Before: call ale#assert#SetUpLinterTest('php', 'phpmd') After: call ale#assert#TearDownLinterTest() Execute(Custom executables should be used for the executable and command): let g:ale_php_phpmd_executable = 'phpmd_test' AssertLinter 'phpmd_test', \ ale#Escape('phpmd_test') \ . ' %t text cleancode,codesize,controversial,design,naming,unusedcode --ignore-violations-on-exit'