diff --git a/.github/workflows/docker-bats.yml b/.github/workflows/docker-bats.yml
index b6eee52b..dc5e5927 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/docker-bats.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/docker-bats.yml
@@ -14,8 +14,9 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           cp tests/.env.docker.default tests/.env.docker
           cp tests/.secrets.default tests/.secrets
+          # see https://github.com/versity/versitygw/issues/1034
           docker build \
-            --build-arg="GO_LIBRARY=go1.23.1.linux-amd64.tar.gz" \
+            --build-arg="GO_LIBRARY=go1.21.13.linux-amd64.tar.gz" \
             --build-arg="AWS_CLI=awscli-exe-linux-x86_64-2.22.35.zip" \
             --build-arg="MC_FOLDER=linux-amd64" \
             --progress=plain \
diff --git a/.github/workflows/system.yml b/.github/workflows/system.yml
index 1691042a..6db54e6b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/system.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/system.yml
@@ -73,16 +73,17 @@ jobs:
             RUN_SET: "s3api-user"
             RECREATE_BUCKETS: "false"
             BACKEND: "posix"
-          - set: "s3api, s3, multipart|object, non-static, folder IAM"
-            IAM_TYPE: folder
-            RUN_SET: "s3api-bucket,s3api-object,s3api-multipart"
-            RECREATE_BUCKETS: "true"
-            BACKEND: "s3"
-          - set: "s3api, s3, policy|user, non-static, folder IAM"
-            IAM_TYPE: folder
-            RUN_SET: "s3api-policy,s3api-user"
-            RECREATE_BUCKETS: "true"
-            BACKEND: "s3"
+          # TODO fix/debug s3 gateway
+          #- set: "s3api, s3, multipart|object, non-static, folder IAM"
+          #  IAM_TYPE: folder
+          #  RUN_SET: "s3api-bucket,s3api-object,s3api-multipart"
+          #  RECREATE_BUCKETS: "true"
+          #  BACKEND: "s3"
+          #- set: "s3api, s3, policy|user, non-static, folder IAM"
+          #  IAM_TYPE: folder
+          #  RUN_SET: "s3api-policy,s3api-user"
+          #  RECREATE_BUCKETS: "true"
+          #  BACKEND: "s3"
           - set: "s3cmd, posix, file count, non-static, folder IAM"
             IAM_TYPE: folder
             RUN_SET: "s3cmd-file-count"
@@ -132,6 +133,14 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           sudo apt-get install libxml2-utils
 
+      # see https://github.com/versity/versitygw/issues/1034
+      - name: Install AWS cli
+        run: |
+          curl "https://awscli.amazonaws.com/awscli-exe-linux-x86_64-2.22.35.zip" -o "awscliv2.zip" 
+          unzip -o awscliv2.zip 
+          ./aws/install -i ${{ github.workspace }}/aws-cli -b ${{ github.workspace }}/bin
+          echo "${{ github.workspace }}/bin" >> $GITHUB_PATH
+
       - name: Build and run
         env:
           IAM_TYPE: ${{ matrix.IAM_TYPE }}
@@ -170,6 +179,7 @@ jobs:
           export AWS_REGION=us-east-1
           export AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID_TWO=user
           export AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY_TWO=pass
+          export AWS_REQUEST_CHECKSUM_CALCULATION=WHEN_REQUIRED
           aws configure set aws_access_key_id $AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID --profile versity
           aws configure set aws_secret_access_key $AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY --profile versity
           aws configure set aws_region $AWS_REGION --profile versity
diff --git a/tests/Dockerfile_test_bats b/tests/Dockerfile_test_bats
index 7ab32f23..5f134698 100644
--- a/tests/Dockerfile_test_bats
+++ b/tests/Dockerfile_test_bats
@@ -3,8 +3,9 @@ FROM ubuntu:latest
 ARG DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
 ARG SECRETS_FILE=tests/.secrets
 ARG CONFIG_FILE=tests/.env.docker
-ARG GO_LIBRARY=go1.23.1.linux-arm64.tar.gz
-ARG AWS_CLI=awscli-exe-linux-aarch64.zip
+ARG GO_LIBRARY=go1.21.13.linux-arm64.tar.gz
+# see https://github.com/versity/versitygw/issues/1034
+ARG AWS_CLI=awscli-exe-linux-aarch64-2.22.35.zip
 ARG MC_FOLDER=linux-arm64
 
 ENV TZ=Etc/UTC
@@ -85,6 +86,7 @@ RUN openssl genpkey -algorithm RSA -out versitygw-docker.pem -pkeyopt rsa_keygen
 
 ENV WORKSPACE=.
