diff --git a/testcases/t/113-urgent.t b/testcases/t/113-urgent.t
index 3b82fe22..e88c37a2 100644
--- a/testcases/t/113-urgent.t
+++ b/testcases/t/113-urgent.t
@@ -53,10 +53,10 @@ font -misc-fixed-medium-r-normal--13-120-75-75-C-70-iso10646-1
 force_display_urgency_hint 0ms
 EOT
 
-my $type;
+my ($type, $tmp, $w1, $w2);
 for ($type = 1; $type <= 2; $type++) {
     my $pid = launch_with_config($config);
-    my $tmp = fresh_workspace;
+    $tmp = fresh_workspace;
 
 #####################################################################
 # Create two windows and put them in stacking mode
@@ -269,8 +269,8 @@ for ($type = 1; $type <= 2; $type++) {
     my $ws1 = fresh_workspace;
     my $ws2 = fresh_workspace;
     cmd "workspace $ws1";
-    my $w1 = open_window;
-    my $w2 = open_window;
+    $w1 = open_window;
+    $w2 = open_window;
     cmd "workspace $ws2";
     sync_with_i3;
     set_urgency($w1, 1, $type);
@@ -284,10 +284,10 @@ for ($type = 1; $type <= 2; $type++) {
 ##############################################################################
 # Check if urgent flag can be unset if we move the window out of the container
 ##############################################################################
-    my $tmp = fresh_workspace;
+    $tmp = fresh_workspace;
     cmd 'layout tabbed';
-    my $w1 = open_window;
-    my $w2 = open_window;
+    $w1 = open_window;
+    $w2 = open_window;
     sync_with_i3;
     cmd '[id="' . $w2->id . '"] focus';
     sync_with_i3;
@@ -316,8 +316,8 @@ for ($type = 1; $type <= 2; $type++) {
     my $tmp_target = fresh_workspace;
     cmd 'workspace ' . $tmp_source;
     sync_with_i3;
-    my $w1 = open_window;
-    my $w2 = open_window;
+    $w1 = open_window;
+    $w2 = open_window;
     sync_with_i3;
     cmd '[id="' . $w1->id . '"] focus';
     sync_with_i3;
diff --git a/testcases/t/141-resize.t b/testcases/t/141-resize.t
index 97315c3d..c5e61a32 100644
--- a/testcases/t/141-resize.t
+++ b/testcases/t/141-resize.t
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 # Tests resizing tiling containers
 use i3test;
 
+my ($left, $right);
 my $tmp = fresh_workspace;
 
 cmd 'split v';
@@ -84,8 +85,8 @@ cmp_float($nodes->[1]->{percent}, 0.75, 'bottom window got 75%');
 
 $tmp = fresh_workspace;
 
-my $left = open_window;
-my $right = open_window;
+$left = open_window;
+$right = open_window;
 
 cmd 'split v';
 
@@ -261,8 +262,8 @@ cmp_ok($content[0]->{rect}->{width}, '==', $oldrect->{width}, 'width the same as
 
 $tmp = fresh_workspace;
 
-my $left = open_floating_window;
-my $right = open_floating_window;
+$left = open_floating_window;
+$right = open_floating_window;
 
 sub get_floating_rect {
     my ($window_id) = @_;
diff --git a/testcases/t/185-scratchpad.t b/testcases/t/185-scratchpad.t
index edfc46e0..eeaee449 100644
--- a/testcases/t/185-scratchpad.t
+++ b/testcases/t/185-scratchpad.t
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ sub verify_scratchpad_move_with_visible_scratch_con {
     # this should bring up window 1
     cmd 'scratchpad show';
 
-    my $ws = get_ws($first);
+    $ws = get_ws($first);
     is(scalar @{$ws->{floating_nodes}}, 1, 'one floating node on ws1');
     is($x->input_focus, $window1->id, "showed the correct scratchpad window1");
 
diff --git a/testcases/t/210-mark-unmark.t b/testcases/t/210-mark-unmark.t
index 99fc92c8..93b26d94 100644
--- a/testcases/t/210-mark-unmark.t
+++ b/testcases/t/210-mark-unmark.t
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
 use i3test;
 use List::Util qw(first);
 
