diff --git a/chain/types/mock/chain.go b/chain/types/mock/chain.go
index e4bb2fcee..c69f7f56f 100644
--- a/chain/types/mock/chain.go
+++ b/chain/types/mock/chain.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package mock
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"crypto/rand"
 	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-address"
@@ -24,15 +25,7 @@ func Address(i uint64) address.Address {
 }
 
 func MkMessage(from, to address.Address, nonce uint64, w *wallet.LocalWallet) *types.SignedMessage {
-	msg := &types.Message{
-		To:         to,
-		From:       from,
-		Value:      types.NewInt(1),
-		Nonce:      nonce,
-		GasLimit:   1000000,
-		GasFeeCap:  types.NewInt(100),
-		GasPremium: types.NewInt(1),
-	}
+	msg := UnsignedMessage(from, to, nonce)
 
 	sig, err := w.WalletSign(context.TODO(), from, msg.Cid().Bytes(), api.MsgMeta{})
 	if err != nil {
@@ -96,3 +89,30 @@ func TipSet(blks ...*types.BlockHeader) *types.TipSet {
 	}
 	return ts
 }
+
+func RandomActorAddress() (*address.Address, error) {
+	bytes := make([]byte, 32)
+	_, err := rand.Read(bytes)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	addr, err := address.NewActorAddress(bytes)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return &addr, nil
+}
+
+func UnsignedMessage(from, to address.Address, nonce uint64) *types.Message {
+	return &types.Message{
+		To:         to,
+		From:       from,
+		Value:      types.NewInt(1),
+		Nonce:      nonce,
+		GasLimit:   1000000,
+		GasFeeCap:  types.NewInt(100),
+		GasPremium: types.NewInt(1),
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cli/chain.go b/cli/chain.go
index 0cbdaa0f7..63aa79483 100644
--- a/cli/chain.go
+++ b/cli/chain.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/hex"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path"
@@ -67,6 +68,8 @@ var ChainHeadCmd = &cli.Command{
 	Name:  "head",
 	Usage: "Print chain head",
 	Action: func(cctx *cli.Context) error {
+		afmt := NewAppFmt(cctx.App)
+
 		api, closer, err := GetFullNodeAPI(cctx)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -80,7 +83,7 @@ var ChainHeadCmd = &cli.Command{
 		}
 
 		for _, c := range head.Cids() {
-			fmt.Println(c)
+			afmt.Println(c)
 		}
 		return nil
 	},
@@ -97,6 +100,8 @@ var ChainGetBlock = &cli.Command{
 		},
 	},
 	Action: func(cctx *cli.Context) error {
+		afmt := NewAppFmt(cctx.App)
+
 		api, closer, err := GetFullNodeAPI(cctx)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -124,7 +129,7 @@ var ChainGetBlock = &cli.Command{
 				return err
 			}
 
-			fmt.Println(string(out))
+			afmt.Println(string(out))
 			return nil
 		}
 
@@ -163,9 +168,8 @@ var ChainGetBlock = &cli.Command{
 			return err
 		}
 
-		fmt.Println(string(out))
+		afmt.Println(string(out))
 		return nil
-
 	},
 }
 
@@ -182,6 +186,8 @@ var ChainReadObjCmd = &cli.Command{
 	Usage:     "Read the raw bytes of an object",
 	ArgsUsage: "[objectCid]",
 	Action: func(cctx *cli.Context) error {
+		afmt := NewAppFmt(cctx.App)
+
 		api, closer, err := GetFullNodeAPI(cctx)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -199,7 +205,7 @@ var ChainReadObjCmd = &cli.Command{
 			return err
 		}
 
-		fmt.Printf("%x\n", obj)
+		afmt.Printf("%x\n", obj)
 		return nil
 	},
 }
@@ -215,6 +221,8 @@ var ChainDeleteObjCmd = &cli.Command{
 		},
 	},
 	Action: func(cctx *cli.Context) error {
+		afmt := NewAppFmt(cctx.App)
+
 		api, closer, err := GetFullNodeAPI(cctx)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -236,7 +244,7 @@ var ChainDeleteObjCmd = &cli.Command{
 			return err
 		}
 
-		fmt.Printf("Obj %s deleted\n", c.String())
+		afmt.Printf("Obj %s deleted\n", c.String())
 		return nil
 	},
 }
@@ -257,6 +265,7 @@ var ChainStatObjCmd = &cli.Command{
 		},
 	},
 	Action: func(cctx *cli.Context) error {
+		afmt := NewAppFmt(cctx.App)
 		api, closer, err := GetFullNodeAPI(cctx)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -282,8 +291,8 @@ var ChainStatObjCmd = &cli.Command{
 			return err
 		}
 
