diff --git a/test/runner/lib/sanity/__init__.py b/test/runner/lib/sanity/__init__.py
index 052ff900e6..e9fe96d536 100644
--- a/test/runner/lib/sanity/__init__.py
+++ b/test/runner/lib/sanity/__init__.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import glob
 import json
 import os
 import re
+import sys
 
 from lib.util import (
     ApplicationError,
@@ -233,6 +234,8 @@ class SanityCodeSmellTest(SanityTest):
             output = config.get('output')
             extensions = config.get('extensions')
             prefixes = config.get('prefixes')
+            files = config.get('files')
+            always = config.get('always')
 
             if output == 'path-line-column-message':
                 pattern = '^(?P<path>[^:]*):(?P<line>[0-9]+):(?P<column>[0-9]+): (?P<message>.*)$'
@@ -243,18 +246,29 @@ class SanityCodeSmellTest(SanityTest):
 
             paths = sorted(i.path for i in targets.include)
 
+            if always:
+                paths = []
+
+            # short-term work-around for paths being str instead of unicode on python 2.x
+            if sys.version_info[0] == 2:
+                paths = [p.decode('utf-8') for p in paths]
+
             if extensions:
                 paths = [p for p in paths if os.path.splitext(p)[1] in extensions or (p.startswith('bin/') and '.py' in extensions)]
 
             if prefixes:
                 paths = [p for p in paths if any(p.startswith(pre) for pre in prefixes)]
 
-            if not paths:
+            if files:
+                paths = [p for p in paths if os.path.basename(p) in files]
+
+            if not paths and not always:
                 return SanitySkipped(self.name)
 
             data = '\n'.join(paths)
 
-            display.info(data, verbosity=4)
+            if data:
+                display.info(data, verbosity=4)
         try:
             stdout, stderr = run_command(args, cmd, data=data, env=env, capture=True)
             status = 0
diff --git a/test/runner/lib/sanity/compile.py b/test/runner/lib/sanity/compile.py
index 9381ac70e0..e754448057 100644
--- a/test/runner/lib/sanity/compile.py
+++ b/test/runner/lib/sanity/compile.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ from lib.sanity import (
 from lib.util import (
     SubprocessError,
     run_command,
+    display,
 )
 
 from lib.config import (
@@ -49,10 +50,14 @@ class CompileTest(SanityMultipleVersion):
         if not paths:
             return SanitySkipped(self.name, python_version=python_version)
 
-        cmd = ['python%s' % python_version, 'test/sanity/compile/compile.py'] + paths
+        cmd = ['python%s' % python_version, 'test/sanity/compile/compile.py']
+
+        data = '\n'.join(paths)
+
+        display.info(data, verbosity=4)
 
         try:
-            stdout, stderr = run_command(args, cmd, capture=True)
+            stdout, stderr = run_command(args, cmd, data=data, capture=True)
             status = 0
         except SubprocessError as ex:
             stdout = ex.stdout
diff --git a/test/runner/lib/sanity/import.py b/test/runner/lib/sanity/import.py
index d11ce76c41..b6c7ede108 100644
--- a/test/runner/lib/sanity/import.py
+++ b/test/runner/lib/sanity/import.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from lib.util import (
     run_command,
     intercept_command,
     remove_tree,
+    display,
 )
 
 from lib.ansible_util import (
@@ -88,12 +89,17 @@ class ImportTest(SanityMultipleVersion):
             run_command(args, ['pip', 'uninstall', '--disable-pip-version-check', '-y', 'setuptools'], env=env)
             run_command(args, ['pip', 'uninstall', '--disable-pip-version-check', '-y', 'pip'], env=env)
 
-        cmd = ['importer.py'] + paths
+        cmd = ['importer.py']
+
+        data = '\n'.join(paths)
+
+        display.info(data, verbosity=4)
 
         results = []
 
         try:
-            stdout, stderr = intercept_command(args, cmd, target_name=self.name, env=env, capture=True, python_version=python_version, path=env['PATH'])
+            stdout, stderr = intercept_command(args, cmd, data=data, target_name=self.name, env=env, capture=True, python_version=python_version,
+                                               path=env['PATH'])
 
             if stdout or stderr:
                 raise SubprocessError(cmd, stdout=stdout, stderr=stderr)
diff --git a/test/runner/lib/sanity/yamllint.py b/test/runner/lib/sanity/yamllint.py
index c9a19edba8..9aed5b94ad 100644
--- a/test/runner/lib/sanity/yamllint.py
+++ b/test/runner/lib/sanity/yamllint.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ from lib.sanity import (
 from lib.util import (
     SubprocessError,
     run_command,
+    display,
 )
 
