diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/build/local/local_test.go b/pkg/skaffold/build/local/local_test.go
index c3c017bcce0..1853553fef3 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/build/local/local_test.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/build/local/local_test.go
@@ -34,12 +34,12 @@ import (
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/config"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/constants"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/docker"
-	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/event"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/runner/runcontext"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/schema/latest"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/util"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/warnings"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/testutil"
+	testEvent "github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/testutil/event"
 )
 
 type testAuthHelper struct{}
@@ -229,13 +229,13 @@ func TestLocalRun(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Override(&docker.EvalBuildArgs, func(_ config.RunMode, _ string, _ string, args map[string]*string, _ map[string]*string) (map[string]*string, error) {
 				return args, nil
 			})
-			event.InitializeState([]latest.Pipeline{{
+			testEvent.InitializeState([]latest.Pipeline{{
 				Deploy: latest.DeployConfig{},
 				Build: latest.BuildConfig{
 					BuildType: latest.BuildType{
 						LocalBuild: &latest.LocalBuild{},
 					},
-				}}}, "", true, true, true)
+				}}})
 
 			builder, err := NewBuilder(&mockConfig{},
 				&latest.LocalBuild{
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/build/scheduler_test.go b/pkg/skaffold/build/scheduler_test.go
index f93e637ab73..fe0e5152e57 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/build/scheduler_test.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/build/scheduler_test.go
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ import (
 	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp"
 
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/build/tag"
-	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/event"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/schema/latest"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/testutil"
+	testEvent "github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/testutil/event"
 )
 
 func TestGetBuild(t *testing.T) {
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ func initializeEvents() {
 			},
 		},
 	}}
-	event.InitializeState(pipes, "temp", true, true, true)
+	testEvent.InitializeState(pipes)
 }
 
 func errorsComparer(a, b error) bool {
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/deploy/status/status_check_test.go b/pkg/skaffold/deploy/status/status_check_test.go
index 4a176cb99b3..081db5f4b23 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/deploy/status/status_check_test.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/deploy/status/status_check_test.go
@@ -36,12 +36,12 @@ import (
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kubectl"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/deploy/label"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/deploy/resource"
-	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/event"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/runner/runcontext"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/schema/latest"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/util"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/proto/v1"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/testutil"
+	testEvent "github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/testutil/event"
 )
 
 func TestGetDeployments(t *testing.T) {
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ func TestGetDeployStatus(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		testutil.Run(t, test.description, func(t *testutil.T) {
-			event.InitializeState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test", true, true, true)
+			testEvent.InitializeState([]latest.Pipeline{{}})
 			errCode, err := getSkaffoldDeployStatus(test.counter, test.deployments)
 			t.CheckError(test.shouldErr, err)
 			if test.shouldErr {
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ func TestPrintSummaryStatus(t *testing.T) {
 			out := new(bytes.Buffer)
 			rc := newCounter(10)
 			rc.pending = test.pending
-			event.InitializeState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test", true, true, true)
+			testEvent.InitializeState([]latest.Pipeline{{}})
 			r := withStatus(resource.NewDeployment(test.deployment, test.namespace, 0), test.ae)
 			// report status once and set it changed to false.
 			r.ReportSinceLastUpdated(false)
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ func TestPrintStatus(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		testutil.Run(t, test.description, func(t *testutil.T) {
 			out := new(bytes.Buffer)
-			event.InitializeState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test", true, true, true)
+			testEvent.InitializeState([]latest.Pipeline{{}})
 			checker := statusChecker{labeller: labeller}
 			actual := checker.printStatus(test.rs, out)
 			t.CheckDeepEqual(test.expectedOut, out.String())
@@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ func TestPollDeployment(t *testing.T) {
 		testutil.Run(t, test.description, func(t *testutil.T) {
 			t.Override(&util.DefaultExecCommand, test.command)
 			t.Override(&defaultPollPeriodInMilliseconds, 100)
-			event.InitializeState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test", true, true, true)
+			testEvent.InitializeState([]latest.Pipeline{{}})
 			mockVal := mockValidator{runs: test.runs}
 			dep := test.dep.WithValidator(mockVal)
 
