diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index c3a01f2..25b0368 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/georgysavva/scany/v2 v2.0.0
 	github.com/google/subcommands v1.2.0
 	github.com/lib/pq v1.10.9
+	github.com/matryer/is v1.4.1
 	github.com/redis/go-redis/v9 v9.0.5
 	golang.org/x/crypto v0.7.0
 )
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 5525e7d..c590978 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ github.com/kisielk/gotool v1.0.0/go.mod h1:XhKaO+MFFWcvkIS/tQcRk01m1F5IRFswLeQ+o
 github.com/lib/pq v1.2.0/go.mod h1:5WUZQaWbwv1U+lTReE5YruASi9Al49XbQIvNi/34Woo=
 github.com/lib/pq v1.10.9 h1:YXG7RB+JIjhP29X+OtkiDnYaXQwpS4JEWq7dtCCRUEw=
 github.com/lib/pq v1.10.9/go.mod h1:AlVN5x4E4T544tWzH6hKfbfQvm3HdbOxrmggDNAPY9o=
+github.com/matryer/is v1.4.1 h1:55ehd8zaGABKLXQUe2awZ99BD/PTc2ls+KV/dXphgEQ=
+github.com/matryer/is v1.4.1/go.mod h1:8I/i5uYgLzgsgEloJE1U6xx5HkBQpAZvepWuujKwMRU=
 github.com/mattn/go-sqlite3 v1.10.0/go.mod h1:FPy6KqzDD04eiIsT53CuJW3U88zkxoIYsOqkbpncsNc=
 github.com/mattn/go-sqlite3 v1.14.6/go.mod h1:NyWgC/yNuGj7Q9rpYnZvas74GogHl5/Z4A/KQRfk6bU=
 github.com/mattn/go-sqlite3 v1.14.15 h1:vfoHhTN1af61xCRSWzFIWzx2YskyMTwHLrExkBOjvxI=
diff --git a/internal/db/db_test.go b/internal/db/db_test.go
index 76b0a8c..a85b37c 100644
--- a/internal/db/db_test.go
+++ b/internal/db/db_test.go
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/matryer/is"
+
 	"github.com/CPunch/gopenfusion/internal/db"
 	"github.com/CPunch/gopenfusion/internal/protocol"
 	"github.com/bitcomplete/sqltestutil"
@@ -37,23 +39,20 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 }
 
 func TestDBAccount(t *testing.T) {
-	if _, err := testDB.NewAccount("test", "test"); err != nil {
-		t.Error(err)
-	}
+	is := is.New(t)
+
+	// create new account
+	_, err := testDB.NewAccount("test", "test")
+	is.NoErr(err)
 
 	// now try to retrieve account data
 	acc, err := testDB.TryLogin("test", "test")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Error(err)
-	}
+	is.NoErr(err)
 
-	if acc.Login != "test" {
-		t.Error("account username is not test")
-	}
+	_, err = testDB.TryLogin("test", "wrongpassword")
 
-	if _, err = testDB.TryLogin("test", "wrongpassword"); !errors.Is(err, db.ErrLoginInvalidPassword) {
-		t.Error("expected ErrLoginInvalidPassword")
-	}
+	is.True(acc.Login == "test")                        // login data should match created account
+	is.True(errors.Is(err, db.ErrLoginInvalidPassword)) // wrong password passed to TryLogin() should fail with ErrLoginInvalidPassword
 }
 
 /*
@@ -81,22 +80,18 @@ gopenfusion=# SELECT * FROM Inventory;
 */
 
 func TestDBPlayer(t *testing.T) {
-	if _, err := testDB.NewAccount("testplayer", "test"); err != nil {
-		t.Error(err)
-	}
+	is := is.New(t)
+	_, err := testDB.NewAccount("testplayer", "test")
+	is.NoErr(err)
 
 	// now try to retrieve account data
 	acc, err := testDB.TryLogin("testplayer", "test")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Error(err)
-	}
+	is.NoErr(err)
 
 	plrID, err := testDB.NewPlayer(acc.AccountID, "Neil", "Mcscout", 1)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Error(err)
-	}
+	is.NoErr(err)
 