 from lib.config import (
@@ -66,10 +67,14 @@ class YamllintTest(SanitySingleVersion):
         cmd = [
             'python%s' % args.python_version,
             'test/sanity/yamllint/yamllinter.py',
-        ] + paths
+        ]
+
+        data = '\n'.join(paths)
+
+        display.info(data, verbosity=4)
 
         try:
-            stdout, stderr = run_command(args, cmd, capture=True)
+            stdout, stderr = run_command(args, cmd, data=data, capture=True)
             status = 0
         except SubprocessError as ex:
             stdout = ex.stdout
diff --git a/test/sanity/code-smell/azure-requirements.json b/test/sanity/code-smell/azure-requirements.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..39ac4bd57f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/sanity/code-smell/azure-requirements.json
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+{
+    "always": true,
+    "output": "path-message"
+}
diff --git a/test/sanity/code-smell/azure-requirements.py b/test/sanity/code-smell/azure-requirements.py
index aeaf480b88..95ab47d0f4 100755
--- a/test/sanity/code-smell/azure-requirements.py
+++ b/test/sanity/code-smell/azure-requirements.py
@@ -2,11 +2,19 @@
 """Make sure the Azure requirements files match."""
 
 import filecmp
+import os
 
-src = 'packaging/requirements/requirements-azure.txt'
-dst = 'test/runner/requirements/integration.cloud.azure.txt'
 
-if not filecmp.cmp(src, dst):
-    print('Update the Azure integration test requirements with the packaging test requirements:')
-    print('cp %s %s' % (src, dst))
-    exit(1)
+def main():
+    src = 'packaging/requirements/requirements-azure.txt'
+    dst = 'test/runner/requirements/integration.cloud.azure.txt'
+
+    if not filecmp.cmp(src, dst):
+        print('%s: must be identical to `%s`' % (dst, src))
+
+    if os.path.islink(dst):
+        print('%s: must not be a symbolic link' % dst)
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/test/sanity/code-smell/configure-remoting-ps1.json b/test/sanity/code-smell/configure-remoting-ps1.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..39ac4bd57f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/sanity/code-smell/configure-remoting-ps1.json
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+{
+    "always": true,
+    "output": "path-message"
+}
diff --git a/test/sanity/code-smell/configure-remoting-ps1.py b/test/sanity/code-smell/configure-remoting-ps1.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..614bf6986a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/sanity/code-smell/configure-remoting-ps1.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+import os
+
+
+def main():
+    # required by external automated processes and should not be moved, renamed or converted to a symbolic link
+    path = 'examples/scripts/ConfigureRemotingForAnsible.ps1'
+    directory = path
+
+    while True:
+        directory = os.path.dirname(directory)
+
+        if not directory:
+            break
+
+        if not os.path.isdir(directory):
+            print('%s: must be a directory' % directory)
+
+        if os.path.islink(directory):
+            print('%s: cannot be a symbolic link' % directory)
+
+    if not os.path.isfile(path):
+        print('%s: must be a file' % path)
+
+    if os.path.islink(path):
+        print('%s: cannot be a symbolic link' % path)
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/test/sanity/code-smell/configure-remoting-ps1.sh b/test/sanity/code-smell/configure-remoting-ps1.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index 1eb7903137..0000000000
--- a/test/sanity/code-smell/configure-remoting-ps1.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/sh
-
-FILE='examples/scripts/ConfigureRemotingForAnsible.ps1'
-
-if [ ! -f "${FILE}" ] || [ -h "${FILE}" ]; then
-    echo 'The file "ConfigureRemotingForAnsible.ps1" is missing or is not a regular file.'
-    echo 'It is required by external automated processes and should not be moved or renamed.'
-    exit 1
-fi
diff --git a/test/sanity/code-smell/empty-init.json b/test/sanity/code-smell/empty-init.json
index 43d0bd3501..88487ae089 100644
--- a/test/sanity/code-smell/empty-init.json
+++ b/test/sanity/code-smell/empty-init.json
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
         "lib/ansible/module_utils/",
         "test/units/"
     ],
-    "extensions": [
-        ".py"
+    "files": [
+        "__init__.py"
     ],
     "output": "path-message"
 }
diff --git a/test/sanity/code-smell/empty-init.py b/test/sanity/code-smell/empty-init.py
index b0f5c320c3..453bbe04a1 100755
--- a/test/sanity/code-smell/empty-init.py
+++ b/test/sanity/code-smell/empty-init.py
@@ -19,9 +19,6 @@ def main():
         if path in skip:
             continue
 
