diff --git a/cluster/kubernetes/files.go b/cluster/kubernetes/files.go
index 02cdda83a..8f9a91725 100644
--- a/cluster/kubernetes/files.go
+++ b/cluster/kubernetes/files.go
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 package kubernetes
 
 import (
+	"path/filepath"
+
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 
 	"github.com/weaveworks/flux"
-
 	"github.com/weaveworks/flux/cluster/kubernetes/resource"
 )
 
@@ -13,7 +14,7 @@ import (
 // specified namespace and name) to the paths of resource definition
 // files.
 func (c *Manifests) FindDefinedServices(path string) (map[flux.ResourceID][]string, error) {
-	objects, err := resource.Load(path)
+	objects, err := resource.Load(path, path)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "loading resources")
 	}
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ func (c *Manifests) FindDefinedServices(path string) (map[flux.ResourceID][]stri
 		id := obj.ResourceID()
 		_, kind, _ := id.Components()
 		if _, ok := resourceKinds[kind]; ok {
-			result[id] = append(result[id], obj.Source())
+			result[id] = append(result[id], filepath.Join(path, obj.Source()))
 		}
 	}
 	return result, nil
diff --git a/cluster/kubernetes/kubernetes.go b/cluster/kubernetes/kubernetes.go
index ec8dae909..4c8ef18da 100644
--- a/cluster/kubernetes/kubernetes.go
+++ b/cluster/kubernetes/kubernetes.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/weaveworks/flux/cluster"
 	"github.com/weaveworks/flux/image"
 	"github.com/weaveworks/flux/registry"
+	"github.com/weaveworks/flux/resource"
 	"github.com/weaveworks/flux/ssh"
 )
 
@@ -40,8 +41,10 @@ type extendedClient struct {
 	v1beta1batch.CronJobsGetter
 }
 
+// --- internal types for keeping track of syncing
+
 type apiObject struct {
-	bytes    []byte
+	resource.Resource
 	Kind     string `yaml:"kind"`
 	Metadata struct {
 		Name      string `yaml:"name"`
@@ -49,6 +52,12 @@ type apiObject struct {
 	} `yaml:"metadata"`
 }
 
+// A convenience for getting an minimal object from some bytes.
+func parseObj(def []byte) (*apiObject, error) {
+	obj := apiObject{}
+	return &obj, yaml.Unmarshal(def, &obj)
+}
+
 func (o *apiObject) hasNamespace() bool {
 	return o.Metadata.Namespace != ""
 }
@@ -85,32 +94,27 @@ func isAddon(obj namespacedLabeled) bool {
 // --- /add ons
 
 type changeSet struct {
-	nsObjs   map[string][]obj
-	noNsObjs map[string][]obj
+	nsObjs   map[string][]*apiObject
+	noNsObjs map[string][]*apiObject
 }
 
 func makeChangeSet() changeSet {
 	return changeSet{
-		nsObjs:   make(map[string][]obj),
-		noNsObjs: make(map[string][]obj),
+		nsObjs:   make(map[string][]*apiObject),
+		noNsObjs: make(map[string][]*apiObject),
 	}
 }
 
-func (c *changeSet) stage(cmd, id string, o *apiObject) {
+func (c *changeSet) stage(cmd string, o *apiObject) {
 	if o.hasNamespace() {
-		c.nsObjs[cmd] = append(c.nsObjs[cmd], obj{id, o})
+		c.nsObjs[cmd] = append(c.nsObjs[cmd], o)
 	} else {
-		c.noNsObjs[cmd] = append(c.noNsObjs[cmd], obj{id, o})
+		c.noNsObjs[cmd] = append(c.noNsObjs[cmd], o)
 	}
 }
 
-type obj struct {
-	id string
-	*apiObject
-}
-
 type Applier interface {
-	apply(log.Logger, changeSet, cluster.SyncError)
+	apply(log.Logger, changeSet) cluster.SyncError
 }
 
