diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 4be0c9f..1b1b681 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -10,7 +10,11 @@
 ## Sending pull requests
 
 - use the .jshintrc (in the root of the project)
-- new command line options are generally discouraged
 - ensure style is consistent
+- new command line options are generally discouraged unless there's a *really* good reason
 - add tests for newly added code (and try to mirror directory and file structure if possible)
-- spell check
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+- spell check
+
+*Important:* when fixing a bug, please commit a **failing test** first so that Travis CI (or I can) can show the code failing. Once that commit is in place, then commit the bug fix, so that we can test *before* and *after*.
+
+Remember that you're developing for multiple platforms and versions of node, so if the tests pass on your Mac or Linux or Windows machine, it *may* not pass elsewhere. I personally have Mac and Linux coverage, I need help with Windows tests.
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