diff --git a/gui-test/framework/tests/canvas.rkt b/gui-test/framework/tests/canvas.rkt
index 00ff27e7..7c8c45d7 100644
--- a/gui-test/framework/tests/canvas.rkt
+++ b/gui-test/framework/tests/canvas.rkt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #lang racket/base
-(require "private/here-util.rkt"
+(require "private/util.rkt"
          framework
          racket/class
          racket/gui/base
diff --git a/gui-test/framework/tests/frame.rkt b/gui-test/framework/tests/frame.rkt
index beeb16f0..58345a38 100644
--- a/gui-test/framework/tests/frame.rkt
+++ b/gui-test/framework/tests/frame.rkt
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #lang racket/base
 
-(require "private/here-util.rkt"
+(require "private/util.rkt"
          "private/gui.rkt"
          rackunit
          racket/class
@@ -315,21 +315,13 @@
       (check-equal? (try no-change-early-f "aaaa" "a" "bbbbbbbbbb") "abbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb")
       (close-up-no-change-early-f no-change-early-f))))
 
-(let ([pref-ht (make-hash)])
-  (parameterize ([test:use-focus-table #t]
-                 [preferences:low-level-get-preference
-                  (λ (sym [fail (λ () #f)])
-                    (hash-ref pref-ht sym fail))]
-                 [preferences:low-level-put-preferences
-                  (λ (syms vals)
-                    (for ([sym (in-list syms)]
-                          [val (in-list vals)])
-                      (hash-set! pref-ht sym val)))])
-    (define dummy (make-object frame:basic% "dummy to keep from quitting"))
-    (send dummy show #t)
-    (creation-tests)
-    (open-tests)
-    (replace-all-tests)
-    (frame/text-creation-tests)
-    (send dummy show #f)))
+(with-private-prefs
+ (parameterize ([test:use-focus-table #t])
+   (define dummy (make-object frame:basic% "dummy to keep from quitting"))
+   (send dummy show #t)
+   (creation-tests)
+   (open-tests)
+   (replace-all-tests)
+   (frame/text-creation-tests)
+   (send dummy show #f)))
 
diff --git a/gui-test/framework/tests/group-test.rkt b/gui-test/framework/tests/group-test.rkt
index d4405222..1e34057e 100644
--- a/gui-test/framework/tests/group-test.rkt
+++ b/gui-test/framework/tests/group-test.rkt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #lang racket/base
-(require "private/here-util.rkt"
+(require "private/util.rkt"
          "private/gui.rkt"
          rackunit
          racket/class
@@ -15,162 +15,154 @@
         (list* "Minimize" "Zoom" basics)
         basics)))
 
-(define pref-ht (make-hash))
-(parameterize ([test:use-focus-table #t]
-               [preferences:low-level-get-preference
-                (λ (sym [fail (λ () #f)])
-                  (hash-ref pref-ht sym fail))]
-               [preferences:low-level-put-preferences
-                (λ (syms vals)
-                  (for ([sym (in-list syms)]
-                        [val (in-list vals)])
-                    (hash-set! pref-ht sym val)))]
-               [pay-attention-to-current-eventspace-has-standard-menus? #f])
+(with-private-prefs
+ (parameterize ([test:use-focus-table #t]
+                [pay-attention-to-current-eventspace-has-standard-menus? #f])
 
-  (define-syntax car*
-    (syntax-rules ()
-      [(car* x-expr)
-       (let ([x x-expr])
-         (if (pair? x)
-             (car x)
-             (begin
-               (eprintf "car* called with ~s\n" 'x-expr)
-               (car x))))]))
+   (define-syntax car*
+     (syntax-rules ()
+       [(car* x-expr)
+        (let ([x x-expr])
+          (if (pair? x)
+              (car x)
+              (begin
+                (eprintf "car* called with ~s\n" 'x-expr)
+                (car x))))]))
 
-  (define the-first-frame #f)
+   (define the-first-frame #f)
 