-		fmt.Printf("Links: %d\n", stats.Links)
-		fmt.Printf("Size: %s (%d)\n", types.SizeStr(types.NewInt(stats.Size)), stats.Size)
+		afmt.Printf("Links: %d\n", stats.Links)
+		afmt.Printf("Size: %s (%d)\n", types.SizeStr(types.NewInt(stats.Size)), stats.Size)
 		return nil
 	},
 }
@@ -293,6 +302,8 @@ var ChainGetMsgCmd = &cli.Command{
 	Usage:     "Get and print a message by its cid",
 	ArgsUsage: "[messageCid]",
 	Action: func(cctx *cli.Context) error {
+		afmt := NewAppFmt(cctx.App)
+
 		if !cctx.Args().Present() {
 			return fmt.Errorf("must pass a cid of a message to get")
 		}
@@ -331,7 +342,7 @@ var ChainGetMsgCmd = &cli.Command{
 			return err
 		}
 
-		fmt.Println(string(enc))
+		afmt.Println(string(enc))
 		return nil
 	},
 }
@@ -406,6 +417,7 @@ var ChainInspectUsage = &cli.Command{
 		},
 	},
 	Action: func(cctx *cli.Context) error {
+		afmt := NewAppFmt(cctx.App)
 		api, closer, err := GetFullNodeAPI(cctx)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -507,23 +519,23 @@ var ChainInspectUsage = &cli.Command{
 
 		numRes := cctx.Int("num-results")
 
-		fmt.Printf("Total Gas Limit: %d\n", sum)
-		fmt.Printf("By Sender:\n")
+		afmt.Printf("Total Gas Limit: %d\n", sum)
+		afmt.Printf("By Sender:\n")
 		for i := 0; i < numRes && i < len(senderVals); i++ {
 			sv := senderVals[i]
-			fmt.Printf("%s\t%0.2f%%\t(total: %d, count: %d)\n", sv.Key, (100*float64(sv.Gas))/float64(sum), sv.Gas, bySenderC[sv.Key])
+			afmt.Printf("%s\t%0.2f%%\t(total: %d, count: %d)\n", sv.Key, (100*float64(sv.Gas))/float64(sum), sv.Gas, bySenderC[sv.Key])
 		}
-		fmt.Println()
-		fmt.Printf("By Receiver:\n")
+		afmt.Println()
+		afmt.Printf("By Receiver:\n")
 		for i := 0; i < numRes && i < len(destVals); i++ {
 			sv := destVals[i]
-			fmt.Printf("%s\t%0.2f%%\t(total: %d, count: %d)\n", sv.Key, (100*float64(sv.Gas))/float64(sum), sv.Gas, byDestC[sv.Key])
+			afmt.Printf("%s\t%0.2f%%\t(total: %d, count: %d)\n", sv.Key, (100*float64(sv.Gas))/float64(sum), sv.Gas, byDestC[sv.Key])
 		}
-		fmt.Println()
-		fmt.Printf("By Method:\n")
+		afmt.Println()
+		afmt.Printf("By Method:\n")
 		for i := 0; i < numRes && i < len(methodVals); i++ {
 			sv := methodVals[i]
-			fmt.Printf("%s\t%0.2f%%\t(total: %d, count: %d)\n", sv.Key, (100*float64(sv.Gas))/float64(sum), sv.Gas, byMethodC[sv.Key])
+			afmt.Printf("%s\t%0.2f%%\t(total: %d, count: %d)\n", sv.Key, (100*float64(sv.Gas))/float64(sum), sv.Gas, byMethodC[sv.Key])
 		}
 
 		return nil
@@ -548,6 +560,7 @@ var ChainListCmd = &cli.Command{
 		},
 	},
 	Action: func(cctx *cli.Context) error {
+		afmt := NewAppFmt(cctx.App)
 		api, closer, err := GetFullNodeAPI(cctx)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -595,7 +608,7 @@ var ChainListCmd = &cli.Command{
 			tss = otss
 			for i, ts := range tss {
 				pbf := ts.Blocks()[0].ParentBaseFee
-				fmt.Printf("%d: %d blocks (baseFee: %s -> maxFee: %s)\n", ts.Height(), len(ts.Blocks()), ts.Blocks()[0].ParentBaseFee, types.FIL(types.BigMul(pbf, types.NewInt(uint64(build.BlockGasLimit)))))
+				afmt.Printf("%d: %d blocks (baseFee: %s -> maxFee: %s)\n", ts.Height(), len(ts.Blocks()), ts.Blocks()[0].ParentBaseFee, types.FIL(types.BigMul(pbf, types.NewInt(uint64(build.BlockGasLimit)))))
 
 				for _, b := range ts.Blocks() {
 					msgs, err := api.ChainGetBlockMessages(ctx, b.Cid())
@@ -621,7 +634,7 @@ var ChainListCmd = &cli.Command{
 						avgpremium = big.Div(psum, big.NewInt(int64(lenmsgs)))
 					}
 