+my ($con, $first, $second);
+
 sub get_marks {
     return i3(get_socket_path())->get_marks->recv;
 }
@@ -89,8 +91,8 @@ is_deeply(get_marks(), [], 'all marks removed');
 #    check that only the latter is marked
 ##############################################################
 
-my $first = open_window;
-my $second = open_window;
+$first = open_window;
+$second = open_window;
 
 cmd 'mark important';
 cmd 'focus left';
@@ -103,7 +105,7 @@ ok(!get_mark_for_window_on_workspace($tmp, $second), 'second container lost the
 # 5: mark a con, toggle the mark, check that the mark is gone
 ##############################################################
 
-my $con = open_window;
+$con = open_window;
 cmd 'mark important';
 cmd 'mark --toggle important';
 ok(!get_mark_for_window_on_workspace($tmp, $con), 'container no longer has the mark');
@@ -112,7 +114,7 @@ ok(!get_mark_for_window_on_workspace($tmp, $con), 'container no longer has the m
 # 6: toggle a mark on an unmarked con, check it is marked
 ##############################################################
 
-my $con = open_window;
+$con = open_window;
 cmd 'mark --toggle important';
 is(get_mark_for_window_on_workspace($tmp, $con), 'important', 'container now has the mark');
 
@@ -121,7 +123,7 @@ is(get_mark_for_window_on_workspace($tmp, $con), 'important', 'container now has
 #    with the new mark
 ##############################################################
 
-my $con = open_window;
+$con = open_window;
 cmd 'mark boring';
 cmd 'mark --toggle important';
 is(get_mark_for_window_on_workspace($tmp, $con), 'important', 'container has the most recent mark');
@@ -131,8 +133,8 @@ is(get_mark_for_window_on_workspace($tmp, $con), 'important', 'container has the
 #    check only the latter has the mark
 ##############################################################
 
-my $first = open_window;
-my $second = open_window;
+$first = open_window;
+$second = open_window;
 
 cmd 'mark important';
 cmd 'focus left';
@@ -146,8 +148,8 @@ ok(!get_mark_for_window_on_workspace($tmp, $second), 'second containr no longer
 #    it fails
 ##############################################################
 
-my $first = open_window(wm_class => 'iamnotunique');
-my $second = open_window(wm_class => 'iamnotunique');
+$first = open_window(wm_class => 'iamnotunique');
+$second = open_window(wm_class => 'iamnotunique');
 
 my $result = cmd "[instance=iamnotunique] mark important";
 
diff --git a/testcases/t/231-ipc-floating-event.t b/testcases/t/231-ipc-floating-event.t
index c2de64e4..4c172ff5 100644
--- a/testcases/t/231-ipc-floating-event.t
+++ b/testcases/t/231-ipc-floating-event.t
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ is($e->{container}->{floating}, 'user_on', 'the container should be floating');
 
 $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;
 cmd '[id="' . $win->{id} . '"] floating disable';
-my $e = $cv->recv;
+$e = $cv->recv;
 
 isnt($e, 0, 'disabling floating on a container should send an ipc window event');
 is($e->{container}->{window}, $win->{id}, 'the event should contain information about the window');
diff --git a/testcases/t/232-ipc-window-urgent.t b/testcases/t/232-ipc-window-urgent.t
index 2ac9ecbb..09226ff1 100644
--- a/testcases/t/232-ipc-window-urgent.t
+++ b/testcases/t/232-ipc-window-urgent.t
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ is($event->{container}->{urgent}, 1, 'the container should be urgent');
 
 $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;
 $win->delete_hint('urgency');
-my $event = $cv->recv;
+$event = $cv->recv;
 
 isnt($event, 0, 'an urgent con should emit the window::urgent event');
 is($event->{container}->{window}, $win->{id}, 'the event should contain information about the window');
diff --git a/testcases/t/235-check-config-no-x.t b/testcases/t/235-check-config-no-x.t
index 614d6b3a..ec17353e 100644
--- a/testcases/t/235-check-config-no-x.t
+++ b/testcases/t/235-check-config-no-x.t
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@
 use i3test i3_autostart => 0;
 use File::Temp qw(tempfile);
 
+my ($cfg, $ret, $out);
+
 sub check_config {
     my ($config) = @_;
     my ($fh, $tmpfile) = tempfile(UNLINK => 1);
@@ -35,12 +37,12 @@ sub check_config {
 # 1: test with a bogus configuration file
 ################################################################################
 
-my $cfg = <<EOT;
+$cfg = <<EOT;
 # i3 config file (v4)
 i_am_an_unknown_config option
 EOT
 
-my ($ret, $out) = check_config($cfg);
+($ret, $out) = check_config($cfg);
 is($ret, 1, "exit code == 1");
 like($out, qr/ERROR: *CONFIG: *[Ee]xpected.*tokens/, 'bogus config file');
 
@@ -48,12 +50,12 @@ like($out, qr/ERROR: *CONFIG: *[Ee]xpected.*tokens/, 'bogus config file');
 # 2: test with a valid configuration file
 ################################################################################
 
-my $cfg = <<EOT;
+$cfg = <<EOT;
 # i3 config file (v4)
 font -misc-fixed-medium-r-normal--13-120-75-75-C-70-iso10646-1
 EOT
 
-my ($ret, $out) = check_config($cfg);
+($ret, $out) = check_config($cfg);
 is($ret, 0, "exit code == 0");
 is($out, "", 'valid config file');
 
diff --git a/testcases/t/240-focus-on-window-activation.t b/testcases/t/240-focus-on-window-activation.t
index 5f0b6e1c..b2f8cac8 100644
--- a/testcases/t/240-focus-on-window-activation.t
+++ b/testcases/t/240-focus-on-window-activation.t
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 use i3test i3_autostart => 0;
 use List::Util qw(first);
 
+my ($config, $pid, $first, $second, $ws1, $ws2);
+
 sub send_net_active_window {
     my ($id) = @_; 
 
@@ -46,18 +48,18 @@ sub get_urgency_for_window_on_workspace {
 #    check that the urgent flag is set and focus is not lost.
 #####################################################################
 
-my $config = <<EOT;
+$config = <<EOT;
 # i3 config file (v4)
 font -misc-fixed-medium-r-normal--13-120-75-75-C-70-iso10646-1
 
 focus_on_window_activation urgent
 EOT
 
-my $pid = launch_with_config($config);
+$pid = launch_with_config($config);
 
 my $ws = fresh_workspace;
-my $first = open_window;
-my $second = open_window;
+$first = open_window;
+$second = open_window;
 
 send_net_active_window($first->id);
 sync_with_i3;
@@ -72,19 +74,19 @@ exit_gracefully($pid);
 #    visible, check that the urgent flag is set and focus is not lost.
 #####################################################################
 
-my $config = <<EOT;
+$config = <<EOT;
 # i3 config file (v4)
 font -misc-fixed-medium-r-normal--13-120-75-75-C-70-iso10646-1
 
 focus_on_window_activation urgent
 EOT
 
-my $pid = launch_with_config($config);
+$pid = launch_with_config($config);
 
-my $ws1 = fresh_workspace;
-my $first = open_window;
-my $ws2 = fresh_workspace;
-my $second = open_window;
+$ws1 = fresh_workspace;
+$first = open_window;
+$ws2 = fresh_workspace;
+$second = open_window;
 
 send_net_active_window($first->id);
 sync_with_i3;
@@ -100,18 +102,18 @@ exit_gracefully($pid);
 #    check that the focus is switched.
 #####################################################################
 
-my $config = <<EOT;
+$config = <<EOT;
 # i3 config file (v4)
 font -misc-fixed-medium-r-normal--13-120-75-75-C-70-iso10646-1
 
 focus_on_window_activation focus
 EOT
 
-my $pid = launch_with_config($config);
+$pid = launch_with_config($config);
 
 my $ws = fresh_workspace;
-my $first = open_window;
-my $second = open_window;
+$first = open_window;
+$second = open_window;
 
 send_net_active_window($first->id);
 sync_with_i3;
@@ -126,19 +128,19 @@ exit_gracefully($pid);
 #    visible, check that the focus switched.
 #####################################################################
 