 // Cluster is a handle to a Kubernetes API server.
@@ -217,25 +221,25 @@ func (c *Cluster) Sync(spec cluster.SyncDef) error {
 	logger := log.With(c.logger, "method", "Sync")
 
 	cs := makeChangeSet()
-	errs := cluster.SyncError{}
+	var errs cluster.SyncError
 	for _, action := range spec.Actions {
 		stages := []struct {
-			b   []byte
+			res resource.Resource
 			cmd string
 		}{
 			{action.Delete, "delete"},
 			{action.Apply, "apply"},
 		}
 		for _, stage := range stages {
-			if len(stage.b) == 0 {
+			if stage.res == nil {
 				continue
 			}
-			obj, err := definitionObj(stage.b)
-			id := action.ResourceID
+			obj, err := parseObj(stage.res.Bytes())
 			if err == nil {
-				cs.stage(stage.cmd, id, obj)
+				obj.Resource = stage.res
+				cs.stage(stage.cmd, obj)
 			} else {
-				errs[id] = err
+				errs = append(errs, cluster.ResourceError{Resource: stage.res, Error: err})
 				break
 			}
 		}
@@ -243,8 +247,12 @@ func (c *Cluster) Sync(spec cluster.SyncDef) error {
 
 	c.mu.Lock()
 	defer c.mu.Unlock()
-	c.applier.apply(logger, cs, errs)
-	if len(errs) != 0 {
+	if applyErrs := c.applier.apply(logger, cs); len(applyErrs) > 0 {
+		errs = append(errs, applyErrs...)
+	}
+
+	// If `nil`, errs is a cluster.SyncError(nil) rather than error(nil)
+	if errs != nil {
 		return errs
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -408,11 +416,3 @@ func (c *Cluster) ImagesToFetch() registry.ImageCreds {
 
 	return allImageCreds
 }
-
-// --- end cluster.Cluster
-
-// A convenience for getting an minimal object from some bytes.
-func definitionObj(bytes []byte) (*apiObject, error) {
-	obj := apiObject{bytes: bytes}
-	return &obj, yaml.Unmarshal(bytes, &obj)
-}
diff --git a/cluster/kubernetes/kubernetes_test.go b/cluster/kubernetes/kubernetes_test.go
index 5519356d1..b3c1d3565 100644
--- a/cluster/kubernetes/kubernetes_test.go
+++ b/cluster/kubernetes/kubernetes_test.go
@@ -5,24 +5,41 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/go-kit/kit/log"
 
+	"github.com/weaveworks/flux"
 	"github.com/weaveworks/flux/cluster"
+	"github.com/weaveworks/flux/policy"
 )
 
 type mockApplier struct {
 	commandRun bool
 }
 
-func (m *mockApplier) apply(_ log.Logger, c changeSet, _ cluster.SyncError) {
+func (m *mockApplier) apply(_ log.Logger, c changeSet) cluster.SyncError {
 	if len(c.nsObjs) != 0 || len(c.noNsObjs) != 0 {
 		m.commandRun = true
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
-func deploymentDef(name string) []byte {
-	return []byte(`---
-kind: Deployment
-metadata:
-  name: ` + name)
+type rsc struct {
+	id    string
+	bytes []byte
+}
+
+func (r rsc) ResourceID() flux.ResourceID {
+	return flux.MustParseResourceID(r.id)
+}
+
+func (r rsc) Bytes() []byte {
+	return r.bytes
+}
+
+func (r rsc) Policy() policy.Set {
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (r rsc) Source() string {
+	return "test"
 }
 
 // ---
@@ -39,7 +56,7 @@ func setup(t *testing.T) (*Cluster, *mockApplier) {
 func TestSyncNop(t *testing.T) {
 	kube, mock := setup(t)
 	if err := kube.Sync(cluster.SyncDef{}); err != nil {
-		t.Error(err)
+		t.Errorf("%#v", err)
 	}
 	if mock.commandRun {
 		t.Error("expected no commands run")
@@ -51,8 +68,7 @@ func TestSyncMalformed(t *testing.T) {
 	err := kube.Sync(cluster.SyncDef{
 		Actions: []cluster.SyncAction{
 			cluster.SyncAction{
-				ResourceID: "foobar",
-				Apply:      []byte("garbage"),
+				Apply: rsc{"id", []byte("garbage")},
 			},
 		},
 	})
diff --git a/cluster/kubernetes/manifests.go b/cluster/kubernetes/manifests.go
index a3efdc561..3edb7bbc3 100644
--- a/cluster/kubernetes/manifests.go
+++ b/cluster/kubernetes/manifests.go
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ type Manifests struct {
 
 // FindDefinedServices implementation in files.go
 
-func (c *Manifests) LoadManifests(paths ...string) (map[string]resource.Resource, error) {
-	return kresource.Load(paths...)
+func (c *Manifests) LoadManifests(base, first string, rest ...string) (map[string]resource.Resource, error) {
+	return kresource.Load(base, first, rest...)
 }
 
 func (c *Manifests) ParseManifests(allDefs []byte) (map[string]resource.Resource, error) {
diff --git a/cluster/kubernetes/release.go b/cluster/kubernetes/release.go
index 8978fa840..16ca6790d 100644
--- a/cluster/kubernetes/release.go
+++ b/cluster/kubernetes/release.go
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ func (c *Kubectl) connectArgs() []string {
 	return args
 }
 
