diff --git a/girder_worker_utils/tests/contrib/girder_io_test.py b/girder_worker_utils/tests/contrib/girder_io_test.py
index bbc41f3..7d2e899 100644
--- a/girder_worker_utils/tests/contrib/girder_io_test.py
+++ b/girder_worker_utils/tests/contrib/girder_io_test.py
@@ -1,56 +1,11 @@
-import os
-import sys
-import types
-
 import girder_client
 import mock
+import os
 import pytest
 
 from girder_worker_utils.transforms.contrib import girder_io
 
 
-@pytest.fixture
-def mock_file_model():
-    girder = types.ModuleType('girder')
-    girder.models = types.ModuleType('models')
-    girder.models.file = types.ModuleType('file')
-    sys.modules['girder'] = girder
-    sys.modules['girder.models'] = girder.models
-    sys.modules['girder.models.file'] = girder.models.file
-    girder.exceptions = types.ModuleType('exceptions')
-    sys.modules['girder.exceptions'] = girder.exceptions
-
-    def fileObject():
-        pass
-
-    girder.models.file.File = lambda: fileObject
-    return girder.models.file.File()
-
-
-@pytest.fixture
-def mock_file_load(mock_file_model):
-    from girder.models.file import File
-
-    def load(*args, **kwargs):
-        return {'name': 'the_name'}
-
-    File().load = load
-    return File()
-
-
-@pytest.fixture
-def mock_file_getLocalFilePath(mock_file_model):
-    import girder.exceptions
-    from girder.models.file import File
-
-    girder.exceptions.FilePathException = Exception
-
-    def getLocalFilePath(*args, **kwargs):
-        return os.path.realpath(__file__)
-
-    File().getLocalFilePath = getLocalFilePath
-
-
 @pytest.fixture
 def mock_gc():
     return mock.MagicMock(spec=girder_client.GirderClient)
@@ -62,9 +17,9 @@ def mock_rmtree():
         yield rmtree
 
 
-def test_GirderFileIdAllowDirect_without_env(
-        mock_gc, mock_rmtree, mock_file_load, mock_file_getLocalFilePath):
-    t = girder_io.GirderFileIdAllowDirect(_id='the_id', gc=mock_gc)
+def test_GirderFileIdAllowDirect_without_env(mock_gc, mock_rmtree):
+    local_path = os.path.abspath(__file__)
+    t = girder_io.GirderFileIdAllowDirect('the_id', 'the_name', local_path, gc=mock_gc)
     t.transform()
     mock_gc.downloadFile.assert_called_once()
     assert 'the_id' in mock_gc.downloadFile.call_args[0]
@@ -74,10 +29,21 @@ def test_GirderFileIdAllowDirect_without_env(
 
 
 @mock.patch.dict(os.environ, {'GW_DIRECT_PATHS': 'true'})
-def test_GirderFileIdAllowDirect_with_env(
-        mock_gc, mock_rmtree, mock_file_load, mock_file_getLocalFilePath):
-    t = girder_io.GirderFileIdAllowDirect(_id='the_id', gc=mock_gc)
+def test_GirderFileIdAllowDirect_with_env(mock_gc, mock_rmtree):
+    local_path = os.path.abspath(__file__)
+    t = girder_io.GirderFileIdAllowDirect('the_id', 'the_name', local_path, gc=mock_gc)
     t.transform()
     mock_gc.downloadFile.assert_not_called()
     t.cleanup()
     mock_rmtree.assert_not_called()
+
+
+@mock.patch.dict(os.environ, {'GW_DIRECT_PATHS': 'true'})
+def test_GirderFileIdAllowDirect_with_env_and_unreachable_file(mock_gc, mock_rmtree):
+    t = girder_io.GirderFileIdAllowDirect('the_id', 'the_name', 'the_path', gc=mock_gc)
+    t.transform()
+    mock_gc.downloadFile.assert_called_once()
+    assert 'the_id' in mock_gc.downloadFile.call_args[0]
+    mock_rmtree.assert_not_called()
+    t.cleanup()
+    mock_rmtree.assert_called_once()
diff --git a/girder_worker_utils/transforms/contrib/girder_io.py b/girder_worker_utils/transforms/contrib/girder_io.py
index 06a5e5c..c5048c1 100644
--- a/girder_worker_utils/transforms/contrib/girder_io.py
+++ b/girder_worker_utils/transforms/contrib/girder_io.py
@@ -9,29 +9,37 @@ class GirderFileIdAllowDirect(GirderClientTransform):
     """
     This transform either uses direct path to access a file, if possible and
     allowed, or downloads a Girder File to the local machine and passes its
-    local path into the function.
+    local path into the function.  The direct path is only used if the
+    GW_DIRECT_PATHS environment variable is set.
 
     WARNING: if a direct path is used, the task MUST NOT modify the file.  It
     is the resposibility of the user of this transform to ensure tasks treat
     files as read-only.
 
+    To use this transform from Girder, it should be called via something like:
+    ```
+    try:
+        local_path = File().getLocalFilePath(file)
+    except FilePathException:
+        local_path = None
+    input_path = GirderFileIdAllowDirect(
+        str(file['_id']), file['name'], local_path)
+    ```
+
     :param _id: The ID of the file to download.
     :type _id: str
+    :param name: The name of the file.  If the file must be downloaded, the
+        extension is preserved.
+    :type name: str
+    :param local_path: If specified and the path exists and is reachable by
+        after the transform, the file is accessed directly.
+    :type local_path: str
     """
-    def __init__(self, _id, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, _id, name='', local_path=None, **kwargs):
         super(GirderFileIdAllowDirect, self).__init__(**kwargs)
-        from girder.models.file import File
-        from girder.exceptions import FilePathException
         self.file_id = _id
-        file = File().load(self.file_id, force=True)
-        # Store the original file name so that, if downloading the file, the
-        # extension can be preserved.
-        self.file_name = file['name']
-        try:
-            # Add a local file path if direct paths are allowed
-            self.local_file_path = File().getLocalFilePath(file)
-        except FilePathException:
-            self.local_file_path = None
+        self.file_name = name
+        self.local_file_path = local_path
 
     def _repr_model_(self):
         if self.local_file_path: