Before: Save g:ale_buffer_info let g:ale_buffer_info[347] = {'loclist': [ \ { \ 'lnum': 1, \ 'col': 10, \ 'text': 'Missing semicolon. (semi)', \ }, \ { \ 'lnum': 2, \ 'col': 10, \ 'text': 'Infix operators must be spaced. (space-infix-ops)' \ }, \ { \ 'lnum': 2, \ 'col': 15, \ 'text': 'Missing radix parameter (radix)' \ }, \]} After: Restore Execute(Balloon messages should be shown for the correct lines): AssertEqual \ 'Missing semicolon. (semi)', \ ale#balloon#MessageForPos(347, 1, 1) Execute(Balloon messages should be shown for earlier columns): AssertEqual \ 'Infix operators must be spaced. (space-infix-ops)', \ ale#balloon#MessageForPos(347, 2, 1) Execute(Balloon messages should be shown for later columns): AssertEqual \ 'Missing radix parameter (radix)', \ ale#balloon#MessageForPos(347, 2, 16)