-					fmt.Printf("\t%s: \t%d msgs, gasLimit: %d / %d (%0.2f%%), avgPremium: %s\n", b.Miner, len(msgs.BlsMessages)+len(msgs.SecpkMessages), limitSum, build.BlockGasLimit, 100*float64(limitSum)/float64(build.BlockGasLimit), avgpremium)
+					afmt.Printf("\t%s: \t%d msgs, gasLimit: %d / %d (%0.2f%%), avgPremium: %s\n", b.Miner, len(msgs.BlsMessages)+len(msgs.SecpkMessages), limitSum, build.BlockGasLimit, 100*float64(limitSum)/float64(build.BlockGasLimit), avgpremium)
 				}
 				if i < len(tss)-1 {
 					msgs, err := api.ChainGetParentMessages(ctx, tss[i+1].Blocks()[0].Cid())
@@ -646,13 +659,13 @@ var ChainListCmd = &cli.Command{
 					gasEfficiency := 100 * float64(gasUsed) / float64(limitSum)
 					gasCapacity := 100 * float64(limitSum) / float64(build.BlockGasLimit)
 
-					fmt.Printf("\ttipset: \t%d msgs, %d (%0.2f%%) / %d (%0.2f%%)\n", len(msgs), gasUsed, gasEfficiency, limitSum, gasCapacity)
+					afmt.Printf("\ttipset: \t%d msgs, %d (%0.2f%%) / %d (%0.2f%%)\n", len(msgs), gasUsed, gasEfficiency, limitSum, gasCapacity)
 				}
-				fmt.Println()
+				afmt.Println()
 			}
 		} else {
 			for i := len(tss) - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
-				printTipSet(cctx.String("format"), tss[i])
+				printTipSet(cctx.String("format"), tss[i], afmt)
 			}
 		}
 		return nil
@@ -707,6 +720,8 @@ var ChainGetCmd = &cli.Command{
    - account-state
 `,
 	Action: func(cctx *cli.Context) error {
+		afmt := NewAppFmt(cctx.App)
+
 		api, closer, err := GetFullNodeAPI(cctx)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -725,7 +740,7 @@ var ChainGetCmd = &cli.Command{
 
 			p = "/ipfs/" + ts.ParentState().String() + p
 			if cctx.Bool("verbose") {
-				fmt.Println(p)
+				afmt.Println(p)
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -740,7 +755,7 @@ var ChainGetCmd = &cli.Command{
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
-			fmt.Println(string(b))
+			afmt.Println(string(b))
 			return nil
 		}
 
@@ -782,7 +797,7 @@ var ChainGetCmd = &cli.Command{
 		}
 
 		if cbu == nil {
-			fmt.Printf("%x", raw)
+			afmt.Printf("%x", raw)
 			return nil
 		}
 
@@ -794,7 +809,7 @@ var ChainGetCmd = &cli.Command{
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		fmt.Println(string(b))
+		afmt.Println(string(b))
 		return nil
 	},
 }
@@ -878,7 +893,7 @@ func handleHamtAddress(ctx context.Context, api v0api.FullNode, r cid.Cid) error
 	})
 }
 
-func printTipSet(format string, ts *types.TipSet) {
+func printTipSet(format string, ts *types.TipSet, afmt *AppFmt) {
 	format = strings.ReplaceAll(format, "<height>", fmt.Sprint(ts.Height()))
 	format = strings.ReplaceAll(format, "<time>", time.Unix(int64(ts.MinTimestamp()), 0).Format(time.Stamp))
 	blks := "[ "
@@ -897,7 +912,7 @@ func printTipSet(format string, ts *types.TipSet) {
 	format = strings.ReplaceAll(format, "<blocks>", blks)
 	format = strings.ReplaceAll(format, "<weight>", fmt.Sprint(ts.Blocks()[0].ParentWeight))
 
-	fmt.Println(format)
+	afmt.Println(format)
 }
 
 var ChainBisectCmd = &cli.Command{
@@ -918,6 +933,8 @@ var ChainBisectCmd = &cli.Command{
    For special path elements see 'chain get' help
 `,
 	Action: func(cctx *cli.Context) error {
+		afmt := NewAppFmt(cctx.App)
+
 		api, closer, err := GetFullNodeAPI(cctx)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -961,7 +978,7 @@ var ChainBisectCmd = &cli.Command{
 			}
 
 			path := "/ipld/" + midTs.ParentState().String() + "/" + subPath
-			fmt.Printf("* Testing %d (%d - %d) (%s): ", mid, start, end, path)
+			afmt.Printf("* Testing %d (%d - %d) (%s): ", mid, start, end, path)
 
 			nd, err := api.ChainGetNode(ctx, path)
 			if err != nil {
@@ -988,32 +1005,32 @@ var ChainBisectCmd = &cli.Command{
 				if strings.TrimSpace(out.String()) != "false" {
 					end = mid
 					highest = midTs
-					fmt.Println("true")
+					afmt.Println("true")
 				} else {
 					start = mid
-					fmt.Printf("false (cli)\n")
+					afmt.Printf("false (cli)\n")
 				}
 			case *exec.ExitError:
 				if len(serr.String()) > 0 {
-					fmt.Println("error")
+					afmt.Println("error")
 
