diff --git a/scripts/acceptance.sh b/scripts/acceptance.sh
index d6981033..f41a288e 100755
--- a/scripts/acceptance.sh
+++ b/scripts/acceptance.sh
@@ -3,10 +3,47 @@
 set -e
 
 # acceptance test
-X=$(./yq e '.b.c |= 3' ./examples/sample.yaml | ./yq e '.b.c' -)
 
-if [[ $X != 3 ]]; then
-  echo "Failed acceptance test: expected 3 but was $X"
+
+
+random=$((1 + $RANDOM % 10))
+./yq e -n ".a = $random" > test.yml
+X=$(./yq e '.a' test.yml)
+
+if [[ $X != $random ]]; then
+  echo "Failed create: expected $random but was $X"
   exit 1
 fi
+
+echo "created yaml successfully"
+
+update=$(($random + 1))
+./yq e -i ".a = $update" test.yml
+
+X=$(./yq e '.a' test.yml)
+if [[ $X != $update ]]; then
+  echo "Failed to update inplace test: expected $update but was $X"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "updated in place successfully"
+
+X=$(./yq e '.z' test.yml)
+echo "no exit status success"
+
+set +e
+
+X=$(./yq e -e '.z' test.yml)
+
+if [[ $? != 1 ]]; then
+  echo "Expected error code 1 but was $?"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "exit status success"
+
+set -e
+
+rm test.yml
+
 echo "acceptance tests passed"