-        if os.path.basename(path) != '__init__.py':
-            continue
-
         if os.path.getsize(path) > 0:
             print('%s: empty __init__.py required' % path)
 
diff --git a/test/sanity/code-smell/integration-aliases.json b/test/sanity/code-smell/integration-aliases.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..39ac4bd57f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/sanity/code-smell/integration-aliases.json
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+{
+    "always": true,
+    "output": "path-message"
+}
diff --git a/test/sanity/code-smell/integration-aliases.py b/test/sanity/code-smell/integration-aliases.py
index 50301e3b38..b3ab6b5c45 100755
--- a/test/sanity/code-smell/integration-aliases.py
+++ b/test/sanity/code-smell/integration-aliases.py
@@ -10,8 +10,6 @@ def main():
     with open('test/integration/target-prefixes.network', 'r') as prefixes_fd:
         network_prefixes = prefixes_fd.read().splitlines()
 
-    missing_aliases = []
-
     for target in sorted(os.listdir(targets_dir)):
         target_dir = os.path.join(targets_dir, target)
         aliases_path = os.path.join(target_dir, 'aliases')
@@ -38,47 +36,7 @@ def main():
         if any(target.startswith('%s_' % prefix) for prefix in network_prefixes):
             continue
 
-        missing_aliases.append(target_dir)
-
-    if missing_aliases:
-        message = textwrap.dedent('''
-        The following integration target directories are missing `aliases` files:
-
-        %s
-
-        If these tests cannot be run as part of CI (requires external services, unsupported dependencies, etc.),
-        then they most likely belong in `test/integration/roles/` instead of `test/integration/targets/`.
-        In that case, do not add an `aliases` file. Instead, just relocate the tests.
-
-        However, if you think that the tests should be able to be supported by CI, please discuss test
-        organization with @mattclay or @gundalow on GitHub or #ansible-devel on IRC.
-
-        If these tests can be run as part of CI, you'll need to add an appropriate CI alias, such as:
-
-        posix/ci/group1
-        windows/ci/group2
-
-        The CI groups are used to balance tests across multiple jobs to minimize test run time.
-        Using the relevant `group1` entry is fine in most cases. Groups can be changed later to redistribute tests.
-
-        Aliases can also be used to express test requirements:
-
-        needs/privileged
-        needs/root
-        needs/ssh
-
-        Other aliases are used to skip tests under certain conditions:
-
-        skip/freebsd
-        skip/osx
-        skip/python3
-
-        Take a look at existing `aliases` files to see what aliases are available and how they're used.
-        ''').strip() % '\n'.join(missing_aliases)
-
-        print(message)
-
-        exit(1)
+        print('%s: missing integration test `aliases` file' % aliases_path)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/test/sanity/code-smell/no-assert.py b/test/sanity/code-smell/no-assert.py
index abb663d577..42fb59321d 100755
--- a/test/sanity/code-smell/no-assert.py
+++ b/test/sanity/code-smell/no-assert.py
@@ -8,22 +8,16 @@ ASSERT_RE = re.compile(r'.*(?<![-:a-zA-Z#][ -])\bassert\b(?!:).*')
 
 
 def main():
-    failed = False
-
     for path in sys.argv[1:] or sys.stdin.read().splitlines():
         with open(path, 'r') as f:
             for i, line in enumerate(f.readlines()):
                 matches = ASSERT_RE.findall(line)
 
                 if matches:
-                    failed = True
                     lineno = i + 1
                     colno = line.index('assert') + 1
                     print('%s:%d:%d: raise AssertionError instead of: %s' % (path, lineno, colno, matches[0][colno - 1:]))
 