 ENV VERSITYGW_TEST_ENV=$CONFIG_FILE
+#ENV AWS_REQUEST_CHECKSUM_CALCULATION=WHEN_REQUIRED
 
 ENTRYPOINT ["tests/run.sh"]
 CMD ["s3api,s3,s3cmd,mc,rest"]
diff --git a/tests/remove_static.sh b/tests/remove_static.sh
index d4592616..9f1fe894 100755
--- a/tests/remove_static.sh
+++ b/tests/remove_static.sh
@@ -28,26 +28,23 @@ delete_bucket_if_exists() {
     return 1
   fi
   if [[ $exists_result -eq 1 ]]; then
-    log 5 "bucket '$2' doesn't exist, skipping"
+    echo "bucket '$2' doesn't exist, skipping"
     return 0
   fi
   if ! delete_bucket_recursive "$1" "$2"; then
     log 2 "error deleting bucket"
     return 1
   fi
-  log 5 "bucket '$2' successfully deleted"
+  echo "bucket '$2' successfully deleted"
   return 0
 }
 
-if ! setup; then
-  log 2 "error starting versity to set up static buckets"
-  exit 1
-fi
-if ! delete_bucket_if_exists "s3api" "$BUCKET_ONE_NAME"; then
+base_setup
+if ! RECREATE_BUCKETS=true delete_bucket_if_exists "s3api" "$BUCKET_ONE_NAME"; then
   log 2 "error deleting static bucket one"
-elif ! delete_bucket_if_exists "s3api" "$BUCKET_TWO_NAME"; then
+elif ! RECREATE_BUCKETS=true delete_bucket_if_exists "s3api" "$BUCKET_TWO_NAME"; then
   log 2 "error deleting static bucket two"
 fi
-if ! teardown; then
+if ! stop_versity; then
   log 2 "error stopping versity"
 fi
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/rest_scripts/copy_object.sh b/tests/rest_scripts/copy_object.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..1f72db78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/rest_scripts/copy_object.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# Copyright 2024 Versity Software
+# This file is licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0
+# (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+# with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#   http:#www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+# software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+# "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
+# KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
+# specific language governing permissions and limitations
+# under the License.
+
+source ./tests/rest_scripts/rest.sh
+
+# Fields
+
+# shellcheck disable=SC2153
+bucket_name="$BUCKET_NAME"
+# shellcheck disable=SC2153
+key="$OBJECT_KEY"
+# shellcheck disable=SC2153
+copy_source="$COPY_SOURCE"
+
+current_date_time=$(date -u +"%Y%m%dT%H%M%SZ")
+
+canonical_request="PUT
+/$bucket_name/$key
+
+host:$host
+x-amz-content-sha256:UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD
+x-amz-copy-source:$copy_source
+x-amz-date:$current_date_time
+
+host;x-amz-content-sha256;x-amz-copy-source;x-amz-date
+UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD"
+
+create_canonical_hash_sts_and_signature
+
+curl_command+=(curl -ks -w "\"%{http_code}\"" -X PUT "$AWS_ENDPOINT_URL/$bucket_name/$key")
+curl_command+=(-H "\"Authorization: AWS4-HMAC-SHA256 Credential=$aws_access_key_id/$year_month_day/$aws_region/s3/aws4_request,SignedHeaders=host;x-amz-content-sha256;x-amz-copy-source;x-amz-date,Signature=$signature\"")
+curl_command+=(-H "\"x-amz-content-sha256: UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD\""
+-H "\"x-amz-copy-source: $copy_source\""
+-H "\"x-amz-date: $current_date_time\"")
+curl_command+=(-o "$OUTPUT_FILE")
+# shellcheck disable=SC2154
+eval "${curl_command[*]}" 2>&1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/rest_scripts/delete_objects.sh b/tests/rest_scripts/delete_objects.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..53550387
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/rest_scripts/delete_objects.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# Copyright 2024 Versity Software
+# This file is licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0
+# (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+# with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#   http:#www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+# software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+# "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
+# KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
+# specific language governing permissions and limitations
+# under the License.
