Before: function! ParseSignColumnHighlight() abort redir => l:output silent highlight SignColumn redir end return join(split(l:output)[2:]) endfunction let g:sign_highlight = ParseSignColumnHighlight() After: delfunction ParseSignColumnHighlight execute 'highlight SignColumn ' . g:sign_highlight unlet! g:sign_highlight Execute(The SignColumn highlight should be set and reset): call ale#sign#SetSignColumnHighlight(1) AssertEqual 'links to ALESignColumnWithErrors', ParseSignColumnHighlight() call ale#sign#SetSignColumnHighlight(0) AssertEqual 'links to ALESignColumnWithoutErrors', ParseSignColumnHighlight()