-	if err = testDB.FinishPlayer(&protocol.SP_CL2LS_REQ_CHAR_CREATE{
+	err = testDB.FinishPlayer(&protocol.SP_CL2LS_REQ_CHAR_CREATE{
 		PCStyle: protocol.SPCStyle{
 			IPC_UID:     int64(plrID),
 			INameCheck:  1,
@@ -116,11 +111,9 @@ func TestDBPlayer(t *testing.T) {
 			IEquipLBID:   359,
 			IEquipFootID: 194,
 		},
-	}, acc.AccountID); err != nil {
-		t.Error(err)
-	}
+	}, acc.AccountID)
+	is.NoErr(err)
 
-	if err = testDB.FinishTutorial(plrID, acc.AccountID); err != nil {
-		t.Error(err)
-	}
+	err = testDB.FinishTutorial(plrID, acc.AccountID)
+	is.NoErr(err)
 }
diff --git a/internal/entity/entity_test.go b/internal/entity/entity_test.go
index b043b11..05255b7 100644
--- a/internal/entity/entity_test.go
+++ b/internal/entity/entity_test.go
@@ -4,9 +4,11 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/CPunch/gopenfusion/internal/entity"
+	"github.com/matryer/is"
 )
 
 func TestChunkSliceDifference(t *testing.T) {
+	is := is.New(t)
 	chunks := []*entity.Chunk{
 		entity.NewChunk(entity.MakeChunkPosition(0, 0)),
 		entity.NewChunk(entity.MakeChunkPosition(0, 1)),
@@ -28,13 +30,7 @@ func TestChunkSliceDifference(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	diff := entity.ChunkSliceDifference(c1, c2)
-	if len(diff) != 1 {
-		t.Logf("%+v", diff)
-		t.Error("expected 1 chunk in difference")
-	}
 
-	if diff[0] != chunks[3] {
-		t.Logf("%+v", diff)
-		t.Error("wrong difference")
-	}
+	is.True(len(diff) == 1)       // should be 1 chunk in difference
+	is.True(diff[0] == chunks[3]) // should be chunks[3] in difference
 }
diff --git a/internal/protocol/protocol_test.go b/internal/protocol/protocol_test.go
index 54c1ad8..92e8900 100644
--- a/internal/protocol/protocol_test.go
+++ b/internal/protocol/protocol_test.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/CPunch/gopenfusion/internal/protocol"
+	"github.com/matryer/is"
 )
 
 type TestPacketData struct {
@@ -53,59 +54,51 @@ var (
 )
 
 func TestPacketEncode(t *testing.T) {
+	is := is.New(t)
 	buf := bytes.NewBuffer(nil)
 	pkt := protocol.NewPacket(buf)
 
-	if err := pkt.Encode(testStruct); err != nil {
-		t.Error(err)
-	}
+	err := pkt.Encode(testStruct)
+	is.NoErr(err)
 
-	if !bytes.Equal(buf.Bytes(), testData[:]) {
-		t.Error("packet data does not match!")
-	}
+	is.True(bytes.Equal(buf.Bytes(), testData[:])) // encoded data should match expected data
 }
 
 func TestPacketDecode(t *testing.T) {
+	is := is.New(t)
 	buf := bytes.NewBuffer(nil)
 	pkt := protocol.NewPacket(buf)
 	buf.Write(testData[:])
 
 	var test TestPacketData
-	if err := pkt.Decode(&test); err != nil {
-		t.Error(err)
-	}
-
-	if test != testStruct {
-		t.Error("packet data does not match!")
-	}
+	err := pkt.Decode(&test)
+	is.NoErr(err)
+	is.True(test == testStruct) // decoded data should match testStruct
 }
 
 func TestDataEncrypt(t *testing.T) {
+	is := is.New(t)
 	buf := make([]byte, len(testData))
 	copy(buf, testData[:])
 
 	protocol.EncryptData(buf, []byte(protocol.DEFAULT_KEY))
 
-	if !bytes.Equal(buf, encTestData) {
-		t.Error("encrypted data does not match!")
-	}
+	is.True(bytes.Equal(buf, encTestData)) // encrypted data should match expected data
 }
 
 func TestDataDecrypt(t *testing.T) {
+	is := is.New(t)
 	buf := make([]byte, len(encTestData))
 	copy(buf, encTestData)
 
 	protocol.DecryptData(buf, []byte(protocol.DEFAULT_KEY))
 