-  (yield
-   (thread
-    (λ ()
-      (queue-callback
-       (λ ()
-         (set! the-first-frame (make-object frame:basic% "first"))
-         (send the-first-frame show #t)))
-      (preferences:set 'framework:verify-exit #t)
-      (wait-for-frame "first")
-      (queue-callback
-       (λ ()
-         (send (test:get-active-top-level-window) close)))
-      (wait-for-frame "Warning")
-      (test:button-push "Cancel")
-      (wait-for-frame "first"))))
-  (check-equal? (map (lambda (x) (send x get-label))
-                     (send (group:get-the-frame-group) get-frames))
-                '("first"))
+   (yield
+    (thread
+     (λ ()
+       (queue-callback
+        (λ ()
+          (set! the-first-frame (make-object frame:basic% "first"))
+          (send the-first-frame show #t)))
+       (preferences:set 'framework:verify-exit #t)
+       (wait-for-frame "first")
+       (queue-callback
+        (λ ()
+          (send (test:get-active-top-level-window) close)))
+       (wait-for-frame "Warning")
+       (test:button-push "Cancel")
+       (wait-for-frame "first"))))
+   (check-equal? (map (lambda (x) (send x get-label))
+                      (send (group:get-the-frame-group) get-frames))
+                 '("first"))
 
-  ;; after the first test, we should have one frame
-  ;; that will always be in the group.
+   ;; after the first test, we should have one frame
+   ;; that will always be in the group.
 
