diff --git a/lib/ramble/ramble/cmd/workspace.py b/lib/ramble/ramble/cmd/workspace.py
index 83c790b2d..6fcbb1d84 100644
--- a/lib/ramble/ramble/cmd/workspace.py
+++ b/lib/ramble/ramble/cmd/workspace.py
@@ -107,22 +107,19 @@ def workspace_activate(args):
     # Temporary workspace
     if args.temp:
         workspace = create_temp_workspace_directory()
-        wspath_dir = os.path.abspath(workspace)
-        ramble.workspace.set_workspace_path(wspath_dir)
-        short_name = os.path.basename(wspath_dir)
+        workspace_path = os.path.abspath(workspace)
+        short_name = os.path.basename(workspace_path)
         ramble.workspace.Workspace(workspace).write()
 
     # Named workspace
     elif ramble.workspace.exists(workspace_name_or_dir) and not args.dir:
-        wspath_dir = ramble.workspace.root(workspace_name_or_dir)
-        ramble.workspace.set_workspace_path(wspath_dir)
+        workspace_path = ramble.workspace.root(workspace_name_or_dir)
         short_name = workspace_name_or_dir
 
     # Workspace directory
     elif ramble.workspace.is_workspace_dir(workspace_name_or_dir):
-        workspace_path_dir = os.path.abspath(workspace_name_or_dir)
-        ramble.workspace.set_workspace_path(workspace_path_dir)
-        short_name = os.path.basename(workspace_path_dir)
+        workspace_path = os.path.abspath(workspace_name_or_dir)
+        short_name = os.path.basename(workspace_path)
 
     else:
         tty.die("No such workspace: '%s'" % workspace_name_or_dir)
@@ -138,8 +135,7 @@ def workspace_activate(args):
         env_mods = ramble.workspace.shell.deactivate()
 
     # Activate new workspace
-    workspace_path_dir = ramble.workspace.get_workspace_path()
-    active_workspace = ramble.workspace.Workspace(workspace_path_dir)
+    active_workspace = ramble.workspace.Workspace(workspace_path)
     cmds += ramble.workspace.shell.activate_header(
         ws=active_workspace,
         shell=args.shell,
diff --git a/lib/ramble/ramble/test/cmd/workspace.py b/lib/ramble/ramble/test/cmd/workspace.py
index 1017d3cd4..3a8c81cf6 100644
--- a/lib/ramble/ramble/test/cmd/workspace.py
+++ b/lib/ramble/ramble/test/cmd/workspace.py
@@ -220,9 +220,9 @@ def test_workspace_dirs(tmpdir, mutable_mock_workspace_path):
         # it would be expected
         wsdir1 = os.path.join(os.getcwd(), 'ws1')
         os.makedirs(wsdir1)
-        ramble.workspace.set_workspace_path(wsdir1)
-        workspace('create', 'test1')
-        out = workspace('list')
+        with ramble.config.override('config:workspace_dirs', wsdir1):
+            workspace('create', 'test1')
+            out = workspace('list')
         assert 'test1' in out
 
         # Now make a second temp directory,
@@ -232,17 +232,12 @@ def test_workspace_dirs(tmpdir, mutable_mock_workspace_path):
         # second is
         wsdir2 = os.path.join(os.getcwd(), 'ws2')
         os.makedirs(wsdir2)
-        ramble.workspace.set_workspace_path(wsdir2)
-        workspace('create', 'test2')
-        out = workspace('list')
+        with ramble.config.override('config:workspace_dirs', wsdir2):
+            workspace('create', 'test2')
+            out = workspace('list')
         assert 'test2' in out
         assert 'test1' not in out
 
-        # Cleanup after test
-        workspace('remove', '-y', 'test2')
-        ramble.workspace.set_workspace_path(wsdir1)
-        workspace('remove', '-y', 'test1')
-
 
 def test_remove_workspace(capfd):
     workspace('create', 'foo')
diff --git a/lib/ramble/ramble/test/conftest.py b/lib/ramble/ramble/test/conftest.py
index f517263ed..6d6d54633 100644
--- a/lib/ramble/ramble/test/conftest.py
+++ b/lib/ramble/ramble/test/conftest.py
@@ -387,11 +387,9 @@ def _factory(name, output, subdir=('bin',)):
 @pytest.fixture(scope='function')
 def mutable_mock_workspace_path(tmpdir_factory, mutable_config):
     """Fixture for mocking the internal ramble workspaces directory."""
-    saved_path = ramble.workspace.get_workspace_path()
     mock_path = tmpdir_factory.mktemp('mock-workspace-path')
-    ramble.workspace.set_workspace_path(str(mock_path))
-    yield mock_path
-    ramble.workspace.set_workspace_path(saved_path)
+    with ramble.config.override('config:workspace_dirs', str(mock_path)):
+        yield mock_path
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
diff --git a/lib/ramble/ramble/workspace/__init__.py b/lib/ramble/ramble/workspace/__init__.py
index 05859c4f4..f3171906b 100644
--- a/lib/ramble/ramble/workspace/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ramble/ramble/workspace/__init__.py
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@
     exists,
     is_workspace_dir,
     get_workspace_path,
-    set_workspace_path,
     config_file,
     config_file_name,
     workspace_software_path,
@@ -61,7 +60,6 @@
     'exists',
     'is_workspace_dir',
     'get_workspace_path',
-    'set_workspace_path',
     'config_file',
     'config_file_name',
     'workspace_software_path',
diff --git a/lib/ramble/ramble/workspace/workspace.py b/lib/ramble/ramble/workspace/workspace.py
index 329b706f8..54b8f75e8 100644
--- a/lib/ramble/ramble/workspace/workspace.py
+++ b/lib/ramble/ramble/workspace/workspace.py
@@ -286,17 +286,13 @@ def get_workspace_path():
     """Returns current directory of ramble-managed workspaces"""
     path_in_config = ramble.config.get('config:workspace_dirs')
     if not path_in_config:
-        path_in_config = '$ramble/var/ramble/GET_WORKSPACE_ERROR/'
+        # command above should have worked, so if it doesn't, error out:
+        tty.die('No config:workspace_dirs setting found in configuration!')
 
-    wspath = ramble.util.path.canonicalize_path(path_in_config)
+    wspath = ramble.util.path.canonicalize_path(str(path_in_config))
     return wspath
 
 
-def set_workspace_path(dirname):
-    """Sets the parent directory of ramble-managed workspaces"""
-    ramble.config.set('config:workspace_dirs:', dirname)
-
-
 def _root(name):
     """Non-validating version of root(), to be used internally."""
     wspath = get_workspace_path()