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/event/config.go b/pkg/skaffold/event/config.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8adb50ec7a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/event/config.go
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2021 The Skaffold Authors
+
+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.
+*/
+
+package event
+
+import (
+	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/schema/latest"
+)
+
+type Config interface {
+	GetKubeContext() string
+	AutoBuild() bool
+	AutoDeploy() bool
+	AutoSync() bool
+	GetPipelines() []latest.Pipeline
+}
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/event/event.go b/pkg/skaffold/event/event.go
index 60ccec9bbce..94b2b32c48f 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/event/event.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/event/event.go
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ import (
 
 	sErrors "github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/errors"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/instrumentation"
-	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/schema/latest"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/schema/util"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/version"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/proto/v1"
@@ -157,15 +156,15 @@ func (ev *eventHandler) forEachEvent(callback func(*proto.LogEntry) error) error
 	return <-listener.errors
 }
 
-func emptyState(pipelines []latest.Pipeline, kubeContext string, autoBuild, autoDeploy, autoSync bool) proto.State {
+func emptyState(cfg Config) proto.State {
 	builds := map[string]string{}
-	for _, p := range pipelines {
+	for _, p := range cfg.GetPipelines() {
 		for _, a := range p.Build.Artifacts {
 			builds[a.ImageName] = NotStarted
 		}
 	}
-	metadata := initializeMetadata(pipelines, kubeContext)
-	return emptyStateWithArtifacts(builds, metadata, autoBuild, autoDeploy, autoSync)
+	metadata := initializeMetadata(cfg.GetPipelines(), cfg.GetKubeContext())
+	return emptyStateWithArtifacts(builds, metadata, cfg.AutoBuild(), cfg.AutoDeploy(), cfg.AutoSync())
 }
 
 func emptyStateWithArtifacts(builds map[string]string, metadata *proto.Metadata, autoBuild, autoDeploy, autoSync bool) proto.State {
@@ -191,8 +190,8 @@ func emptyStateWithArtifacts(builds map[string]string, metadata *proto.Metadata,
 }
 
 // InitializeState instantiates the global state of the skaffold runner, as well as the event log.
-func InitializeState(c []latest.Pipeline, kc string, autoBuild, autoDeploy, autoSync bool) {
-	handler.setState(emptyState(c, kc, autoBuild, autoDeploy, autoSync))
+func InitializeState(cfg Config) {
+	handler.setState(emptyState(cfg))
 }
 
 // DeployInProgress notifies that a deployment has been started.
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/event/event_test.go b/pkg/skaffold/event/event_test.go
index 41597647de0..09b098a2be5 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/event/event_test.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/event/event_test.go
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func TestGetLogEvents(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestGetState(t *testing.T) {
 	ev := newHandler()
-	ev.state = emptyState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test", true, true, true)
+	ev.state = emptyState(mockCfg([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test"))
 
 	ev.stateLock.Lock()
 	ev.state.BuildState.Artifacts["img"] = Complete
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ func TestDeployInProgress(t *testing.T) {
 	defer func() { handler = newHandler() }()
 
 	handler = newHandler()
-	handler.state = emptyState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test", true, true, true)
+	handler.state = emptyState(mockCfg([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test"))
 
 	wait(t, func() bool { return handler.getState().DeployState.Status == NotStarted })
 	DeployInProgress()
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func TestDeployFailed(t *testing.T) {
 	defer func() { handler = newHandler() }()
 
 	handler = newHandler()
-	handler.state = emptyState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test", true, true, true)
+	handler.state = emptyState(mockCfg([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test"))
 
 	wait(t, func() bool { return handler.getState().DeployState.Status == NotStarted })
 	DeployFailed(errors.New("BUG"))
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ func TestDeployComplete(t *testing.T) {
 	defer func() { handler = newHandler() }()
 
 	handler = newHandler()
-	handler.state = emptyState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test", true, true, true)
+	handler.state = emptyState(mockCfg([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test"))
 
 	wait(t, func() bool { return handler.getState().DeployState.Status == NotStarted })
 	DeployComplete()
@@ -121,11 +121,11 @@ func TestBuildInProgress(t *testing.T) {
 	defer func() { handler = newHandler() }()
 
 	handler = newHandler()
-	handler.state = emptyState([]latest.Pipeline{{Build: latest.BuildConfig{
+	handler.state = emptyState(mockCfg([]latest.Pipeline{{Build: latest.BuildConfig{
 		Artifacts: []*latest.Artifact{{
 			ImageName: "img",
 		}},
-	}}}, "test", true, true, true)
+	}}}, "test"))
 
 	wait(t, func() bool { return handler.getState().BuildState.Artifacts["img"] == NotStarted })
 	BuildInProgress("img")
@@ -136,11 +136,11 @@ func TestBuildFailed(t *testing.T) {
 	defer func() { handler = newHandler() }()
 