-					fmt.Printf("> Command: %s\n---->\n", strings.Join(cctx.Args().Slice()[3:], " "))
-					fmt.Println(string(b))
-					fmt.Println("<----")
+					afmt.Printf("> Command: %s\n---->\n", strings.Join(cctx.Args().Slice()[3:], " "))
+					afmt.Println(string(b))
+					afmt.Println("<----")
 					return xerrors.Errorf("error running bisect check: %s", serr.String())
 				}
 
 				start = mid
-				fmt.Println("false")
+				afmt.Println("false")
 			default:
 				return err
 			}
 
 			if start == end {
 				if strings.TrimSpace(out.String()) == "true" {
-					fmt.Println(midTs.Height())
+					afmt.Println(midTs.Height())
 				} else {
-					fmt.Println(prev)
+					afmt.Println(prev)
 				}
 				return nil
 			}
@@ -1058,7 +1075,7 @@ var ChainExportCmd = &cli.Command{
 			return fmt.Errorf("\"recent-stateroots\" has to be greater than %d", build.Finality)
 		}
 
-		fi, err := os.Create(cctx.Args().First())
+		fi, err := createExportFile(cctx.App, cctx.Args().First())
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -1118,6 +1135,8 @@ var SlashConsensusFault = &cli.Command{
 		},
 	},
 	Action: func(cctx *cli.Context) error {
+		afmt := NewAppFmt(cctx.App)
+
 		srv, err := GetFullNodeServices(cctx)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -1222,7 +1241,7 @@ var SlashConsensusFault = &cli.Command{
 			return err
 		}
 
-		fmt.Println(smsg.Cid())
+		afmt.Println(smsg.Cid())
 
 		return nil
 	},
@@ -1232,6 +1251,8 @@ var ChainGasPriceCmd = &cli.Command{
 	Name:  "gas-price",
 	Usage: "Estimate gas prices",
 	Action: func(cctx *cli.Context) error {
+		afmt := NewAppFmt(cctx.App)
+
 		api, closer, err := GetFullNodeAPI(cctx)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -1248,7 +1269,7 @@ var ChainGasPriceCmd = &cli.Command{
 				return err
 			}
 
-			fmt.Printf("%d blocks: %s (%s)\n", nblocks, est, types.FIL(est))
+			afmt.Printf("%d blocks: %s (%s)\n", nblocks, est, types.FIL(est))
 		}
 
 		return nil
@@ -1278,6 +1299,8 @@ var chainDecodeParamsCmd = &cli.Command{
 		},
 	},
 	Action: func(cctx *cli.Context) error {
+		afmt := NewAppFmt(cctx.App)
+
 		api, closer, err := GetFullNodeAPI(cctx)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -1329,7 +1352,7 @@ var chainDecodeParamsCmd = &cli.Command{
 			return err
 		}
 
-		fmt.Println(pstr)
+		afmt.Println(pstr)
 
 		return nil
 	},
@@ -1362,6 +1385,8 @@ var chainEncodeParamsCmd = &cli.Command{
 		},
 	},
 	Action: func(cctx *cli.Context) error {
+		afmt := NewAppFmt(cctx.App)
+
 		if cctx.Args().Len() != 3 {
 			return ShowHelp(cctx, fmt.Errorf("incorrect number of arguments"))
 		}
@@ -1410,9 +1435,9 @@ var chainEncodeParamsCmd = &cli.Command{
 