-  (check-equal?
-   (let ()
-     (send (make-object frame:basic% "test") show #t)
-     (define ans (map (lambda (x) (send x get-label))
-                      (send (group:get-the-frame-group) get-frames)))
-     (send (test:get-active-top-level-window) close)
-     ans)
-  (list "test" "first"))
-
-
-  (begin
-    (yield
-     (thread
-      (λ ()
-        (queue-callback
-         (λ () (send (make-object frame:basic% "test1") show #t)))
-        (wait-for-frame "test1")
-        (queue-callback
-         (λ () (send (make-object frame:basic% "test2") show #t)))
-        (wait-for-frame "test2"))))
-    (check-equal?
-     (let ([frames (send (group:get-the-frame-group) get-frames)])
-       (for-each (lambda (x)
-                   (unless (equal? (send x get-label) "first")
-                     (send x close)))
-                 frames)
-       (map (lambda (x) (send x get-label)) frames))
-     (list "test2" "test1" "first")))
-
-  (begin
-    (yield
-     (thread
-      (λ ()
-        (queue-callback
-         (λ ()
-           (send (make-object frame:basic% "test1") show #t)))
-        (wait-for-frame "test1")
-        (queue-callback
-         (λ ()
-           (send (make-object frame:basic% "test2") show #t)))
-        (wait-for-frame "test2"))))
-    (send (test:get-active-top-level-window) close)
-    (check-equal?
-     (let ([frames (send (group:get-the-frame-group) get-frames)])
-       (for-each (lambda (x)
-                   (unless (equal? (send x get-label) "first")
-                     (send x close)))
-                 frames)
-       (map (lambda (x) (send x get-label)) frames))
-     (list "test1" "first")))
-
-
-  (when (eq? (system-type) 'macosx)
-
-    (check-equal?
-     (begin
-       (send (make-object frame:basic% "test") show #t)
-       (let ([mb (send (test:get-active-top-level-window) get-menu-bar)])
-         (send mb on-demand)
-         (define labels
-           (for/list ([x (send (car* (send mb get-items)) get-items)])
-             (and (is-a? x labelled-menu-item<%>) (send x get-label))))
-         (send (test:get-active-top-level-window) close)
-         labels))
-     (append windows-menu-prefix (list "first" "test")))
-
-    (check-equal?
-     (let ()
-       (define frame1 (make-object frame:basic% "test"))
-       (define frame2 (make-object frame:basic% "test-not-shown"))
-       (send frame1 show #t)
-       (define mb (send (test:get-active-top-level-window) get-menu-bar))
-       (send mb on-demand)
-       (define items
-         (for/list ([x (send (car* (send mb get-items)) get-items)])
-           (and (is-a? x labelled-menu-item<%>) (send x get-label))))
-       (send (test:get-active-top-level-window) close)
-       items)
-     (append windows-menu-prefix (list "first" "test")))
-
-    (define (get-label-and-close-non-first)
-      (define frames (send (group:get-the-frame-group) get-frames))
-      (define mb (send (car* frames) get-menu-bar))
-      (send mb on-demand)
-      (define ans
-        (for/list ([x (in-list (send (car* (send mb get-items))
-                                     get-items))])
-          (and (is-a? x labelled-menu-item<%>) (send x get-label))))
-      (for ([x (in-list frames)])
-        (unless (equal? (send x get-label) "first")
-          (send x close)))
+   (check-equal?
+    (let ()
+      (send (make-object frame:basic% "test") show #t)
+      (define ans (map (lambda (x) (send x get-label))
+                       (send (group:get-the-frame-group) get-frames)))
+      (send (test:get-active-top-level-window) close)
       ans)
+    (list "test" "first"))
+
+
+   (begin
+     (yield
+      (thread
+       (λ ()
+         (queue-callback
+          (λ () (send (make-object frame:basic% "test1") show #t)))
+         (wait-for-frame "test1")
+         (queue-callback
+          (λ () (send (make-object frame:basic% "test2") show #t)))
+         (wait-for-frame "test2"))))
+     (check-equal?
+      (let ([frames (send (group:get-the-frame-group) get-frames)])
+        (for-each (lambda (x)
+                    (unless (equal? (send x get-label) "first")
+                      (send x close)))
+                  frames)
+        (map (lambda (x) (send x get-label)) frames))
+      (list "test2" "test1" "first")))
+
+   (begin
+     (yield
+      (thread
+       (λ ()
+         (queue-callback
+          (λ ()
+            (send (make-object frame:basic% "test1") show #t)))
+         (wait-for-frame "test1")
+         (queue-callback
+          (λ ()
+            (send (make-object frame:basic% "test2") show #t)))
+         (wait-for-frame "test2"))))
+     (send (test:get-active-top-level-window) close)
+     (check-equal?
+      (let ([frames (send (group:get-the-frame-group) get-frames)])
+        (for-each (lambda (x)
+                    (unless (equal? (send x get-label) "first")
+                      (send x close)))
+                  frames)
+        (map (lambda (x) (send x get-label)) frames))
+      (list "test1" "first")))
+
+
+   (when (eq? (system-type) 'macosx)
+
+     (check-equal?
+      (begin
+        (send (make-object frame:basic% "test") show #t)
+        (let ([mb (send (test:get-active-top-level-window) get-menu-bar)])
+          (send mb on-demand)
+          (define labels
+            (for/list ([x (send (car* (send mb get-items)) get-items)])
+              (and (is-a? x labelled-menu-item<%>) (send x get-label))))
+          (send (test:get-active-top-level-window) close)
+          labels))
+      (append windows-menu-prefix (list "first" "test")))
+
+     (check-equal?
+      (let ()
+        (define frame1 (make-object frame:basic% "test"))
+        (define frame2 (make-object frame:basic% "test-not-shown"))
+        (send frame1 show #t)
+        (define mb (send (test:get-active-top-level-window) get-menu-bar))
+        (send mb on-demand)
+        (define items
+          (for/list ([x (send (car* (send mb get-items)) get-items)])
+            (and (is-a? x labelled-menu-item<%>) (send x get-label))))
+        (send (test:get-active-top-level-window) close)
+        items)
+      (append windows-menu-prefix (list "first" "test")))
+
+     (define (get-label-and-close-non-first)
+       (define frames (send (group:get-the-frame-group) get-frames))
+       (define mb (send (car* frames) get-menu-bar))
+       (send mb on-demand)
+       (define ans
+         (for/list ([x (in-list (send (car* (send mb get-items))
+                                      get-items))])
+           (and (is-a? x labelled-menu-item<%>) (send x get-label))))
+       (for ([x (in-list frames)])
+         (unless (equal? (send x get-label) "first")
+           (send x close)))
+       ans)
     
-    (check-equal?
-     (let ()
-       (define aaa-frame (make-object frame:basic% "aaa"))
-       (send aaa-frame show #t)
-       (define bbb-frame (make-object frame:basic% "bbb"))
-       (send bbb-frame show #t)
-       (get-label-and-close-non-first))
-     (append windows-menu-prefix (list "aaa" "bbb" "first")))
+     (check-equal?
+      (let ()
+        (define aaa-frame (make-object frame:basic% "aaa"))
+        (send aaa-frame show #t)
+        (define bbb-frame (make-object frame:basic% "bbb"))
+        (send bbb-frame show #t)
+        (get-label-and-close-non-first))
+      (append windows-menu-prefix (list "aaa" "bbb" "first")))
 