 	handler = newHandler()
-	handler.state = emptyState([]latest.Pipeline{{Build: latest.BuildConfig{
+	handler.state = emptyState(mockCfg([]latest.Pipeline{{Build: latest.BuildConfig{
 		Artifacts: []*latest.Artifact{{
 			ImageName: "img",
 		}},
-	}}}, "test", true, true, true)
+	}}}, "test"))
 
 	wait(t, func() bool { return handler.getState().BuildState.Artifacts["img"] == NotStarted })
 	BuildFailed("img", errors.New("BUG"))
@@ -154,11 +154,11 @@ func TestBuildComplete(t *testing.T) {
 	defer func() { handler = newHandler() }()
 
 	handler = newHandler()
-	handler.state = emptyState([]latest.Pipeline{{Build: latest.BuildConfig{
+	handler.state = emptyState(mockCfg([]latest.Pipeline{{Build: latest.BuildConfig{
 		Artifacts: []*latest.Artifact{{
 			ImageName: "img",
 		}},
-	}}}, "test", true, true, true)
+	}}}, "test"))
 
 	wait(t, func() bool { return handler.getState().BuildState.Artifacts["img"] == NotStarted })
 	BuildComplete("img")
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ func TestPortForwarded(t *testing.T) {
 	defer func() { handler = newHandler() }()
 
 	handler = newHandler()
-	handler.state = emptyState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test", true, true, true)
+	handler.state = emptyState(mockCfg([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test"))
 
 	wait(t, func() bool { return handler.getState().ForwardedPorts[8080] == nil })
 	PortForwarded(8080, schemautil.FromInt(8888), "pod", "container", "ns", "portname", "resourceType", "resourceName", "127.0.0.1")
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ func TestStatusCheckEventStarted(t *testing.T) {
 	defer func() { handler = newHandler() }()
 
 	handler = newHandler()
-	handler.state = emptyState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test", true, true, true)
+	handler.state = emptyState(mockCfg([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test"))
 
 	wait(t, func() bool { return handler.getState().StatusCheckState.Status == NotStarted })
 	StatusCheckEventStarted()
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ func TestStatusCheckEventInProgress(t *testing.T) {
 	defer func() { handler = newHandler() }()
 
 	handler = newHandler()
-	handler.state = emptyState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test", true, true, true)
+	handler.state = emptyState(mockCfg([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test"))
 
 	wait(t, func() bool { return handler.getState().StatusCheckState.Status == NotStarted })
 	StatusCheckEventInProgress("[2/5 deployment(s) are still pending]")
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ func TestStatusCheckEventSucceeded(t *testing.T) {
 	defer func() { handler = newHandler() }()
 
 	handler = newHandler()
-	handler.state = emptyState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test", true, true, true)
+	handler.state = emptyState(mockCfg([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test"))
 
 	wait(t, func() bool { return handler.getState().StatusCheckState.Status == NotStarted })
 	statusCheckEventSucceeded()
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ func TestStatusCheckEventFailed(t *testing.T) {
 	defer func() { handler = newHandler() }()
 
 	handler = newHandler()
-	handler.state = emptyState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test", true, true, true)
+	handler.state = emptyState(mockCfg([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test"))
 
 	wait(t, func() bool { return handler.getState().StatusCheckState.Status == NotStarted })
 	StatusCheckEventEnded(proto.StatusCode_STATUSCHECK_FAILED_SCHEDULING, errors.New("one or more deployments failed"))
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ func TestResourceStatusCheckEventUpdated(t *testing.T) {
 	defer func() { handler = newHandler() }()
 
 	handler = newHandler()
-	handler.state = emptyState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test", true, true, true)
+	handler.state = emptyState(mockCfg([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test"))
 
 	wait(t, func() bool { return handler.getState().StatusCheckState.Status == NotStarted })
 	ResourceStatusCheckEventUpdated("ns:pod/foo", proto.ActionableErr{
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ func TestResourceStatusCheckEventSucceeded(t *testing.T) {
 	defer func() { handler = newHandler() }()
 
 	handler = newHandler()
-	handler.state = emptyState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test", true, true, true)
+	handler.state = emptyState(mockCfg([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test"))
 
 	wait(t, func() bool { return handler.getState().StatusCheckState.Status == NotStarted })
 	resourceStatusCheckEventSucceeded("ns:pod/foo")
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ func TestResourceStatusCheckEventFailed(t *testing.T) {
 	defer func() { handler = newHandler() }()
 
