diff --git a/test/test_cli.py b/test/test_cli.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 0bca9e7..0000000
--- a/test/test_cli.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-from pathlib import Path
-from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
-
-from topen import add_annotation, open_editor
-
-
-def test_open_editor_escapes_shell():
-    """Ensure filenames with spaces/metas do not allow shell injection."""
-    with patch("subprocess.run") as run_mock:
-        open_editor(Path("my note$1.txt"), "vim")
-    run_mock.assert_called_once_with(["vim", "my note$1.txt"], check=True)
-
-
-def test_add_annotation_calls_tasklib():
-    task = Mock()
-    add_annotation(task, "hello")
-    task.add_annotation.assert_called_once_with("hello")
diff --git a/topen.py b/topen.py
index b5374e1..e04e39e 100755
--- a/topen.py
+++ b/topen.py
@@ -63,9 +63,11 @@ def main(cfg: "TConf | None" = None, io: "_IO | None" = None) -> int:
 
     fpath = get_notes_file(uuid, notes_dir=cfg.notes_dir, notes_ext=cfg.notes_ext)
 
-    _ensure_parent_dir(fpath)
+    if not fpath.parent.exists():
+        fpath.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
     io.out(f"Editing note: {fpath}")
-    open_editor(fpath, editor=cfg.notes_editor, io=io)
+    open_editor(fpath, editor=cfg.notes_editor)
 
     if fpath.exists():
         if is_annotation_missing(task, annotation_content=cfg.notes_annot):
@@ -95,13 +97,9 @@ def get_notes_file(uuid: str, notes_dir: Path, notes_ext: str) -> Path:
     return Path(notes_dir).joinpath(f"{uuid}.{notes_ext}")
 
 
-def open_editor(file: Path, editor: str, io: "_IO | None" = None) -> None:
+def open_editor(file: Path, editor: str) -> None:
     """Opens a file with the chosen editor."""
-    try:
-        _ = subprocess.run([editor, str(file)], check=True)
-    except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
-        if io:
-            io.err("Editor exited with an error, aborting.\n")
+    _ = subprocess.run(f"{editor} {file}", shell=True)
 
 
 def is_annotation_missing(task: Task, annotation_content: str) -> bool:
@@ -137,21 +135,16 @@ class Opt:
     is_flag: bool = False
 
 
-def _expand_path(p: Path | str) -> Path:
+def _real_path(p: Path | str) -> Path:
     return Path(os.path.expandvars(p)).expanduser()
 
 
-def _ensure_parent_dir(file: Path) -> None:
-    if not file.parent.exists():
-        file.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-
-
 def _determine_default_task_rc() -> Path:
-    if _expand_path("~/.taskrc").exists():
-        return _expand_path("~/.taskrc")
-    if _expand_path("$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/task/taskrc").exists():
-        return _expand_path("$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/task/taskrc")
-    return _expand_path("~/.config/task/taskrc")
+    if _real_path("~/.taskrc").exists():
+        return _real_path("~/.taskrc")
+    if _real_path("$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/task/taskrc").exists():
+        return _real_path("$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/task/taskrc")
+    return _real_path("~/.config/task/taskrc")
 
 
 def _strtobool(val: str) -> bool:
@@ -265,11 +258,11 @@ class TConf:
     """If set topen will give no feedback on note editing."""
 
     def __post_init__(self):
-        self.task_rc = _expand_path(self.task_rc)
-        self.task_data = _expand_path(self.task_data)
+        self.task_rc = _real_path(self.task_rc)
+        self.task_data = _real_path(self.task_data)
         if self.notes_dir == NON_EXISTENT_PATH:
             self.notes_dir = self._default_notes_dir()
-        self.notes_dir = _expand_path(self.notes_dir)
+        self.notes_dir = _real_path(self.notes_dir)
         if not self.notes_editor:
             self.notes_editor = (
                 os.getenv("EDITOR")