scroll, old_sys_termsize
+  local scroll
 
   setup(function()
-    local sys = require "system"
-    old_sys_termsize = sys.termsize
-    if os.getenv("GITHUB_ACTIONS") then
-      sys.termsize = function()
-        return 25, 80
-      end
-    end
-
+    helpers.load()
     scroll = require "terminal.scroll"
   end)
 
 
   teardown(function()
-    require("system").termsize = old_sys_termsize
+    helpers.unload()
   end)
 
 
diff --git a/spec/09-editline-format_spec.lua b/spec/09-editline-format_spec.lua
index fc7fe3e..30ee6e9 100644
--- a/spec/09-editline-format_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/09-editline-format_spec.lua
@@ -1,16 +1,19 @@
+local helpers = require "spec.helpers"
+
+
 describe("EditLine:", function()
 
   local EditLine
 
-  before_each(function()
-    _G._TEST = true
+  setup(function()
+    helpers.load()
     EditLine = require("terminal.editline")
   end)
 
 
-  after_each(function()
+  teardown(function()
     EditLine = nil
-    _G._TEST = nil
+    helpers.unload()
   end)
 
 
diff --git a/spec/11-screen_spec.lua b/spec/11-screen_spec.lua
index 085a3a5..8af085d 100644
--- a/spec/11-screen_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/11-screen_spec.lua
@@ -7,14 +7,14 @@ describe("terminal.ui.screen", function()
   local Panel
   local terminal
 
-  before_each(function()
+  setup(function()
     terminal = helpers.load()
     Screen = require("terminal.ui.panel.screen")
     Panel = require("terminal.ui.panel")
   end)
 
 
-  after_each(function()
+  teardown(function()
     helpers.unload()
   end)
 
diff --git a/spec/13-bar_spec.lua b/spec/13-bar_spec.lua
index 9076b90..7ab0be7 100644
--- a/spec/13-bar_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/13-bar_spec.lua
@@ -4,34 +4,15 @@ local helpers = require "spec.helpers"
 describe("terminal.ui.panel.bar", function()
 
   local Bar
-  local terminal
 
   setup(function()
-    -- Load modules
-    terminal = helpers.load()
+    helpers.load()
     Bar = require("terminal.ui.panel.bar")
-
-    -- Mock terminal functions for testing
-    terminal.cursor = {
-      position = {
-        set = function() end,
-        backup = function() end,
-        restore = function() end,
-        left_seq = function() return "" end,
-        down_seq = function() return "" end,
-        up_seq = function() return "" end
-      }
-    }
-    terminal.output = {
-      write = function() end
-    }
   end)
 
 
   teardown(function()
-    -- Unset modules for clean test isolation
     Bar = nil
-    terminal = nil -- luacheck: ignore
     helpers.unload()
   end)
 
diff --git a/spec/14-text_panel_spec.lua b/spec/14-text_panel_spec.lua
index 6488a40..4b0650d 100644
--- a/spec/14-text_panel_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/14-text_panel_spec.lua
@@ -4,44 +4,16 @@ local helpers = require "spec.helpers"
 describe("terminal.ui.panel.text", function()
 
   local TextPanel
-  local terminal
   local text
 
   setup(function()
-    terminal = helpers.load()
+    helpers.load()
     TextPanel = require("terminal.ui.panel.text")
     text = require("terminal.text")
-
-    -- Mock terminal functions
-    terminal.cursor = {
-      position = {
-        set = function(row, col) end,
-        set_seq = function(row, col) return "pos_seq" end,
-        backup_seq = function() return "backup_seq" end,
-        restore_seq = function() return "restore_seq" end
-      }
-    }
-    terminal.output = {
-      write = function(text) end
-    }
-    terminal.text = {
-      stack = {
-        push_seq = function(attr) return "push_seq" end,
-        pop_seq = function() return "pop_seq" end
-      }
-    }
-    terminal.clear = {
-      box = function(row, col, height, width) end,
-      box_seq = function(row, col, height, width) return "clear_seq" end,
-      eol_seq = function() return "eol_seq" end
-    }
   end)
 
 
   teardown(function()
-    TextPanel = nil
-    terminal = nil -- luacheck: ignore
-    text = nil
     helpers.unload()
   end)
 
diff --git a/spec/15-key_bar_spec.lua b/spec/15-key_bar_spec.lua
index 67e8aa6..df9d1bf 100644
--- a/spec/15-key_bar_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/15-key_bar_spec.lua
@@ -8,35 +8,18 @@ describe("terminal.ui.panel.key_bar", function()
   local text
 
   setup(function()
-    -- Load modules
     terminal = helpers.load()
     KeyBar = require("terminal.ui.panel.key_bar")
     text = require("terminal.text")
-
-    -- Mock terminal functions for testing
-    terminal.cursor = {
-      position = {
-        set = function() end,
-        backup = function() end,
-        restore = function() end,
-        set_seq = function() return "" end,
-        backup_seq = function() return "" end,
-        restore_seq = function() return "" end,
-      }
-    }
-    terminal.output = {
-      write = function() end
-    }
   end)
 
+
   teardown(function()
-    -- Unset modules for clean test isolation
-    KeyBar = nil
-    terminal = nil -- luacheck: ignore
     helpers.unload()
   end)
 
 
+
   describe("init()", function()
 
     it("creates a key bar with default values", function()
@@ -96,6 +79,7 @@ describe("terminal.ui.panel.key_bar", function()
   end)
 
