diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index 29b83b8..d0c3fdb 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -48,9 +48,6 @@ VERSION="0.44.1"
 DIRECTORY="/usr/local/bin"
 RELEASES_URL="https://github.com/dotenvx/dotenvx/releases"
 
-# for testing purposes
-TEST_MODE=0
-
 # usage
 usage() {
   echo "Usage: $0 [options] [command]"
@@ -177,6 +174,10 @@ is_ci() {
   [ -n "$CI" ] && [ $CI != 0 ]
 }
 
+is_test_mode() {
+  [ -n "$TEST_MODE" ] && [ $TEST_MODE != 0 ]
+}
+
 progress_bar() {
   if $(is_ci); then
     echo "--no-progress-meter"
@@ -333,9 +334,7 @@ main() {
   fi
 }
 
-if test -n "$TEST_MODE"; then
-  echo "running in test mode"
-else
+if ! is_test_mode; then
   main "$@"
   exit $?
 fi
diff --git a/spec/install_spec.sh b/spec/install_spec.sh
index cde8475..14a0e8b 100644
--- a/spec/install_spec.sh
+++ b/spec/install_spec.sh
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
+export CI=1 # because we are running this on github actions and makes testing output easier
+export TEST_MODE=1 # set to test mode in order to not run main() for test purposes
+
 Describe 'install.sh'
-  # source the script without executing it immediately
-  . ./install.sh
+  Include install.sh
 
   setup() {
     VERSION="0.44.1"
     DIRECTORY="./spec/tmp"
-    CI=1
-    TEST_MODE=1
   }
 
   # remove the dotenvx binary before each test
@@ -62,6 +62,55 @@ Describe 'install.sh'
     End
   End
 
+  Describe 'is_ci()'
+    It 'returns true'
+      When call is_ci
+      The status should equal 0
+    End
+  End
+
+  Describe 'progress_bar()'
+    It 'returns --no-progress-meter (because is_ci is true)'
+      When call progress_bar
+      The status should equal 0
+      The output should equal "--no-progress-meter"
+    End
+
+    Describe 'when is_ci is true'
+      mock_is_ci_false() {
+        CI=0
+      }
+
+      Before 'mock_is_ci_false'
+
+      It 'returns --progress-bar'
+        When call progress_bar
+        The status should equal 0
+        The output should equal "--progress-bar"
+      End
+    End
+  End
+
+  Describe 'is_test_mode()'
+    It 'returns true'
+      When call is_test_mode
+      The status should equal 0
+    End
+
+    Describe 'typical case when TEST_MODE is false'
+      mock_is_test_mode_false() {
+        TEST_MODE=0
+      }
+
+      Before 'mock_is_test_mode_false'
+
+      It 'returns false'
+        When call is_test_mode
+        The status should equal 1
+      End
+    End
+  End
+
   Describe 'usage()'
     It 'displays usage'
       When call usage