 		switch cctx.String("encoding") {
 		case "base64", "b64":
-			fmt.Println(base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString(p))
+			afmt.Println(base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString(p))
 		case "hex":
-			fmt.Println(hex.EncodeToString(p))
+			afmt.Println(hex.EncodeToString(p))
 		default:
 			return xerrors.Errorf("unknown encoding")
 		}
@@ -1420,3 +1445,16 @@ var chainEncodeParamsCmd = &cli.Command{
 		return nil
 	},
 }
+
+// createExportFile returns the export file handle from the app metadata, or creates a new file if it doesn't exist
+func createExportFile(app *cli.App, path string) (io.WriteCloser, error) {
+	if wc, ok := app.Metadata["export-file"]; ok {
+		return wc.(io.WriteCloser), nil
+	}
+
+	fi, err := os.Create(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return fi, nil
+}
diff --git a/cli/chain_test.go b/cli/chain_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f3da80197
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/chain_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,538 @@
+package cli
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types/abi"
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types/big"
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/lotus/api"
+	types "github.com/filecoin-project/lotus/chain/types"
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/lotus/chain/types/mock"
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/specs-actors/v7/actors/builtin"
+	"github.com/golang/mock/gomock"
+	cid "github.com/ipfs/go-cid"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+func TestChainHead(t *testing.T) {
+	app, mockApi, buf, done := NewMockAppWithFullAPI(t, WithCategory("chain", ChainHeadCmd))
+	defer done()
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+
+	ts := mock.TipSet(mock.MkBlock(nil, 0, 0))
+	gomock.InOrder(
+		mockApi.EXPECT().ChainHead(ctx).Return(ts, nil),
+	)
+
+	err := app.Run([]string{"chain", "head"})
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	assert.Regexp(t, regexp.MustCompile(ts.Cids()[0].String()), buf.String())
+}
+
+func TestGetBlock(t *testing.T) {
+	app, mockApi, buf, done := NewMockAppWithFullAPI(t, WithCategory("chain", ChainGetBlock))
+	defer done()
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+
+	block := mock.MkBlock(nil, 0, 0)
+	blockMsgs := api.BlockMessages{}
+
+	gomock.InOrder(
+		mockApi.EXPECT().ChainGetBlock(ctx, block.Cid()).Return(block, nil),
+		mockApi.EXPECT().ChainGetBlockMessages(ctx, block.Cid()).Return(&blockMsgs, nil),
+		mockApi.EXPECT().ChainGetParentMessages(ctx, block.Cid()).Return([]api.Message{}, nil),
+		mockApi.EXPECT().ChainGetParentReceipts(ctx, block.Cid()).Return([]*types.MessageReceipt{}, nil),
+	)
+
+	err := app.Run([]string{"chain", "getblock", block.Cid().String()})
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// expected output format
+	out := struct {
+		types.BlockHeader
+		BlsMessages    []*types.Message
+		SecpkMessages  []*types.SignedMessage
+		ParentReceipts []*types.MessageReceipt
+		ParentMessages []cid.Cid
+	}{}
+
+	err = json.Unmarshal(buf.Bytes(), &out)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	assert.True(t, block.Cid().Equals(out.Cid()))
+}
+
+func TestReadOjb(t *testing.T) {
+	app, mockApi, buf, done := NewMockAppWithFullAPI(t, WithCategory("chain", ChainReadObjCmd))
+	defer done()
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+
+	block := mock.MkBlock(nil, 0, 0)
+	obj := new(bytes.Buffer)
+	err := block.MarshalCBOR(obj)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	gomock.InOrder(
+		mockApi.EXPECT().ChainReadObj(ctx, block.Cid()).Return(obj.Bytes(), nil),
+	)
+
+	err = app.Run([]string{"chain", "read-obj", block.Cid().String()})
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	assert.Equal(t, buf.String(), fmt.Sprintf("%x\n", obj.Bytes()))
+}
+
+func TestChainDeleteObj(t *testing.T) {
+	cmd := WithCategory("chain", ChainDeleteObjCmd)
+	block := mock.MkBlock(nil, 0, 0)
+
+	// given no force flag, it should return an error and no API calls should be made
+	t.Run("no-really-do-it", func(t *testing.T) {
+		app, _, _, done := NewMockAppWithFullAPI(t, cmd)
+		defer done()
+
+		err := app.Run([]string{"chain", "delete-obj", block.Cid().String()})
+		assert.Error(t, err)
+	})
+
+	// given a force flag, it calls API delete
+	t.Run("really-do-it", func(t *testing.T) {
+		app, mockApi, buf, done := NewMockAppWithFullAPI(t, cmd)
+		defer done()
+
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		defer cancel()
+
+		gomock.InOrder(
+			mockApi.EXPECT().ChainDeleteObj(ctx, block.Cid()).Return(nil),
+		)
+
+		err := app.Run([]string{"chain", "delete-obj", "--really-do-it=true", block.Cid().String()})
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+		assert.Contains(t, buf.String(), block.Cid().String())
+	})
+}
+
+func TestChainStatObj(t *testing.T) {