 	handler = newHandler()
-	handler.state = emptyState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test", true, true, true)
+	handler.state = emptyState(mockCfg([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test"))
 
 	wait(t, func() bool { return handler.getState().StatusCheckState.Status == NotStarted })
 	resourceStatusCheckEventFailed("ns:pod/foo", proto.ActionableErr{
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ func TestFileSyncInProgress(t *testing.T) {
 	defer func() { handler = newHandler() }()
 
 	handler = newHandler()
-	handler.state = emptyState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test", true, true, true)
+	handler.state = emptyState(mockCfg([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test"))
 
 	wait(t, func() bool { return handler.getState().FileSyncState.Status == NotStarted })
 	FileSyncInProgress(5, "image")
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ func TestFileSyncFailed(t *testing.T) {
 	defer func() { handler = newHandler() }()
 
 	handler = newHandler()
-	handler.state = emptyState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test", true, true, true)
+	handler.state = emptyState(mockCfg([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test"))
 
 	wait(t, func() bool { return handler.getState().FileSyncState.Status == NotStarted })
 	FileSyncFailed(5, "image", errors.New("BUG"))
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ func TestFileSyncSucceeded(t *testing.T) {
 	defer func() { handler = newHandler() }()
 
 	handler = newHandler()
-	handler.state = emptyState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test", true, true, true)
+	handler.state = emptyState(mockCfg([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test"))
 
 	wait(t, func() bool { return handler.getState().FileSyncState.Status == NotStarted })
 	FileSyncSucceeded(5, "image")
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ func TestDebuggingContainer(t *testing.T) {
 	defer func() { handler = newHandler() }()
 
 	handler = newHandler()
-	handler.state = emptyState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test", true, true, true)
+	handler.state = emptyState(mockCfg([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test"))
 
 	found := func() bool {
 		for _, dc := range handler.getState().DebuggingContainers {
@@ -598,3 +598,21 @@ func TestSaveEventsToFile(t *testing.T) {
 	testutil.CheckDeepEqual(t, 1, buildCompleteEvent)
 	testutil.CheckDeepEqual(t, 1, devLoopCompleteEvent)
 }
+
+type config struct {
+	pipes   []latest.Pipeline
+	kubectx string
+}
+
+func (c config) GetKubeContext() string          { return c.kubectx }
+func (c config) AutoBuild() bool                 { return true }
+func (c config) AutoDeploy() bool                { return true }
+func (c config) AutoSync() bool                  { return true }
+func (c config) GetPipelines() []latest.Pipeline { return c.pipes }
+
+func mockCfg(pipes []latest.Pipeline, kubectx string) config {
+	return config{
+		pipes:   pipes,
+		kubectx: kubectx,
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/event/util_test.go b/pkg/skaffold/event/util_test.go
index eb3ac5be8a8..303124d078f 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/event/util_test.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/event/util_test.go
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ func TestEmptyState(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		testutil.Run(t, test.description, func(t *testutil.T) {
 			handler = &eventHandler{
-				state: emptyState([]latest.Pipeline{test.cfg}, test.cluster, true, true, true),
+				state: emptyState(mockCfg([]latest.Pipeline{test.cfg}, test.cluster)),
 			}
 			metadata := handler.state.Metadata
 			builders := metadata.Build.Builders
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/kubernetes/portforward/entry_manager_test.go b/pkg/skaffold/kubernetes/portforward/entry_manager_test.go
index 9e1a08211a4..be78191bb15 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/kubernetes/portforward/entry_manager_test.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/kubernetes/portforward/entry_manager_test.go
@@ -22,13 +22,13 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/constants"
-	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/event"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/schema/latest"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/testutil"
+	testEvent "github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/testutil/event"
 )
 
 func TestStop(t *testing.T) {
-	event.InitializeState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test", true, true, true)
+	testEvent.InitializeState([]latest.Pipeline{{}})
 
 	pfe1 := newPortForwardEntry(0, latest.PortForwardResource{
 		Type:      constants.Pod,
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/kubernetes/portforward/pod_forwarder_test.go b/pkg/skaffold/kubernetes/portforward/pod_forwarder_test.go
index 3a29e3a9d91..91e184831c2 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/kubernetes/portforward/pod_forwarder_test.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/kubernetes/portforward/pod_forwarder_test.go
@@ -28,11 +28,11 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/wait"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/watch"
 