+
+source ./tests/rest_scripts/rest.sh
+
+# Fields
+
+# shellcheck disable=SC2153,SC2154
+payload="$PAYLOAD"
+# shellcheck disable=SC2153,SC2154
+bucket_name="$BUCKET_NAME"
+has_content_md5="${HAS_CONTENT_MD5:="true"}"
+
+current_date_time=$(date -u +"%Y%m%dT%H%M%SZ")
+payload_hash="$(echo -n "$payload" | sha256sum | awk '{print $1}')"
+if [ "$has_content_md5" == "true" ]; then
+  content_md5=$(echo -n "$payload" | openssl dgst -binary -md5 | openssl base64)
+fi
+
+canonical_request="POST
+/$bucket_name
+delete=
+"
+if [ "$has_content_md5" == "true" ]; then
+  canonical_request+="content-md5:$content_md5
+"
+fi
+canonical_request+="host:$host
+x-amz-content-sha256:$payload_hash
+x-amz-date:$current_date_time
+
+"
+if [ "$has_content_md5" == "true" ]; then
+  canonical_request+="content-md5;"
+fi
+canonical_request+="host;x-amz-content-sha256;x-amz-date
+$payload_hash"
+
+create_canonical_hash_sts_and_signature
+
+curl_command+=(curl -ks -w "\"%{http_code}\"" -X POST "$AWS_ENDPOINT_URL/$bucket_name?delete")
+signed_headers=""
+if [ "$has_content_md5" == "true" ]; then
+  signed_headers+="content-md5;"
+fi
+signed_headers+="host;x-amz-content-sha256;x-amz-date"
+curl_command+=(-H "\"Authorization: AWS4-HMAC-SHA256 Credential=$aws_access_key_id/$year_month_day/$aws_region/s3/aws4_request,SignedHeaders=$signed_headers,Signature=$signature\"")
+curl_command+=(-H "\"Content-Type: application/xml\"")
+if [ "$has_content_md5" == "true" ]; then
+  curl_command+=(-H "\"content-md5: $content_md5\"")
+fi
+curl_command+=(-H "\"x-amz-content-sha256: $payload_hash\""
+-H "\"x-amz-date: $current_date_time\"")
+curl_command+=(-o "$OUTPUT_FILE")
+curl_command+=(-d "\"${payload//\"/\\\"}\"")
+# shellcheck disable=SC2154
+eval "${curl_command[*]}" 2>&1
diff --git a/tests/setup_static.sh b/tests/setup_static.sh
index 0bd24836..90e491b5 100755
--- a/tests/setup_static.sh
+++ b/tests/setup_static.sh
@@ -29,14 +29,14 @@ create_bucket_if_not_exists() {
     return 1
   fi
   if [[ $exists_result -eq 0 ]]; then
-    log 5 "bucket '$2' already exists, skipping"
+    echo "bucket '$2' already exists, skipping"
     return 0
   fi
   if ! create_bucket_object_lock_enabled "$2"; then
     log 2 "error creating bucket"
     return 1
   fi
-  log 5 "bucket '$2' successfully created"
+  echo "bucket '$2' successfully created"
   return 0
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/teardown_static.sh b/tests/teardown_static.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index 569253ad..00000000
--- a/tests/teardown_static.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,33 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env bash
-
-# Copyright 2024 Versity Software
-# This file is licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0
-# (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
-# with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
-#
-#   http:#www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-#
-# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
-# software distributed under the License is distributed on an
-# "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
-# KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
-# specific language governing permissions and limitations
-# under the License.