+	cmd := WithCategory("chain", ChainStatObjCmd)
+	block := mock.MkBlock(nil, 0, 0)
+	stat := api.ObjStat{Size: 123, Links: 321}
+
+	checkOutput := func(buf *bytes.Buffer) {
+		out := buf.String()
+		outSplit := strings.Split(out, "\n")
+
+		assert.Contains(t, outSplit[0], fmt.Sprintf("%d", stat.Links))
+		assert.Contains(t, outSplit[1], fmt.Sprintf("%d", stat.Size))
+	}
+
+	// given no --base flag, it calls ChainStatObj with base=cid.Undef
+	t.Run("no-base", func(t *testing.T) {
+		app, mockApi, buf, done := NewMockAppWithFullAPI(t, cmd)
+		defer done()
+
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		defer cancel()
+
+		gomock.InOrder(
+			mockApi.EXPECT().ChainStatObj(ctx, block.Cid(), cid.Undef).Return(stat, nil),
+		)
+
+		err := app.Run([]string{"chain", "stat-obj", block.Cid().String()})
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+		checkOutput(buf)
+	})
+
+	// given a --base flag, it calls ChainStatObj with that base
+	t.Run("base", func(t *testing.T) {
+		app, mockApi, buf, done := NewMockAppWithFullAPI(t, cmd)
+		defer done()
+
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		defer cancel()
+
+		gomock.InOrder(
+			mockApi.EXPECT().ChainStatObj(ctx, block.Cid(), block.Cid()).Return(stat, nil),
+		)
+
+		err := app.Run([]string{"chain", "stat-obj", fmt.Sprintf("-base=%s", block.Cid().String()), block.Cid().String()})
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+		checkOutput(buf)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestChainGetMsg(t *testing.T) {
+	app, mockApi, buf, done := NewMockAppWithFullAPI(t, WithCategory("chain", ChainGetMsgCmd))
+	defer done()
+
+	from, err := mock.RandomActorAddress()
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	to, err := mock.RandomActorAddress()
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	msg := mock.UnsignedMessage(*from, *to, 0)
+
+	obj := new(bytes.Buffer)
+	err = msg.MarshalCBOR(obj)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+
+	gomock.InOrder(
+		mockApi.EXPECT().ChainReadObj(ctx, msg.Cid()).Return(obj.Bytes(), nil),
+	)
+
+	err = app.Run([]string{"chain", "getmessage", msg.Cid().String()})
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	var out types.Message
+	err = json.Unmarshal(buf.Bytes(), &out)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	assert.Equal(t, *msg, out)
+}
+
+func TestSetHead(t *testing.T) {
+	cmd := WithCategory("chain", ChainSetHeadCmd)
+	genesis := mock.TipSet(mock.MkBlock(nil, 0, 0))
+	ts := mock.TipSet(mock.MkBlock(genesis, 1, 0))
+	epoch := abi.ChainEpoch(uint64(0))
+
+	// given the -genesis flag, resets head to genesis ignoring the provided ts positional argument
+	t.Run("genesis", func(t *testing.T) {
+		app, mockApi, _, done := NewMockAppWithFullAPI(t, cmd)
+		defer done()
+
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		defer cancel()
+
+		gomock.InOrder(
+			mockApi.EXPECT().ChainGetGenesis(ctx).Return(genesis, nil),
+			mockApi.EXPECT().ChainSetHead(ctx, genesis.Key()).Return(nil),
+		)
+
+		err := app.Run([]string{"chain", "sethead", "-genesis=true", ts.Key().String()})
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+	})
+
+	// given the -epoch flag, resets head to given epoch, ignoring the provided ts positional argument
+	t.Run("epoch", func(t *testing.T) {
+		app, mockApi, _, done := NewMockAppWithFullAPI(t, cmd)
+		defer done()
+
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		defer cancel()
+
+		gomock.InOrder(
+			mockApi.EXPECT().ChainGetTipSetByHeight(ctx, epoch, types.EmptyTSK).Return(genesis, nil),
+			mockApi.EXPECT().ChainSetHead(ctx, genesis.Key()).Return(nil),
+		)
+
+		err := app.Run([]string{"chain", "sethead", fmt.Sprintf("-epoch=%s", epoch), ts.Key().String()})
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+	})
+
+	// given no flag, resets the head to given tipset key
+	t.Run("default", func(t *testing.T) {
+		app, mockApi, _, done := NewMockAppWithFullAPI(t, cmd)
+		defer done()
+
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		defer cancel()
+
+		gomock.InOrder(
+			mockApi.EXPECT().ChainGetBlock(ctx, ts.Key().Cids()[0]).Return(ts.Blocks()[0], nil),
+			mockApi.EXPECT().ChainSetHead(ctx, ts.Key()).Return(nil),
+		)
+
+		// ts.Key should be passed as an array of arguments (CIDs)
+		// since we have only one CID in the key, this is ok
+		err := app.Run([]string{"chain", "sethead", ts.Key().Cids()[0].String()})
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestInspectUsage(t *testing.T) {
+	cmd := WithCategory("chain", ChainInspectUsage)
+	ts := mock.TipSet(mock.MkBlock(nil, 0, 0))
+
+	from, err := mock.RandomActorAddress()
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	to, err := mock.RandomActorAddress()
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	msg := mock.UnsignedMessage(*from, *to, 0)
+	msgs := []api.Message{{Cid: msg.Cid(), Message: msg}}
+
+	actor := &types.Actor{