-	if !bytes.Equal(buf, testData[:]) {
-		t.Error("decrypted data does not match!")
-	}
+	is.True(bytes.Equal(buf, testData[:])) // decrypted data should match expected data
 }
 
 func TestCreateNewKey(t *testing.T) {
+	is := is.New(t)
 	key := protocol.CreateNewKey(123456789, 0x1234567890abcdef, 0x1234567890abcdef)
 
-	if !bytes.Equal(key, []byte{0x0, 0x31, 0xb8, 0xcd, 0xd, 0xc3, 0xad, 0x67}) {
-		t.Error("key does not match!")
-	}
+	is.True(bytes.Equal(key, []byte{0x0, 0x31, 0xb8, 0xcd, 0xd, 0xc3, 0xad, 0x67})) // key should match expected data
 }
diff --git a/internal/service/service_test.go b/internal/service/service_test.go
index c8c8128..b7e086d 100644
--- a/internal/service/service_test.go
+++ b/internal/service/service_test.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/CPunch/gopenfusion/internal/protocol"
 	"github.com/CPunch/gopenfusion/internal/service"
+	"github.com/matryer/is"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -23,6 +24,15 @@ const (
 	maxDummyPeers = 5
 )
 
+func selectWithTimeout(ch <-chan struct{}, seconds int) bool {
+	select {
+	case <-ch:
+		return true
+	case <-time.After(time.Duration(seconds) * time.Second):
+		return false
+	}
+}
+
 func waitWithTimeout(wg *sync.WaitGroup, seconds int) bool {
 	done := make(chan struct{})
 	go func() {
@@ -30,12 +40,7 @@ func waitWithTimeout(wg *sync.WaitGroup, seconds int) bool {
 		wg.Wait()
 	}()
 
-	select {
-	case <-done:
-		return true
-	case <-time.After(time.Duration(seconds) * time.Second):
-		return false
-	}
+	return selectWithTimeout(done, seconds)
 }
 
 func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
@@ -49,34 +54,38 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 }
 
 func TestService(t *testing.T) {
+	is := is.New(t)
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	srvc := service.NewService(ctx, "TEST", srvcPort)
-
-	// waitgroup to wait for test packet handler to be called
 	wg := sync.WaitGroup{}
 
+	// shutdown service when test is done
+	defer func() {
+		cancel()
+		is.True(selectWithTimeout(srvc.Stopped(), timeout)) // wait for service to stop with timeout
+	}()
+
+	// our dummy packet handler
 	srvc.AddPacketHandler(0x1234, func(peer *protocol.CNPeer, pkt protocol.Packet) error {
 		log.Printf("Received packet %#v", pkt)
 		wg.Done()
 		return nil
 	})
 
+	// run service
 	go func() {
-		if err := srvc.Start(); err != nil {
-			t.Error(err)
-		}
+		err := srvc.Start()
+		is.NoErr(err) // srvc.Start error
 	}()
 
-	// wait for service to start
-	<-srvc.Started()
+	is.True(selectWithTimeout(srvc.Started(), timeout)) // wait for service to start with timeout
+
 	wg.Add(maxDummyPeers * 3) // 2 wg.Done() calls per dummy peer
 	for i := 0; i < maxDummyPeers; i++ {
 		go func() {
 			// make dummy client
 			conn, err := net.Dial("tcp", fmt.Sprintf("127.0.0.1:%d", srvcPort))
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Error(err)
-			}
+			is.NoErr(err) // net.Dial error
 
 			peer := protocol.NewCNPeer(ctx, conn)
 			go func() {
@@ -84,9 +93,8 @@ func TestService(t *testing.T) {
 
 				// send dummy packets
 				for i := 0; i < 2; i++ {
-					if err := peer.Send(0x1234); err != nil {
-						t.Error(err)
-					}
+					err := peer.Send(0x1234)
+					is.NoErr(err) // peer.Send error
 				}
 			}()
 
@@ -96,10 +104,5 @@ func TestService(t *testing.T) {
 		}()
 	}
 
-	if !waitWithTimeout(&wg, timeout) {
-		t.Error("failed to wait for packet handler to be called")
-	}
-
-	cancel()
-	<-srvc.Stopped()
+	is.True(waitWithTimeout(&wg, timeout)) // wait for all dummy peers to be done with timeout
 }