-    (check-equal?
-     (let ()
-       (define bbb-frame (make-object frame:basic% "bbb"))
-       (send bbb-frame show #t)
-       (define aaa-frame (make-object frame:basic% "aaa"))
-       (send aaa-frame show #t)
-       (get-label-and-close-non-first))
-     (append windows-menu-prefix (list "aaa" "bbb" "first"))))
+     (check-equal?
+      (let ()
+        (define bbb-frame (make-object frame:basic% "bbb"))
+        (send bbb-frame show #t)
+        (define aaa-frame (make-object frame:basic% "aaa"))
+        (send aaa-frame show #t)
+        (get-label-and-close-non-first))
+      (append windows-menu-prefix (list "aaa" "bbb" "first"))))
 
-  ;; close that original frame so the test suite can exit if run from `racket`
-  (send the-first-frame show #f))
+   ;; close that original frame so the test suite can exit if run from `racket`
+   (send the-first-frame show #f)))
diff --git a/gui-test/framework/tests/keys.rkt b/gui-test/framework/tests/keys.rkt
index 106494c6..6eacbbb9 100644
--- a/gui-test/framework/tests/keys.rkt
+++ b/gui-test/framework/tests/keys.rkt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #lang racket/gui
-(require framework rackunit)
+(require framework rackunit "private/util.rkt")
 
 (check-equal?
  (let ([k (make-object keymap:aug-keymap%)])
@@ -415,43 +415,41 @@
                   (send text get-start-position)
                   (send text get-end-position))))
        (vector text-expect start-expect end-expect)
-       (~s (list key-sequence i)))))
+       (~s (list frame-name key-sequence i)))))
   (queue-callback/wait (λ () (send f close))))
 
-(let ([pref-ht (make-hash)])
-  (parameterize ([test:use-focus-table #t]
-                 [preferences:low-level-get-preference
-                  (λ (sym [fail (λ () #f)])
-                    (hash-ref pref-ht sym fail))]
-                 [preferences:low-level-put-preferences
-                  (λ (syms vals)
-                    (for ([sym (in-list syms)]
-                          [val (in-list vals)])
-                      (hash-set! pref-ht sym val)))])
-    ;; needs to be inside the test:use-focus-table setting
-    (parameterize ([current-eventspace (make-eventspace)])
+(with-private-prefs
+ (parameterize ([test:use-focus-table #t])
+   ;; needs to be inside the test:use-focus-table setting
+   (parameterize ([current-eventspace (make-eventspace)])
+      
+     ;; make sure we're back to a clean preferences state
+     ;; and the parameterize above ensure that we won't
+     ;; look at the disk so together this should mean
+     ;; no interference between different concurrent tests
+     (preferences:restore-defaults)
+      
+     (define dummy #f)
+     (queue-callback
+      (λ ()
+        (set! dummy (make-object frame:basic% "dummy to trick frame group"))
+        (send dummy show #t)))
 
-      (define dummy #f)
-      (queue-callback
-       (λ ()
-         (set! dummy (make-object frame:basic% "dummy to trick frame group"))
-         (send dummy show #t)))
+     (preferences:set 'framework:fixup-open-parens #t)
+     (preferences:set 'framework:automatic-parens #f)
+     (test-specs "global keybindings test" frame:text% global-specs)
+     (test-specs "racket mode keybindings test"
+                 (class frame:editor%
+                   (define/override (get-editor%) racket:text%)
+                   (super-new))
+                 scheme-specs)
 
-      (preferences:set 'framework:fixup-open-parens #t)
-      (preferences:set 'framework:automatic-parens #f)
-      (test-specs "global keybindings test" frame:text% global-specs)
-      (test-specs "racket mode keybindings test"
-                  (class frame:editor%
-                    (define/override (get-editor%) racket:text%)
-                    (super-new))
-                  scheme-specs)
+     (preferences:set 'framework:automatic-parens #t)
+     (preferences:set 'framework:fixup-open-parens #f)
+     (test-specs "racket mode automatic-parens on keybindings test"
+                 (class frame:editor%
+                   (define/override (get-editor%) racket:text%)
+                   (super-new))
+                 automatic-scheme-specs)
 