-
-source ./tests/setup.sh
-source ./tests/util/util_object.sh
-
-if ! base_setup; then
-  log 2 "error starting versity to set up static buckets"
-  exit 1
-fi
-if ! delete_bucket_recursive "s3api" "$BUCKET_ONE_NAME"; then
-  log 2 "error deleting static bucket one"
-elif ! delete_bucket_recursive "s3api" "$BUCKET_TWO_NAME"; then
-  log 2 "error deleting static bucket two"
-else
-  log 4 "buckets deleted successfully"
-fi
-if ! stop_versity; then
-  log 2 "error stopping versity"
-fi
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/test_common.sh b/tests/test_common.sh
index 33292755..d958932e 100644
--- a/tests/test_common.sh
+++ b/tests/test_common.sh
@@ -303,7 +303,8 @@ test_common_presigned_url_utf8_chars() {
 
   run create_test_file "$bucket_file"
   assert_success
-  dd if=/dev/urandom of="$TEST_FILE_FOLDER/$bucket_file" bs=5M count=1 || fail "error creating test file"
+  run dd if=/dev/urandom of="$TEST_FILE_FOLDER/$bucket_file" bs=5M count=1
+  assert_success
 
   run setup_bucket "$1" "$BUCKET_ONE_NAME"
   assert_success
diff --git a/tests/test_rest.sh b/tests/test_rest.sh
index c66f1d29..7a3c5764 100755
--- a/tests/test_rest.sh
+++ b/tests/test_rest.sh
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ source ./tests/logger.sh
 source ./tests/setup.sh
 source ./tests/util/util_acl.sh
 source ./tests/util/util_attributes.sh
+source ./tests/util/util_delete_object.sh
 source ./tests/util/util_head_object.sh
 source ./tests/util/util_legal_hold.sh
 source ./tests/util/util_list_buckets.sh
@@ -545,3 +546,53 @@ export RUN_USERS=true
   run get_etag_attribute_rest "$BUCKET_ONE_NAME" "$test_file" "$expected_etag"
   assert_success
 }
+
+@test "REST - POST call on root endpoint" {
+  if [ "$DIRECT" != "true" ]; then
+    skip "https://github.com/versity/versitygw/issues/1036"
+  fi
+  run delete_object_empty_bucket_check_error
+  assert_success
+}
+
+@test "REST - delete objects - no content-md5 header" {
+  if [ "$DIRECT" != "true" ]; then
+    skip "https://github.com/versity/versitygw/issues/1040"
+  fi
+  run setup_bucket "s3api" "$BUCKET_ONE_NAME"
+  assert_success
+
+  run delete_objects_no_content_md5_header "$BUCKET_ONE_NAME"
+  assert_success
+}
+
+@test "REST - delete objects command" {
+  run setup_bucket "s3api" "$BUCKET_ONE_NAME"
+  assert_success
+
+  test_file_one="test_file"
+  test_file_two="test_file_two"
+  run create_test_files "$test_file_one" "$test_file_two"
+  assert_success
+
+  run put_object "s3api" "$TEST_FILE_FOLDER/$test_file_one" "$BUCKET_ONE_NAME" "$test_file_one"
+  assert_success
+
+  run put_object "s3api" "$TEST_FILE_FOLDER/$test_file_two" "$BUCKET_ONE_NAME" "$test_file_two"
+  assert_success
+
+  run verify_object_exists "$BUCKET_ONE_NAME" "$test_file_one"
+  assert_success
+
+  run verify_object_exists "$BUCKET_ONE_NAME" "$test_file_two"
+  assert_success
+
+  run delete_objects_verify_success "$BUCKET_ONE_NAME" "$test_file_one" "$test_file_two"
+  assert_success
+
+  run verify_object_not_found "$BUCKET_ONE_NAME" "$test_file_one"
+  assert_success
+
+  run verify_object_not_found "$BUCKET_ONE_NAME" "$test_file_two"
+  assert_success
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/test_s3api_object.sh b/tests/test_s3api_object.sh
index ae78a2a4..ed905b9c 100755
--- a/tests/test_s3api_object.sh
+++ b/tests/test_s3api_object.sh
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ export RUN_USERS=true
 # delete-objects
 @test "test_delete_objects" {
   if [ "$RECREATE_BUCKETS" == "false" ]; then
-    skip "https://github.com/versity/versitygw/issues/888"
+    skip "https://github.com/versity/versitygw/issues/1029"