-    if failed:
-        sys.exit(1)
-
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     main()
diff --git a/test/sanity/code-smell/no-illegal-filenames.json b/test/sanity/code-smell/no-illegal-filenames.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..39ac4bd57f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/sanity/code-smell/no-illegal-filenames.json
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+{
+    "always": true,
+    "output": "path-message"
+}
diff --git a/test/sanity/code-smell/no-illegal-filenames.py b/test/sanity/code-smell/no-illegal-filenames.py
index 0e339cdd8b..52959d3e17 100755
--- a/test/sanity/code-smell/no-illegal-filenames.py
+++ b/test/sanity/code-smell/no-illegal-filenames.py
@@ -54,45 +54,41 @@ ILLEGAL_END_CHARS = [
 
 
 def check_path(path, dir=False):
-    errors = []
     type_name = 'directory' if dir else 'file'
     parent, file_name = os.path.split(path)
     name, ext = os.path.splitext(file_name)
 
     if name.upper() in ILLEGAL_NAMES:
-        errors.append("Illegal %s name %s: %s" % (type_name, name.upper(), path))
+        print("%s: illegal %s name %s" % (path, type_name, name.upper()))
 
     if file_name[-1] in ILLEGAL_END_CHARS:
-        errors.append("Illegal %s name end-char '%s': %s" % (type_name, file_name[-1], path))
+        print("%s: illegal %s name end-char '%s'" % (path, type_name, file_name[-1]))
 
     bfile = to_bytes(file_name, encoding='utf-8')
     for char in ILLEGAL_CHARS:
         if char in bfile:
             bpath = to_bytes(path, encoding='utf-8')
-            errors.append("Illegal char %s in %s name: %s" % (char, type_name, bpath))
-    return errors
+            print("%s: illegal char '%s' in %s name" % (bpath, char, type_name))
 
 
 def main():
-    errors = []
-    pattern = re.compile("^./test/integration/targets/.*/backup")
+    pattern = re.compile("^test/integration/targets/.*/backup")
 
     for root, dirs, files in os.walk('.'):
+        if root == '.':
+            root = ''
+        elif root.startswith('./'):
+            root = root[2:]
+
         # ignore test/integration/targets/*/backup
         if pattern.match(root):
             continue
 
         for dir_name in dirs:
-            errors += check_path(os.path.abspath(os.path.join(root, dir_name)), dir=True)
+            check_path(os.path.join(root, dir_name), dir=True)
 
         for file_name in files:
-            errors += check_path(os.path.abspath(os.path.join(root, file_name)), dir=False)
-
-    if len(errors) > 0:
-        print('Ansible git repo should not contain any illegal filenames')
-        for error in errors:
-            print(error)
-        exit(1)
+            check_path(os.path.join(root, file_name), dir=False)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/test/sanity/code-smell/no-tests-as-filters.py b/test/sanity/code-smell/no-tests-as-filters.py
index 3975f436b3..18581bdc20 100755
--- a/test/sanity/code-smell/no-tests-as-filters.py
+++ b/test/sanity/code-smell/no-tests-as-filters.py
@@ -49,8 +49,6 @@ FILTER_RE = re.compile(r'((.+?)\s*(?P<left>[\w \.\'"]+)(\s*)\|(\s*)(?P<filter>\w
 
 
 def main():
-    failed = False
-
     for path in sys.argv[1:] or sys.stdin.read().splitlines():
         with open(path) as f:
             text = f.read()
@@ -67,7 +65,6 @@ def main():
             if test_name not in TESTS:
                 continue
 
-            failed = True
             left = match.group('left').strip()
             start = match.start('left')
 
@@ -80,9 +77,6 @@ def main():
 
             print('%s:%d:%d: use `%s is %s` instead of `%s | %s`' % (path, lineno, colno, left, test_name, left, filter_name))
 
-    if failed:
-        sys.exit(1)
-
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     main()
diff --git a/test/sanity/code-smell/test-constraints.json b/test/sanity/code-smell/test-constraints.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2ddf53c65f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/sanity/code-smell/test-constraints.json
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+    "prefixes": [
+        "test/runner/requirements/"
+    ],
+    "extensions": [
+        ".txt"
+    ],
+    "output": "path-line-column-message"
+}
diff --git a/test/sanity/code-smell/test-constraints.py b/test/sanity/code-smell/test-constraints.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..d26515de16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/sanity/code-smell/test-constraints.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+import re
+import sys
+
+
+def main():
+    skip = set([
+        'test/runner/requirements/constraints.txt',
+        'test/runner/requirements/integration.cloud.azure.txt',
+    ])
+
+    for path in sys.argv[1:] or sys.stdin.read().splitlines():
+        if path in skip:
+            continue
+
+        with open(path, 'r') as path_fd:
+            for line, text in enumerate(path_fd.readlines()):
+                match = re.search(r'^[^;#]*?([<>=])(?!.*sanity_ok.*)', text)
+
+                if match:
+                    print('%s:%d:%d: put constraints in `test/runner/requirements/constraints.txt`' % (
+                        path, line + 1, match.start(1) + 1))
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/test/sanity/code-smell/test-constraints.sh b/test/sanity/code-smell/test-constraints.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index 34020e68a4..0000000000
--- a/test/sanity/code-smell/test-constraints.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/sh
-
-constraints=$(
-    grep '.' test/runner/requirements/*.txt \
-        | grep -v '(sanity_ok)$' \
-        | sed 's/ *;.*$//; s/ #.*$//' \
-        | grep -v '/constraints.txt:' \
-        | grep -v '/integration.cloud.azure.txt:' \
-        | grep '[<>=]'
-)
-
-if [ "${constraints}" ]; then
-    echo 'Constraints for test requirements should be in "test/runner/requirements/constraints.txt".'
-    echo 'The following constraints were found outside the "constraints.txt" file:'
-    echo "${constraints}"
-    exit 1
-fi
diff --git a/test/sanity/compile/compile.py b/test/sanity/compile/compile.py
index 01144c643e..0641c69398 100755
--- a/test/sanity/compile/compile.py
+++ b/test/sanity/compile/compile.py
@@ -1,105 +1,16 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 """Python syntax checker with lint friendly output."""
 
