diff --git a/jrnl/editor.py b/jrnl/editor.py
index 47634c89..54864089 100644
--- a/jrnl/editor.py
+++ b/jrnl/editor.py
@@ -77,6 +77,17 @@ def get_text_from_stdin() -> str:
     return raw
 
 
+def get_template_path(template_path: str, jrnl_template_dir: Path) -> Path:
+    actual_template_path = jrnl_template_dir / template_path
+    if not actual_template_path.exists():
+        logging.debug(
+            f"Couldn't open {actual_template_path}. Treating template path like a local / abs path."
+        )
+        actual_template_path = absolute_path(template_path)
+
+    return str(actual_template_path)
+
+
 def read_template_file(template_path: str) -> str:
     """
     Reads the template file given a template path in this order:
@@ -89,13 +100,7 @@ def read_template_file(template_path: str) -> str:
     """
 
     jrnl_template_dir = get_templates_path()
-
-    actual_template_path = jrnl_template_dir / template_path
-    if not (actual_template_path).exists():
-        logging.debug(
-            f"Couldn't open {actual_template_path}. Treating template path like a local / abs path."
-        )
-        actual_template_path = absolute_path(template_path)
+    actual_template_path = get_template_path(template_path, jrnl_template_dir)
 
     try:
         with open(actual_template_path, encoding="utf-8") as f:
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_editor.py b/tests/unit/test_editor.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..de5220e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test_editor.py
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+# Copyright © 2012-2023 jrnl contributors
+# License: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html
+
+import pathlib
+from unittest.mock import mock_open
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+import pytest
+
+from jrnl.editor import get_template_path
+from jrnl.editor import read_template_file
+from jrnl.exception import JrnlException
+
+
+@patch("builtins.open", side_effect=FileNotFoundError())
+def test_read_template_file_with_no_file_raises_exception(mock_open):
+    with pytest.raises(JrnlException) as ex:
+        read_template_file("invalid_file.txt")
+        assert isinstance(ex.value, JrnlException)
+
+
+@patch("builtins.open", new_callable=mock_open, read_data="template text")
+def test_read_template_file_with_valid_file_returns_text(mock_file):
+    assert read_template_file("valid_file.txt") == "template text"
+
+
+def test_get_template_path_when_exists_returns_correct_path():
+    template_path = pathlib.Path("templatepath")
+
+    with patch.object(pathlib.Path, "exists", lambda _: True):
+        output = get_template_path("template", template_path)
+
+    assert output == str(template_path / "template")
+
+
+@patch("jrnl.editor.absolute_path")
+def test_get_template_path_when_doesnt_exist_returns_correct_path(mock_absolute_paths):
+    with patch.object(pathlib.Path, "exists", lambda _: False):
+        output = get_template_path("template", pathlib.Path("templatepath"))
+
+    assert output == str(mock_absolute_paths.return_value)