-	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/event"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/kubernetes"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/schema/latest"
 	schemautil "github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/schema/util"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/testutil"
+	testEvent "github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/testutil/event"
 )
 
 func TestAutomaticPortForwardPod(t *testing.T) {
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ func TestAutomaticPortForwardPod(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		testutil.Run(t, test.description, func(t *testutil.T) {
-			event.InitializeState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "test", true, true, true)
+			testEvent.InitializeState([]latest.Pipeline{{}})
 			taken := map[int]struct{}{}
 			t.Override(&retrieveAvailablePort, mockRetrieveAvailablePort("127.0.0.1", taken, test.availablePorts))
 			t.Override(&topLevelOwnerKey, func(context.Context, metav1.Object, string) string { return "owner" })
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ func TestStartPodForwarder(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		testutil.Run(t, test.description, func(t *testutil.T) {
-			event.InitializeState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "", true, true, true)
+			testEvent.InitializeState([]latest.Pipeline{{}})
 			t.Override(&topLevelOwnerKey, func(context.Context, metav1.Object, string) string { return "owner" })
 			t.Override(&newPodWatcher, func(kubernetes.PodSelector, []string) kubernetes.PodWatcher {
 				return &fakePodWatcher{
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/kubernetes/portforward/resource_forwarder_test.go b/pkg/skaffold/kubernetes/portforward/resource_forwarder_test.go
index d11e55c1e24..8f1bccc99bf 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/kubernetes/portforward/resource_forwarder_test.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/kubernetes/portforward/resource_forwarder_test.go
@@ -34,12 +34,12 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/constants"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/deploy/label"
-	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/event"
 	kubernetesclient "github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/kubernetes/client"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/schema/latest"
 	schemautil "github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/schema/util"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/util"
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/testutil"
+	testEvent "github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/testutil/event"
 )
 
 type testForwarder struct {
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ func TestStart(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		testutil.Run(t, test.description, func(t *testutil.T) {
-			event.InitializeState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "", true, true, true)
+			testEvent.InitializeState([]latest.Pipeline{{}})
 			t.Override(&retrieveAvailablePort, mockRetrieveAvailablePort("127.0.0.1", map[int]struct{}{}, test.availablePorts))
 			t.Override(&retrieveServices, func(context.Context, string, []string) ([]*latest.PortForwardResource, error) {
 				return test.resources, nil
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ func TestUserDefinedResources(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		testutil.Run(t, test.description, func(t *testutil.T) {
-			event.InitializeState([]latest.Pipeline{{}}, "", true, true, true)
+			testEvent.InitializeState([]latest.Pipeline{{}})
 			t.Override(&retrieveAvailablePort, mockRetrieveAvailablePort("127.0.0.1", map[int]struct{}{}, []int{8080, 9000}))
 			t.Override(&retrieveServices, func(context.Context, string, []string) ([]*latest.PortForwardResource, error) {
 				return []*latest.PortForwardResource{svc}, nil
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/runner/new.go b/pkg/skaffold/runner/new.go
index 0b049d804bf..c9913fc13ce 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/runner/new.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/runner/new.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ import (
 
 // NewForConfig returns a new SkaffoldRunner for a SkaffoldConfig
 func NewForConfig(runCtx *runcontext.RunContext) (*SkaffoldRunner, error) {
-	event.InitializeState(runCtx.GetPipelines(), runCtx.GetKubeContext(), runCtx.AutoBuild(), runCtx.AutoDeploy(), runCtx.AutoSync())
+	event.InitializeState(runCtx)
 	event.LogMetaEvent()
 	kubectlCLI := pkgkubectl.NewCLI(runCtx, "")
 
diff --git a/testutil/event/config.go b/testutil/event/config.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1c313baa3e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testutil/event/config.go
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2021 The Skaffold Authors
+
+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.
+*/
+
+package event
+
+import (
+	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/event"
+	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/pkg/skaffold/schema/latest"
+)
+
+func InitializeState(pipes []latest.Pipeline) {
+	cfg := config{
+		pipes: pipes,
+	}
+	event.InitializeState(cfg)
+}
+
+type config struct {
+	pipes []latest.Pipeline
+}
+
+func (c config) AutoBuild() bool                 { return true }
+func (c config) AutoDeploy() bool                { return true }
+func (c config) AutoSync() bool                  { return true }
+func (c config) GetPipelines() []latest.Pipeline { return c.pipes }
+func (c config) GetKubeContext() string          { return "temp" }