-my $config = <<EOT;
+$config = <<EOT;
 # i3 config file (v4)
 font -misc-fixed-medium-r-normal--13-120-75-75-C-70-iso10646-1
 
 focus_on_window_activation focus
 EOT
 
-my $pid = launch_with_config($config);
+$pid = launch_with_config($config);
 
-my $ws1 = fresh_workspace;
-my $first = open_window;
-my $ws2 = fresh_workspace;
-my $second = open_window;
+$ws1 = fresh_workspace;
+$first = open_window;
+$ws2 = fresh_workspace;
+$second = open_window;
 
 send_net_active_window($first->id);
 sync_with_i3;
@@ -154,18 +156,18 @@ exit_gracefully($pid);
 #    check that nothing happens.
 #####################################################################
 
-my $config = <<EOT;
+$config = <<EOT;
 # i3 config file (v4)
 font -misc-fixed-medium-r-normal--13-120-75-75-C-70-iso10646-1
 
 focus_on_window_activation none
 EOT
 
-my $pid = launch_with_config($config);
+$pid = launch_with_config($config);
 
 my $ws = fresh_workspace;
-my $first = open_window;
-my $second = open_window;
+$first = open_window;
+$second = open_window;
 
 send_net_active_window($first->id);
 sync_with_i3;
@@ -180,19 +182,19 @@ exit_gracefully($pid);
 #    visible, check that nothing happens.
 #####################################################################
 
-my $config = <<EOT;
+$config = <<EOT;
 # i3 config file (v4)
 font -misc-fixed-medium-r-normal--13-120-75-75-C-70-iso10646-1
 
 focus_on_window_activation none
 EOT
 
-my $pid = launch_with_config($config);
+$pid = launch_with_config($config);
 
-my $ws1 = fresh_workspace;
-my $first = open_window;
-my $ws2 = fresh_workspace;
-my $second = open_window;
+$ws1 = fresh_workspace;
+$first = open_window;
+$ws2 = fresh_workspace;
+$second = open_window;
 
 send_net_active_window($first->id);
 sync_with_i3;
diff --git a/testcases/t/242-no-focus.t b/testcases/t/242-no-focus.t
index b3983436..143ae5cf 100644
--- a/testcases/t/242-no-focus.t
+++ b/testcases/t/242-no-focus.t
@@ -18,21 +18,23 @@
 # Ticket: #1416
 use i3test i3_autostart => 0;
 
+my ($config, $pid, $ws, $first, $second, $focused);
+
 #####################################################################
 # 1: open a window and check that it takes focus
 #####################################################################
 
-my $config = <<EOT;
+$config = <<EOT;
 # i3 config file (v4)
 font -misc-fixed-medium-r-normal--13-120-75-75-C-70-iso10646-1
 EOT
 
-my $pid = launch_with_config($config);
+$pid = launch_with_config($config);
  
-my $ws = fresh_workspace;
-my $first = open_window;
-my $focused = get_focused($ws);
-my $second = open_window;
+$ws = fresh_workspace;
+$first = open_window;
+$focused = get_focused($ws);
+$second = open_window;
 
 isnt(get_focused($ws), $focused, 'focus has changed');
 
@@ -43,19 +45,19 @@ exit_gracefully($pid);
 #    it doesn't take focus
 #####################################################################
 
-my $config = <<EOT;
+$config = <<EOT;
 # i3 config file (v4)
 font -misc-fixed-medium-r-normal--13-120-75-75-C-70-iso10646-1
 
 no_focus [instance=notme]
 EOT
 
-my $pid = launch_with_config($config);
+$pid = launch_with_config($config);
  
-my $ws = fresh_workspace;
-my $first = open_window;
-my $focused = get_focused($ws);
-my $second = open_window(wm_class => 'notme');
+$ws = fresh_workspace;
+$first = open_window;
+$focused = get_focused($ws);
+$second = open_window(wm_class => 'notme');
 
 is(get_focused($ws), $focused, 'focus has not changed');