diff --git a/cobra/cmd/init.go b/cobra/cmd/init.go
index edddc2c..504a478 100644
--- a/cobra/cmd/init.go
+++ b/cobra/cmd/init.go
@@ -32,42 +32,17 @@ var (
 		Long: `Initialize (cobra init) will create a new application, with a license
 and the appropriate structure for a Cobra-based CLI application.
 
-  * If a name is provided, it will be created in the current directory;
+  * If a name is provided, a directory with that name will be created in the current directory;
   * If no name is provided, the current directory will be assumed;
-  * If a relative path is provided, it will be created inside $GOPATH
-    (e.g. github.com/spf13/hugo);
-  * If an absolute path is provided, it will be created;
-  * If the directory already exists but is empty, it will be used.
+`,
 
-Init will not use an existing directory with contents.`,
+		Run: func(_ *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 
-		Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-
-			wd, err := os.Getwd()
+			projectPath, err := initializeProject(args)
 			if err != nil {
 				er(err)
 			}
-
-			if len(args) > 0 {
-				if args[0] != "." {
-					wd = fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", wd, args[0])
-				}
-			}
-
-			project := &Project{
-				AbsolutePath: wd,
-				PkgName:      pkgName,
-				Legal:        getLicense(),
-				Copyright:    copyrightLine(),
-				Viper:        viper.GetBool("useViper"),
-				AppName:      path.Base(pkgName),
-			}
-
-			if err := project.Create(); err != nil {
-				er(err)
-			}
-
-			fmt.Printf("Your Cobra application is ready at\n%s\n", project.AbsolutePath)
+			fmt.Printf("Your Cobra application is ready at\n%s\n", projectPath)
 		},
 	}
 )
@@ -76,3 +51,31 @@ func init() {
 	initCmd.Flags().StringVar(&pkgName, "pkg-name", "", "fully qualified pkg name")
 	initCmd.MarkFlagRequired("pkg-name")
 }
+
+func initializeProject(args []string) (string, error) {
+	wd, err := os.Getwd()
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	if len(args) > 0 {
+		if args[0] != "." {
+			wd = fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", wd, args[0])
+		}
+	}
+
+	project := &Project{
+		AbsolutePath: wd,
+		PkgName:      pkgName,
+		Legal:        getLicense(),
+		Copyright:    copyrightLine(),
+		Viper:        viper.GetBool("useViper"),
+		AppName:      path.Base(pkgName),
+	}
+
+	if err := project.Create(); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	return project.AbsolutePath, nil
+}
diff --git a/cobra/cmd/init_test.go b/cobra/cmd/init_test.go
index 8ee3910..c4b3f09 100644
--- a/cobra/cmd/init_test.go
+++ b/cobra/cmd/init_test.go
@@ -2,9 +2,12 @@ package cmd
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/viper"
 )
 
 func getProject() *Project {
@@ -20,20 +23,72 @@ func getProject() *Project {
 }
 
 func TestGoldenInitCmd(t *testing.T) {
-	project := getProject()
-	defer os.RemoveAll(project.AbsolutePath)
 
-	if err := project.Create(); err != nil {
+	dir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "cobra-init")
+	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
+	defer os.RemoveAll(dir)
 
-	expectedFiles := []string{"LICENSE", "main.go", "cmd/root.go"}
-	for _, f := range expectedFiles {
-		generatedFile := fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", project.AbsolutePath, f)
-		goldenFile := fmt.Sprintf("testdata/%s.golden", filepath.Base(f))
-		err := compareFiles(generatedFile, goldenFile)
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatal(err)
-		}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name      string
+		args      []string
+		pkgName   string
+		expectErr bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:      "successfully creates a project with name",
+			args:      []string{"testproject"},
+			pkgName:   "github.com/spf13/testproject",
+			expectErr: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "returns error when passing an absolute path for project",
+			args:      []string{dir},
+			pkgName:   "github.com/spf13/testproject",
+			expectErr: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "returns error when passing an relative path for project",
+			args:      []string{"github.com/spf13/testproject"},
+			pkgName:   "github.com/spf13/testproject",
+			expectErr: true,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+
+			initCmd.Flags().Set("pkg-name", tt.pkgName)
+			viper.Set("useViper", true)
+			projectPath, err := initializeProject(tt.args)
+			defer func() {
+				if projectPath != "" {
+					os.RemoveAll(projectPath)
+				}
+			}()
+
+			if !tt.expectErr && err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("did not expect an error, got %s", err)
+			}
+			if tt.expectErr {
+				if err == nil {
+					t.Fatal("expected an error but got none")
+				} else {
+					// got an expected error nothing more to do
+					return
+				}
+			}
+
+			expectedFiles := []string{"LICENSE", "main.go", "cmd/root.go"}
+			for _, f := range expectedFiles {
+				generatedFile := fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", projectPath, f)
+				goldenFile := fmt.Sprintf("testdata/%s.golden", filepath.Base(f))
+				err := compareFiles(generatedFile, goldenFile)
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Fatal(err)
+				}
+			}
+		})
 	}
 }