diff --git a/autoload/ale.vim b/autoload/ale.vim
index 5c4a0f55..725a3958 100644
--- a/autoload/ale.vim
+++ b/autoload/ale.vim
@@ -60,23 +60,31 @@ function! ale#ShouldDoNothing(buffer) abort
         return 1
     endif
 
-    " Do nothing for blacklisted files
-    if index(get(g:, 'ale_filetype_blacklist', []), getbufvar(a:buffer, '&filetype')) >= 0
+    let l:filetype = getbufvar(a:buffer, '&filetype')
+
+    " Do nothing when there's no filetype.
+    if l:filetype is# ''
         return 1
     endif
 
-    " Do nothing if running from command mode
+    " Do nothing for blacklisted files.
+    if index(get(g:, 'ale_filetype_blacklist', []), l:filetype) >= 0
+        return 1
+    endif
+
+    " Do nothing if running from command mode.
     if s:getcmdwintype_exists && !empty(getcmdwintype())
         return 1
     endif
 
     let l:filename = fnamemodify(bufname(a:buffer), ':t')
 
+    " Do nothing for directories.
     if l:filename is# '.'
         return 1
     endif
 
-    " Do nothing if running in the sandbox
+    " Do nothing if running in the sandbox.
     if ale#util#InSandbox()
         return 1
     endif
diff --git a/autoload/ale/engine.vim b/autoload/ale/engine.vim
index 5cd12187..f988d1b8 100644
--- a/autoload/ale/engine.vim
+++ b/autoload/ale/engine.vim
@@ -98,11 +98,13 @@ endfunction
 " Register a temporary file to be managed with the ALE engine for
 " a current job run.
 function! ale#engine#ManageFile(buffer, filename) abort
+    call ale#engine#InitBufferInfo(a:buffer)
     call add(g:ale_buffer_info[a:buffer].temporary_file_list, a:filename)
 endfunction
 
 " Same as the above, but manage an entire directory.
 function! ale#engine#ManageDirectory(buffer, directory) abort
+    call ale#engine#InitBufferInfo(a:buffer)
     call add(g:ale_buffer_info[a:buffer].temporary_directory_list, a:directory)
 endfunction
 
diff --git a/test/sign/test_sign_placement.vader b/test/sign/test_sign_placement.vader
index 36f34e16..19267fe7 100644
--- a/test/sign/test_sign_placement.vader
+++ b/test/sign/test_sign_placement.vader
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 Before:
   Save g:ale_set_signs
+  Save g:ale_buffer_info
 
   let g:ale_set_signs = 1
+  let g:ale_buffer_info = {}
 
   call ale#linter#Reset()
   sign unplace *
diff --git a/test/test_alelint_autocmd.vader b/test/test_alelint_autocmd.vader
index d51694ff..5af1cd47 100644
--- a/test/test_alelint_autocmd.vader
+++ b/test/test_alelint_autocmd.vader
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ After:
   catch
   endtry
 
+Given foobar(An empty file):
 Execute(Run a lint cycle, and check that a variable is set in the autocmd):
   augroup VaderTest
     autocmd!
diff --git a/test/test_engine_lsp_response_handling.vader b/test/test_engine_lsp_response_handling.vader
index 4c6fe637..3d317e9c 100644
--- a/test/test_engine_lsp_response_handling.vader
+++ b/test/test_engine_lsp_response_handling.vader
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ After:
   call ale#linter#Reset()
   call ale#engine#ClearLSPData()
 
+Given foobar(An empty file):
 Execute(tsserver syntax error responses should be handled correctly):
   runtime ale_linters/typescript/tsserver.vim
   call ale#test#SetFilename('filename.ts')
diff --git a/test/test_lint_error_delay.vader b/test/test_lint_error_delay.vader
index 05664899..d5397087 100644
--- a/test/test_lint_error_delay.vader
+++ b/test/test_lint_error_delay.vader
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ After:
 
   call ale#ResetErrorDelays()
 
+Given foobar(An empty file):
 Execute(ALE should stop queuing for a while after exceptions are thrown):
   AssertThrows call ale#Queue(100)
   call ale#Queue(100)
diff --git a/test/test_should_do_nothing_conditions.vader b/test/test_should_do_nothing_conditions.vader
index 85874e53..062ab875 100644
--- a/test/test_should_do_nothing_conditions.vader
+++ b/test/test_should_do_nothing_conditions.vader
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ After:
 
   unlet! b:funky_command_created
 
+Given foobar(An empty file):
 Execute(ALE shouldn't do much of anything for ctrlp-funky buffers):
   Assert !ale#ShouldDoNothing(bufnr('')), 'The preliminary check failed'
 
@@ -43,6 +44,16 @@ Execute(ALE shouldn't try to check buffers with '.' as the filename):
 
   Assert ale#ShouldDoNothing(bufnr(''))
 
+Execute(DoNothing should return 0 when the filetype is empty):
+  AssertEqual
+  \ 0,
+  \ ale#ShouldDoNothing(bufnr('')),
+  \ 'ShouldDoNothing() was 1 for some other reason'
+
+  set filetype=
+
+  AssertEqual 1, ale#ShouldDoNothing(bufnr(''))
+
 Execute(The DoNothing check should work if the ALE globals aren't defined):
   unlet! g:ale_filetype_blacklist
   unlet! g:ale_maximum_file_size
diff --git a/test/test_temporary_file_management.vader b/test/test_temporary_file_management.vader
index ae2bf251..e248331c 100644
--- a/test/test_temporary_file_management.vader
+++ b/test/test_temporary_file_management.vader
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 Before:
+  Save g:ale_buffer_info
+
+  let g:ale_buffer_info = {}
   let g:ale_run_synchronously = 1
 
   let g:command = 'echo test'
@@ -41,6 +44,8 @@ Before:
   \})
 
 After:
+  Restore
+
   if !empty(g:preserved_directory)
     call delete(g:preserved_directory, 'rf')
   endif
@@ -111,3 +116,17 @@ Execute(ALE should create and delete directories for ale#engine#CreateDirectory(
 
   Assert !isdirectory(b:dir), 'The directory was not deleted'
   Assert !isdirectory(b:dir2), 'The second directory was not deleted'
+
+Execute(ale#engine#ManageFile should add the file even if the buffer info hasn't be set yet):
+  let g:ale_buffer_info = {}
+  call ale#engine#ManageFile(bufnr(''), '/foo/bar')
+  AssertEqual
+  \ ['/foo/bar'],
+  \ g:ale_buffer_info[bufnr('')].temporary_file_list
+
+Execute(ale#engine#ManageDirectory should add the directory even if the buffer info hasn't be set yet):
+  let g:ale_buffer_info = {}
+  call ale#engine#ManageDirectory(bufnr(''), '/foo/bar')
+  AssertEqual
+  \ ['/foo/bar'],
+  \ g:ale_buffer_info[bufnr('')].temporary_directory_list
diff --git a/test/test_verilog_verilator_options.vader b/test/test_verilog_verilator_options.vader
index 561786ee..e53037b1 100644
--- a/test/test_verilog_verilator_options.vader
+++ b/test/test_verilog_verilator_options.vader
@@ -22,4 +22,3 @@ Execute(Set Verilog Verilator linter additional options to `-sv --default-langua
   \   g:matched ,
   \   -1 ,
   \  'Additionnal arguments not found in the run command'
-