diff --git a/scalding-core/src/main/scala/com/twitter/scalding/Config.scala b/scalding-core/src/main/scala/com/twitter/scalding/Config.scala
index bf0c37d7f4..9fa95b0e2c 100644
--- a/scalding-core/src/main/scala/com/twitter/scalding/Config.scala
+++ b/scalding-core/src/main/scala/com/twitter/scalding/Config.scala
@@ -417,6 +417,12 @@ object Config {
       .setScaldingVersion
       .setHRavenHistoryUserName
 
+  /*
+   * Extensions to the Default Config to tune it for unit tests
+   */
+  def unitTestDefault: Config =
+    Config(Config.default.toMap ++ Map("cascading.update.skip" -> "true"))
+
   /**
    * Merge Config.default with Hadoop config from the mode (if in Hadoop mode)
    */
diff --git a/scalding-core/src/main/scala/com/twitter/scalding/TypedPipeChecker.scala b/scalding-core/src/main/scala/com/twitter/scalding/TypedPipeChecker.scala
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6a4d342e40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scalding-core/src/main/scala/com/twitter/scalding/TypedPipeChecker.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+package com.twitter.scalding
+
+/**
+ * This class is used to assist with testing a TypedPipe
+ */
+object TypedPipeChecker {
+
+  /*
+   * Takes a List and a transform function.
+   * The resulting TypedPipe form the transform will be run through asserts
+   */
+  def checkOutputTransform[T, U, R](input: List[T])(transform: TypedPipe[T] => TypedPipe[U])(assertions: List[U] => R): R =
+    assertions(inMemoryToList(transform(TypedPipe.from(input))))
+
+  /*
+   * Execute a TypedPipe in memory, convert the resulting Iterator to
+   * a list and run it through a function that makes arbitrary
+   * assertions on it.
+   */
+  def checkOutput[T, R](output: TypedPipe[T])(assertions: List[T] => R): R =
+    assertions(inMemoryToList(output))
+
+  /**
+   * Execute a TypedPipe in memory and return the result as a List
+   */
+  def inMemoryToList[T](output: TypedPipe[T]): List[T] =
+    output
+      .toIterableExecution
+      .waitFor(Config.unitTestDefault, Local(strictSources = true))
+      .get
+      .toList
+}
diff --git a/scalding-core/src/test/scala/com/twitter/scalding/TypedPipeCheckerTest.scala b/scalding-core/src/test/scala/com/twitter/scalding/TypedPipeCheckerTest.scala
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0329199716
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scalding-core/src/test/scala/com/twitter/scalding/TypedPipeCheckerTest.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+package com.twitter.scalding
+
+import org.scalatest.{ Matchers, WordSpec }
+
+class TypedPipeCheckerTest extends WordSpec with Matchers {
+  import TypedPipeChecker._
+
+  "TypedPipeChecker" should {
+    "run asserts on pipe" in {
+      checkOutput(TypedPipe.from(List(1, 2, 3, 4))){ rows =>
+        assert(rows.size == 4)
+        assert(rows == List(1, 2, 3, 4))
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  it should {
+    "give back a list" in {
+      val list = inMemoryToList(TypedPipe.from(List(1, 2, 3, 4)))
+      assert(list == List(1, 2, 3, 4))
+    }
+  }
+
+  it should {
+    "allow for a list of input to be run through a transform function" in {
+      def transform(pipe: TypedPipe[Int]) = pipe.map(identity)
+
+      checkOutputTransform(List(1, 2, 3))(transform){ rows =>
+        assert(rows == List(1, 2, 3))
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}