   fi
   test_delete_objects_s3api_root
 }
@@ -131,14 +131,14 @@ export RUN_USERS=true
 # test adding and removing an object on versitygw
 @test "test_put_object_with_data" {
   if [ "$RECREATE_BUCKETS" == "false" ]; then
-    skip "https://github.com/versity/versitygw/issues/888"
+    skip "https://github.com/versity/versitygw/issues/1029"
   fi
   test_common_put_object_with_data "s3api"
 }
 
 @test "test_put_object_no_data" {
   if [ "$RECREATE_BUCKETS" == "false" ]; then
-    skip "https://github.com/versity/versitygw/issues/888"
+    skip "https://github.com/versity/versitygw/issues/1029"
   fi
   test_common_put_object_no_data "s3api"
 }
@@ -236,3 +236,54 @@ export RUN_USERS=true
   test_common_ls_directory_object "s3api"
 }
 
+@test "directory objects can't contain data" {
+  if [ "$DIRECT" == "true" ]; then
+    skip
+  fi
+  test_file="a"
+
+  run create_test_file "$test_file"
+  assert_success
+
+  run setup_bucket "s3api" "$BUCKET_ONE_NAME"
+  assert_success
+
+  run put_object "s3api" "$TEST_FILE_FOLDER/$test_file" "$BUCKET_ONE_NAME" "$test_file/"
+  assert_failure
+  assert_output -p "Directory object contains data payload"
+}
+
+#@test "objects containing data can't be copied to directory objects" {
+#  # TODO finish test after https://github.com/versity/versitygw/issues/1021
+#  skip "https://github.com/versity/versitygw/issues/1021"
+#  test_file="a"
+#
+#  run create_test_file "$test_file" 0
+#  assert_success
+#
+#  run setup_bucket "s3api" "$BUCKET_ONE_NAME"
+#  assert_success
+#
+#  run put_object "s3api" "$TEST_FILE_FOLDER/$test_file" "$BUCKET_ONE_NAME" "$test_file"
+#  assert_success
+#
+#  if ! result=$(COMMAND_LOG="$COMMAND_LOG" BUCKET_NAME="$BUCKET_ONE_NAME" OBJECT_KEY="$test_file/" COPY_SOURCE="$BUCKET_ONE_NAME/$test_file" OUTPUT_FILE="$TEST_FILE_FOLDER/result.txt" ./tests/rest_scripts/copy_object.sh); then
+#    log 2 "error listing multipart upload parts: $result"
+#    return 1
+#  fi
+#  if [ "$result" != "400" ]; then
+#    log 2 "response code '$result': $(cat "$TEST_FILE_FOLDER/result.txt")"
+#    return 1
+#  fi
+#  return 0
+#}
+
+@test "directory object - create multipart upload" {
+  run setup_bucket "s3api" "$BUCKET_ONE_NAME"
+  assert_success
+
+  run create_multipart_upload "$BUCKET_ONE_NAME" "test_file/"
+  assert_failure
+  assert_output -p "Directory object contains data payload"
+}
+
diff --git a/tests/util/util_delete_object.sh b/tests/util/util_delete_object.sh
index 2948eb56..2a9c34c7 100644
--- a/tests/util/util_delete_object.sh
+++ b/tests/util/util_delete_object.sh
@@ -15,4 +15,82 @@ block_delete_object_without_permission() {
     return 1
   fi
   return 0
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
+
+delete_object_empty_bucket_check_error() {
+  if ! result=$(OUTPUT_FILE="$TEST_FILE_FOLDER/result.txt" COMMAND_LOG="$COMMAND_LOG" BUCKET_NAME="" ./tests/rest_scripts/delete_objects.sh); then
+    log 2 "error deleting objects: $result"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  log 5 "result: $(cat "$TEST_FILE_FOLDER/result.txt")"
+  if ! error=$(xmllint --xpath "Error" "$TEST_FILE_FOLDER/result.txt" 2>&1); then
+    log 2 "error getting XML error data: $error"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  if ! check_xml_element <(echo "$error") "MethodNotAllowed" "Code"; then
+    log 2 "Code mismatch"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  if ! check_xml_element <(echo "$error") "POST" "Method"; then
+    log 2 "Method mismatch"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  if ! check_xml_element <(echo "$error") "SERVICE" "ResourceType"; then