-      (preferences:set 'framework:automatic-parens #t)
-      (preferences:set 'framework:fixup-open-parens #f)
-      (test-specs "racket mode automatic-parens on keybindings test"
-                  (class frame:editor%
-                    (define/override (get-editor%) racket:text%)
-                    (super-new))
-                  automatic-scheme-specs)
-
-      (queue-callback (λ () (send dummy show #f))))))
+     (queue-callback (λ () (send dummy show #f))))))
diff --git a/gui-test/framework/tests/private/here-util.rkt b/gui-test/framework/tests/private/here-util.rkt
deleted file mode 100644
index 79b493b9..00000000
--- a/gui-test/framework/tests/private/here-util.rkt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-#lang racket/base
-(require framework/private/focus-table
-         racket/gui/base
-         racket/class)
-
-(provide wait-for-frame wait-for/here)
-
-(define (wait-for/here test)
-  (define timeout 10)
-  (define pause-time 1/2)
-  (let loop ([n (ceiling (/ timeout pause-time))])
-    (if (zero? n)
-        (error 'wait-for "after ~a seconds, ~s didn't come true" timeout test)
-        (unless (test)
-          (sleep pause-time)
-          (loop (- n 1))))))
-
-(define (wait-for-frame name [eventspace (current-eventspace)])
-  (define (check-for-frame)
-    (for/or ([frame (in-list (frame:lookup-focus-table eventspace))])
-      (and (equal? name (send frame get-label))
-           frame)))
-  (wait-for/here
-   (procedure-rename check-for-frame
-                     (string->symbol (format "check-for-frame-named-\"~a\"" name)))))
diff --git a/gui-test/framework/tests/private/util.rkt b/gui-test/framework/tests/private/util.rkt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..44332e3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gui-test/framework/tests/private/util.rkt
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+#lang racket/base
+(require framework/private/focus-table
+         framework/preferences
+         racket/gui/base
+         racket/class
+         (for-syntax racket/base))
+
+(provide wait-for-frame wait-for/here
+         with-private-prefs)
+
+(define (wait-for/here test)
+  (define timeout 10)
+  (define pause-time 1/2)
+  (let loop ([n (ceiling (/ timeout pause-time))])
+    (if (zero? n)
+        (error 'wait-for "after ~a seconds, ~s didn't come true" timeout test)
+        (unless (test)
+          (sleep pause-time)
+          (loop (- n 1))))))
+
+(define (wait-for-frame name [eventspace (current-eventspace)])
+  (define (check-for-frame)
+    (for/or ([frame (in-list (frame:lookup-focus-table eventspace))])
+      (and (equal? name (send frame get-label))
+           frame)))
+  (wait-for/here
+   (procedure-rename check-for-frame
+                     (string->symbol (format "check-for-frame-named-\"~a\"" name)))))
+
+(define-syntax (with-private-prefs stx)
+  (syntax-case stx ()
+    [(_ e1 e2 ...)
+     #'(with-private-prefs/proc (λ () e1 e2 ...))]))
+
+(define (with-private-prefs/proc t)
+  (define pref-ht (make-hash))
+  (parameterize ([preferences:low-level-get-preference
+                  (λ (sym [fail (λ () #f)])
+                    (hash-ref pref-ht sym fail))]
+                 [preferences:low-level-put-preferences
+                  (λ (syms vals)
+                    (for ([sym (in-list syms)]
+                          [val (in-list vals)])
+                      (hash-set! pref-ht sym val)))])
+    
+    ;; make sure we're back to a clean preferences state
+    ;; and the parameterize above ensure that we won't
+    ;; look at the disk so together this should mean
+    ;; no interference between different concurrent tests
+    (preferences:restore-defaults)
+    (t)))
diff --git a/gui-test/framework/tests/text.rkt b/gui-test/framework/tests/text.rkt
index 1fe581d2..3cff14bd 100644
--- a/gui-test/framework/tests/text.rkt
+++ b/gui-test/framework/tests/text.rkt
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #lang racket
 
-(require "private/here-util.rkt"
+(require "private/util.rkt"
          "private/gui.rkt"
          rackunit
          racket/gui/base