-import os
 import parser
-import re
 import sys
 
 
 def main():
-    paths, verbose, skip_patterns = parse_options()
-    paths = filter_paths(paths, skip_patterns)
-    check(paths, verbose)
-
-
-def parse_options():
-    paths = []
-    skip_patterns = []
-    option = None
-    verbose = False
-    valid_options = [
-        '-x',
-        '-v',
-    ]
-
-    for arg in sys.argv[1:]:
-        if option == '-x':
-            skip_patterns.append(re.compile(arg))
-            option = None
-        elif arg.startswith('-'):
-            if arg not in valid_options:
-                raise Exception('Unknown Option: %s' % arg)
-            if arg == '-v':
-                verbose = True
-            else:
-                option = arg
-        else:
-            paths.append(arg)
-
-    if option:
-        raise Exception('Incomplete Option: %s' % option)
-
-    return paths, verbose, skip_patterns
-
-
-def filter_paths(paths, skip_patterns):
-    if not paths:
-        paths = ['.']
-
-    candidates = paths
-    paths = []
-
-    for candidate in candidates:
-        if os.path.isdir(candidate):
-            for root, directories, files in os.walk(candidate):
-                remove = []
-
-                for directory in directories:
-                    if directory.startswith('.'):
-                        remove.append(directory)
-
-                for path in remove:
-                    directories.remove(path)
-
-                for f in files:
-                    if f.endswith('.py'):
-                        paths.append(os.path.join(root, f))
-        else:
-            paths.append(candidate)
-
-    final_paths = []
-
-    for path in sorted(paths):
-        skip = False
-
-        for skip_pattern in skip_patterns:
-            if skip_pattern.search(path):
-                skip = True
-                break
-
-        if skip:
-            continue
-
-        final_paths.append(path)
-
-    return final_paths
-
-
-def check(paths, verbose):
     status = 0
 
-    for path in paths:
-        if verbose:
-            sys.stderr.write('%s\n' % path)
-            sys.stderr.flush()
-
-        source_fd = open(path, 'r')
-
-        try:
+    for path in sys.argv[1:] or sys.stdin.read().splitlines():
+        with open(path, 'r') as source_fd:
             source = source_fd.read()
-        finally:
-            source_fd.close()
 
         try:
             parser.suite(source)
diff --git a/test/sanity/import/importer.py b/test/sanity/import/importer.py
index 0e51527e76..fbcd570c2e 100755
--- a/test/sanity/import/importer.py
+++ b/test/sanity/import/importer.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def main():
     base_dir = os.getcwd()
     messages = set()
 
-    for path in sys.argv[1:]:
+    for path in sys.argv[1:] or sys.stdin.read().splitlines():
         test_python_module(path, base_dir, messages, False)
         test_python_module(path, base_dir, messages, True)
 
diff --git a/test/sanity/yamllint/yamllinter.py b/test/sanity/yamllint/yamllinter.py
index 197b0dc45b..06ff6fec74 100755
--- a/test/sanity/yamllint/yamllinter.py
+++ b/test/sanity/yamllint/yamllinter.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ from yamllint.config import YamlLintConfig
 
 def main():
     """Main program body."""
-    paths = sys.argv[1:]
+    paths = sys.argv[1:] or sys.stdin.read().splitlines()
 
     checker = YamlChecker()
     checker.check(paths)