+    log 2 "ResourceType mismatch"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  return 0
+}
+
+delete_objects_no_content_md5_header() {
+  if [ $# -ne 1 ]; then
+    log 2 "delete_objects_no_content_md5_header requires bucket name"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  data="<Delete xmlns=\"http://s3.amazonaws.com/doc/2006-03-01/\">
+    <Object>
+       <Key>dontcare</Key>
+    </Object>
+    <Object>
+       <Key>dontcareeither</Key>
+    </Object>
+  </Delete>"
+
+  if ! result=$(OUTPUT_FILE="$TEST_FILE_FOLDER/result.txt" COMMAND_LOG="$COMMAND_LOG" PAYLOAD="$data" BUCKET_NAME="$1" HAS_CONTENT_MD5="false" ./tests/rest_scripts/delete_objects.sh); then
+    log 2 "error deleting objects: $result"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  if [ "$result" != "400" ]; then
+    log 2 "expected response code '400', actual '$result' ($(cat "$TEST_FILE_FOLDER/result.txt")"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  if ! check_xml_element "$TEST_FILE_FOLDER/result.txt" "InvalidRequest" "Error" "Code"; then
+    log 2 "error checking error element"
+    return 1
+  fi
+}
+
+delete_objects_verify_success() {
+  if [ $# -ne 3 ]; then
+    log 2 "'delete_objects_verify_success' requires bucket name, two objects"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  data="<Delete xmlns=\"http://s3.amazonaws.com/doc/2006-03-01/\">
+  <Object>
+     <Key>$2</Key>
+  </Object>
+  <Object>
+     <Key>$3</Key>
+  </Object>
+</Delete>"
+
+  if ! result=$(OUTPUT_FILE="$TEST_FILE_FOLDER/result.txt" COMMAND_LOG="$COMMAND_LOG" PAYLOAD="$data" BUCKET_NAME="$1" ./tests/rest_scripts/delete_objects.sh); then
+    log 2 "error deleting objects: $result"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  if [ "$result" != "200" ]; then
+    log 2 "expected '200', was '$result ($(cat "$TEST_FILE_FOLDER/result.txt"))"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  return 0
+}
diff --git a/tests/util/util_head_object.sh b/tests/util/util_head_object.sh
index 82e6dcfa..9bbf415c 100644
--- a/tests/util/util_head_object.sh
+++ b/tests/util/util_head_object.sh
@@ -87,4 +87,36 @@ get_etag_rest() {
   log 5 "head object data: $(cat "$TEST_FILE_FOLDER/head_object.txt")"
   etag_value=$(grep "E[Tt]ag:" "$TEST_FILE_FOLDER/head_object.txt" | sed -n 's/E[Tt]ag: "\([^"]*\)"/\1/p' | tr -d '\r')
   echo "$etag_value"
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
+
+verify_object_not_found() {
+  if [ $# -ne 2 ]; then
+    log 2 "'verify_object_not_found' requires bucket name, object key"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  if ! result=$(OUTPUT_FILE="$TEST_FILE_FOLDER/result.txt" COMMAND_LOG="$COMMAND_LOG" BUCKET_NAME="$1" OBJECT_KEY="$2" ./tests/rest_scripts/head_object.sh); then
+    log 2 "error getting result: $result"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  if [ "$result" != "404" ]; then
+    log 2 "expected '404', was '$result' ($(cat "$TEST_FILE_FOLDER/result.txt"))"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  return 0
+}
+
+verify_object_exists() {
+  if [ $# -ne 2 ]; then
+    log 2 "'verify_object_not_found' requires bucket name, object key"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  if ! result=$(OUTPUT_FILE="$TEST_FILE_FOLDER/result.txt" COMMAND_LOG="$COMMAND_LOG" BUCKET_NAME="$1" OBJECT_KEY="$2" ./tests/rest_scripts/head_object.sh); then
+    log 2 "error getting result: $result"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  if [ "$result" != "200" ]; then
+    log 2 "expected '200', was '$result' ($(cat "$TEST_FILE_FOLDER/result.txt"))"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  return 0
+}