+		Code:    builtin.StorageMarketActorCodeID,
+		Nonce:   0,
+		Balance: big.NewInt(1000000000),
+	}
+
+	t.Run("default", func(t *testing.T) {
+		app, mockApi, buf, done := NewMockAppWithFullAPI(t, cmd)
+		defer done()
+
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		defer cancel()
+
+		gomock.InOrder(
+			mockApi.EXPECT().ChainHead(ctx).Return(ts, nil),
+			mockApi.EXPECT().ChainGetParentMessages(ctx, ts.Blocks()[0].Cid()).Return(msgs, nil),
+			mockApi.EXPECT().ChainGetTipSet(ctx, ts.Parents()).Return(nil, nil),
+			mockApi.EXPECT().StateGetActor(ctx, *to, ts.Key()).Return(actor, nil),
+		)
+
+		err := app.Run([]string{"chain", "inspect-usage"})
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+		out := buf.String()
+
+		// output is plaintext, had to do string matching
+		assert.Contains(t, out, from.String())
+		assert.Contains(t, out, to.String())
+		assert.Contains(t, out, "Send")
+	})
+}
+
+func TestChainList(t *testing.T) {
+	cmd := WithCategory("chain", ChainListCmd)
+	genesis := mock.TipSet(mock.MkBlock(nil, 0, 0))
+	blk := mock.MkBlock(genesis, 0, 0)
+	blk.Height = 1
+	head := mock.TipSet(blk)
+
+	head.Height()
+
+	from, err := mock.RandomActorAddress()
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	to, err := mock.RandomActorAddress()
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	msg := mock.UnsignedMessage(*from, *to, 0)
+	msgs := []api.Message{{Cid: msg.Cid(), Message: msg}}
+	blockMsgs := &api.BlockMessages{}
+	receipts := []*types.MessageReceipt{}
+
+	t.Run("default", func(t *testing.T) {
+		app, mockApi, buf, done := NewMockAppWithFullAPI(t, cmd)
+		defer done()
+
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		defer cancel()
+
+		// same method gets called mocked multiple times bcs it's called in a for loop for all tipsets (2 in this case)
+		gomock.InOrder(
+			mockApi.EXPECT().ChainHead(ctx).Return(head, nil),
+			mockApi.EXPECT().ChainGetTipSet(ctx, head.Parents()).Return(genesis, nil),
+			mockApi.EXPECT().ChainGetBlockMessages(ctx, genesis.Blocks()[0].Cid()).Return(blockMsgs, nil),
+			mockApi.EXPECT().ChainGetParentMessages(ctx, head.Blocks()[0].Cid()).Return(msgs, nil),
+			mockApi.EXPECT().ChainGetParentReceipts(ctx, head.Blocks()[0].Cid()).Return(receipts, nil),
+			mockApi.EXPECT().ChainGetBlockMessages(ctx, head.Blocks()[0].Cid()).Return(blockMsgs, nil),
+		)
+
+		err := app.Run([]string{"chain", "love", "--gas-stats=true"}) // chain is love ❤️
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+		out := buf.String()
+
+		// should print out 2 blocks, indexed with 0: and 1:
+		assert.Contains(t, out, "0:")
+		assert.Contains(t, out, "1:")
+	})
+}
+
+func TestChainGet(t *testing.T) {
+	blk := mock.MkBlock(nil, 0, 0)
+	ts := mock.TipSet(blk)
+	cmd := WithCategory("chain", ChainGetCmd)
+
+	// given no -as-type flag & ipfs prefix, should print object as JSON if it's marshalable
+	t.Run("ipfs", func(t *testing.T) {
+		path := fmt.Sprintf("/ipfs/%s", blk.Cid().String())
+
+		app, mockApi, buf, done := NewMockAppWithFullAPI(t, cmd)
+		defer done()
+
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		defer cancel()
+
+		gomock.InOrder(
+			mockApi.EXPECT().ChainGetNode(ctx, path).Return(&api.IpldObject{Cid: blk.Cid(), Obj: blk}, nil),
+		)
+
+		err := app.Run([]string{"chain", "get", path})
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+		var out types.BlockHeader
+		err = json.Unmarshal(buf.Bytes(), &out)
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, *blk, out)
+	})
+
+	// given no -as-type flag & ipfs prefix, should traverse from head.ParentStateRoot and print JSON if it's marshalable
+	t.Run("pstate", func(t *testing.T) {
+		p1 := "/pstate"
+		p2 := fmt.Sprintf("/ipfs/%s", ts.ParentState().String())
+
+		app, mockApi, buf, done := NewMockAppWithFullAPI(t, cmd)
+		defer done()
+
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		defer cancel()
+
+		gomock.InOrder(
+			mockApi.EXPECT().ChainHead(ctx).Return(ts, nil),
+			mockApi.EXPECT().ChainGetNode(ctx, p2).Return(&api.IpldObject{Cid: blk.Cid(), Obj: blk}, nil),
+		)
+
+		err := app.Run([]string{"chain", "get", p1})
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+		var out types.BlockHeader
+		err = json.Unmarshal(buf.Bytes(), &out)
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, *blk, out)
+	})
+
+	// given an unknown -as-type value, return an error
+	t.Run("unknown-type", func(t *testing.T) {
+		app, mockApi, _, done := NewMockAppWithFullAPI(t, cmd)
+		defer done()
+
+		path := fmt.Sprintf("/ipfs/%s", blk.Cid().String())
+
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		defer cancel()
+
+		gomock.InOrder(
+			mockApi.EXPECT().ChainGetNode(ctx, path).Return(&api.IpldObject{Cid: blk.Cid(), Obj: blk}, nil),
+		)
+
+		err := app.Run([]string{"chain", "get", "-as-type=foo", path})
+		assert.Error(t, err)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestChainBisect(t *testing.T) {