 
+
   describe("_build_lines()", function()
 
     it("builds a single-row line with equal columns", function()
@@ -263,6 +247,7 @@ describe("terminal.ui.panel.key_bar", function()
   end)
 
 
+
   describe("render()", function()
 
     it("calls _draw and respects panel inner coords", function()
@@ -299,6 +284,7 @@ describe("terminal.ui.panel.key_bar", function()
   end)
 
 
+
   describe("separator feature", function()
 
     it("works correctly in two-row layout", function()
diff --git a/spec/16-set_spec.lua b/spec/16-set_spec.lua
index 557f3cc..41587cd 100644
--- a/spec/16-set_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/16-set_spec.lua
@@ -1,17 +1,20 @@
+local helpers = require "spec.helpers"
+
+
 describe("terminal.ui.panel.set", function()
 
   local Set
   local Panel
 
   setup(function()
+    helpers.load()
     Set = require("terminal.ui.panel.set")
     Panel = require("terminal.ui.panel.init")
   end)
 
 
   teardown(function()
-    Set = nil
-    Panel = nil -- luacheck: ignore
+    helpers.unload()
   end)
 
 
diff --git a/spec/17-tab_strip_spec.lua b/spec/17-tab_strip_spec.lua
index de724eb..2993748 100644
--- a/spec/17-tab_strip_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/17-tab_strip_spec.lua
@@ -7,38 +7,12 @@ describe("terminal.ui.panel.tab_strip", function()
   local terminal
 
   setup(function()
-    -- Load modules
     terminal = helpers.load()
     TabStrip = require("terminal.ui.panel.tab_strip")
-    -- Mock terminal functions for testing
-    terminal.cursor = {
-      position = {
-        set = function() end,
-        backup = function() end,
-        restore = function() end,
-        set_seq = function() return "" end,
-        backup_seq = function() return "" end,
-        restore_seq = function() return "" end,
-        left_seq = function() return "" end,
-        down_seq = function() return "" end,
-        up_seq = function() return "" end
-      }
-    }
-    terminal.output = {
-      write = function() end
-    }
-    terminal.clear = {
-      eol_seq = function() return "" end,
-      box = function() return "" end,
-      box_seq = function() return "" end
-    }
   end)
 
 
   teardown(function()
-    -- Unset modules for clean test isolation
-    TabStrip = nil
-    terminal = nil -- luacheck: ignore
     helpers.unload()
   end)
 
diff --git a/spec/18-prompt_spec.lua b/spec/18-prompt_spec.lua
index b330938..d02a514 100644
--- a/spec/18-prompt_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/18-prompt_spec.lua
@@ -5,13 +5,13 @@ describe("terminal.cli.prompt", function()
 
   local Prompt
 
-  before_each(function()
+  setup(function()
     helpers.load()
     Prompt = require("terminal.cli.prompt")
   end)
 
 
-  after_each(function()
+  teardown(function()
     helpers.unload()
   end)
 
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ describe("terminal.cli.prompt", function()
       }
 
       -- Queue Esc key (from keymap)
-      helpers._push_input(helpers.keys.esc)
+      helpers.push_kb_input(helpers.keys.esc)
 
       local result, err = prompt:run()
 
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ describe("terminal.cli.prompt", function()
       }
 
       -- Queue Ctrl+C key (from keymap)
-      helpers._push_input(helpers.keys.ctrl_c)
+      helpers.push_kb_input(helpers.keys.ctrl_c)
 
       local result, err = prompt:run()
 
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ describe("terminal.cli.prompt", function()
       }
 
       -- Queue Enter key (platform-specific)
-      helpers._push_input(helpers.keys.enter)
+      helpers.push_kb_input(helpers.keys.enter)
 
       local result, err = prompt:run()
 
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ describe("terminal.cli.prompt", function()
       }
 
       -- Queue Enter key (platform-specific)
-      helpers._push_input(helpers.keys.enter)
+      helpers.push_kb_input(helpers.keys.enter)
 
       local result, err = prompt:run()
 
diff --git a/spec/helpers.lua b/spec/helpers.lua
index 7297e6a..b8f2411 100644
--- a/spec/helpers.lua
+++ b/spec/helpers.lua
@@ -97,8 +97,12 @@ end
 --- Pushes input into the keyboard buffer mock.
 -- @tparam string seq the sequence of input, individual bytes of this string will be returned
 -- @tparam string err an eror to return, in this case `seq` MUST be nil.
-function M._push_input(seq, err)
-  -- TODO: rename this function, remove underscore
+-- @usage
+-- helper.push_kb_input(helper.keys.esc)                -- push a specific named key
+-- helper.push_kb_input(helper.keys.up)                 -- push an ansi sequence for the "up" arrow key
+-- helper.push_kb_input(nil, "fail reading keyboard")   -- push an error
+-- helper.push_kb_input("some text to type")            -- push a string of bytes
+function M.push_kb_input(seq, err)
   local buffer = get_config().keyboardbuffer
 
   if type(seq) == "string" then
@@ -161,9 +165,9 @@ end
 --- A lookup table for key sequences to push into the keyboard buffer.
 -- @table keys
 -- @usage
--- helper._push_input(helper.keys.esc)
--- helper._push_input(helper.keys.ctrl_c)
--- helper._push_input(helper.keys.enter)
+-- helper.push_kb_input(helper.keys.esc)
+-- helper.push_kb_input(helper.keys.ctrl_c)
+-- helper.push_kb_input(helper.keys.enter)
 M.keys = setmetatable({}, {
   __newindex = function(self, key, value)
     error("table is read-only", 2)