+	blk1 := mock.MkBlock(nil, 0, 0)
+	blk1.Height = 0
+	ts1 := mock.TipSet(blk1)
+
+	blk2 := mock.MkBlock(ts1, 0, 0)
+	blk2.Height = 1
+	ts2 := mock.TipSet(blk2)
+
+	subpath := "whatever/its/mocked"
+	minHeight := uint64(0)
+	maxHeight := uint64(1)
+	shell := "echo"
+
+	path := fmt.Sprintf("/ipld/%s/%s", ts2.ParentState(), subpath)
+
+	cmd := WithCategory("chain", ChainBisectCmd)
+
+	app, mockApi, buf, done := NewMockAppWithFullAPI(t, cmd)
+	defer done()
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+
+	gomock.InOrder(
+		mockApi.EXPECT().ChainGetTipSetByHeight(ctx, abi.ChainEpoch(maxHeight), types.EmptyTSK).Return(ts2, nil),
+		mockApi.EXPECT().ChainGetTipSetByHeight(ctx, abi.ChainEpoch(maxHeight), ts2.Key()).Return(ts2, nil),
+		mockApi.EXPECT().ChainGetNode(ctx, path).Return(&api.IpldObject{Cid: blk2.Cid(), Obj: blk2}, nil),
+	)
+
+	err := app.Run([]string{"chain", "bisect", fmt.Sprintf("%d", minHeight), fmt.Sprintf("%d", maxHeight), subpath, shell})
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	out := buf.String()
+	assert.Contains(t, out, path)
+}
+
+func TestChainExport(t *testing.T) {
+	app, mockApi, _, done := NewMockAppWithFullAPI(t, WithCategory("chain", ChainExportCmd))
+	defer done()
+
+	// export writes to a file, I mocked it so there are no side-effects
+	mockFile := mockExportFile{new(bytes.Buffer)}
+	app.Metadata["export-file"] = mockFile
+
+	blk := mock.MkBlock(nil, 0, 0)
+	ts := mock.TipSet(blk)
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+
+	export := make(chan []byte, 2)
+	expBytes := []byte("whatever")
+	export <- expBytes
+	export <- []byte{} // empty slice means export is complete
+	close(export)
+
+	gomock.InOrder(
+		mockApi.EXPECT().ChainHead(ctx).Return(ts, nil),
+		mockApi.EXPECT().ChainExport(ctx, abi.ChainEpoch(0), false, ts.Key()).Return(export, nil),
+	)
+
+	err := app.Run([]string{"chain", "export", "whatever.car"})
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	assert.Equal(t, expBytes, mockFile.Bytes())
+}
+
+func TestChainGasPrice(t *testing.T) {
+	app, mockApi, buf, done := NewMockAppWithFullAPI(t, WithCategory("chain", ChainGasPriceCmd))
+	defer done()
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+
+	// estimate gas is called with various num blocks in implementation,
+	// so we mock and count how many times it's called, and we expect that many results printed
+	calls := 0
+	mockApi.
+		EXPECT().
+		GasEstimateGasPremium(ctx, gomock.Any(), builtin.SystemActorAddr, int64(10000), types.EmptyTSK).
+		Return(big.NewInt(0), nil).
+		AnyTimes().
+		Do(func(a, b, c, d, e interface{}) { // looks funny, but we don't care about args here, just counting
+			calls++
+		})
+
+	err := app.Run([]string{"chain", "gas-price"})
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	lines := strings.Split(strings.Trim(buf.String(), "\n"), "\n")
+	assert.Equal(t, calls, len(lines))
+}
+
+type mockExportFile struct {
+	*bytes.Buffer
+}
+
+func (mef mockExportFile) Close() error {
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/cli/mocks_test.go b/cli/mocks_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c9cccac08
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/mocks_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+package cli
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/lotus/api"
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/lotus/api/mocks"
+	"github.com/golang/mock/gomock"
+	ucli "github.com/urfave/cli/v2"
+)
+
+// newMockAppWithFullAPI returns a gomock-ed CLI app used for unit tests
+// see cli/util/api.go:GetFullNodeAPI for mock API injection
+func NewMockAppWithFullAPI(t *testing.T, cmd *ucli.Command) (*ucli.App, *mocks.MockFullNode, *bytes.Buffer, func()) {
+	app := ucli.NewApp()
+	app.Commands = ucli.Commands{cmd}
+	app.Setup()
+
+	// create and inject the mock API into app Metadata
+	ctrl := gomock.NewController(t)
+	mockFullNode := mocks.NewMockFullNode(ctrl)
+	var fullNode api.FullNode = mockFullNode
+	app.Metadata["test-full-api"] = fullNode
+
+	// this will only work if the implementation uses the app.Writer,
+	// if it uses fmt.*, it has to be refactored
+	buf := &bytes.Buffer{}
+	app.Writer = buf
+
+	return app, mockFullNode, buf, ctrl.Finish
+}
diff --git a/cli/util/api.go b/cli/util/api.go
index 4a7247b32..d87817bb3 100644
--- a/cli/util/api.go
+++ b/cli/util/api.go
@@ -223,6 +223,11 @@ func GetCommonAPI(ctx *cli.Context) (api.CommonNet, jsonrpc.ClientCloser, error)
 }
 
 func GetFullNodeAPI(ctx *cli.Context) (v0api.FullNode, jsonrpc.ClientCloser, error) {
+	// use the mocked API in CLI unit tests, see cli/mocks_test.go for mock definition
+	if mock, ok := ctx.App.Metadata["test-full-api"]; ok {
+		return &v0api.WrapperV1Full{FullNode: mock.(v1api.FullNode)}, func() {}, nil
+	}
+
 	if tn, ok := ctx.App.Metadata["testnode-full"]; ok {
 		return &v0api.WrapperV1Full{FullNode: tn.(v1api.FullNode)}, func() {}, nil
 	}