-func (c *Kubectl) apply(logger log.Logger, cs changeSet, errs cluster.SyncError) {
-	f := func(m map[string][]obj, cmd string, args ...string) {
+func (c *Kubectl) apply(logger log.Logger, cs changeSet) (errs cluster.SyncError) {
+	f := func(m map[string][]*apiObject, cmd string, args ...string) {
 		objs := m[cmd]
 		if len(objs) == 0 {
 			return
@@ -62,9 +62,9 @@ func (c *Kubectl) apply(logger log.Logger, cs changeSet, errs cluster.SyncError)
 		args = append(args, cmd)
 		if err := c.doCommand(logger, makeMultidoc(objs), args...); err != nil {
 			for _, obj := range objs {
-				r := bytes.NewReader(obj.bytes)
+				r := bytes.NewReader(obj.Bytes())
 				if err := c.doCommand(logger, r, args...); err != nil {
-					errs[obj.id] = err
+					errs = append(errs, cluster.ResourceError{obj.Resource, err})
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func (c *Kubectl) apply(logger log.Logger, cs changeSet, errs cluster.SyncError)
 	// first, so we run the commands the other way round.
 	f(cs.noNsObjs, "apply", "--namespace", "default")
 	f(cs.nsObjs, "apply")
-
+	return errs
 }
 
 func (c *Kubectl) doCommand(logger log.Logger, r io.Reader, args ...string) error {
@@ -101,10 +101,11 @@ func (c *Kubectl) doCommand(logger log.Logger, r io.Reader, args ...string) erro
 	return err
 }
 
-func makeMultidoc(objs []obj) *bytes.Buffer {
+func makeMultidoc(objs []*apiObject) *bytes.Buffer {
 	buf := &bytes.Buffer{}
 	for _, obj := range objs {
-		buf.WriteString("\n---\n" + string(obj.bytes))
+		buf.WriteString("\n---\n")
+		buf.Write(obj.Bytes())
 	}
 	return buf
 }
diff --git a/cluster/kubernetes/resource/load.go b/cluster/kubernetes/resource/load.go
index 9fded341a..bf23add03 100644
--- a/cluster/kubernetes/resource/load.go
+++ b/cluster/kubernetes/resource/load.go
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ import (
 // Load takes paths to directories or files, and creates an object set
 // based on the file(s) therein. Resources are named according to the
 // file content, rather than the file name of directory structure.
-func Load(roots ...string) (map[string]resource.Resource, error) {
+func Load(base, atLeastOne string, more ...string) (map[string]resource.Resource, error) {
+	roots := append([]string{atLeastOne}, more...)
 	objs := map[string]resource.Resource{}
 	for _, root := range roots {
 		err := filepath.Walk(root, func(path string, info os.FileInfo, err error) error {
@@ -32,13 +33,17 @@ func Load(roots ...string) (map[string]resource.Resource, error) {
 				if err != nil {
 					return errors.Wrapf(err, "reading file at %q", path)
 				}
-				docsInFile, err := ParseMultidoc(bytes, path)
+				source, err := filepath.Rel(base, path)
+				if err != nil {
+					return errors.Wrapf(err, "finding relative path for %q", path)
+				}
+				docsInFile, err := ParseMultidoc(bytes, source)
 				if err != nil {
 					return errors.Wrapf(err, "parsing file at %q", path)
 				}
 				for id, obj := range docsInFile {
 					if alreadyDefined, ok := objs[id]; ok {
-						return fmt.Errorf(`resource '%s' defined more than once (in %s and %s)`, id, alreadyDefined.Source(), path)
+						return fmt.Errorf(`resource '%s' defined more than once (in %s and %s)`, id, alreadyDefined.Source(), source)
 					}
 					objs[id] = obj
 				}
diff --git a/cluster/kubernetes/resource/load_test.go b/cluster/kubernetes/resource/load_test.go
index 0a57a507f..22ee749fa 100644
--- a/cluster/kubernetes/resource/load_test.go
+++ b/cluster/kubernetes/resource/load_test.go
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ func TestLoadSome(t *testing.T) {
 	if err := testfiles.WriteTestFiles(dir); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	objs, err := Load(dir)
+	objs, err := Load(dir, dir)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Error(err)
 	}
diff --git a/cluster/kubernetes/update.go b/cluster/kubernetes/update.go
index 5556a393e..24cfc85fb 100644
--- a/cluster/kubernetes/update.go
+++ b/cluster/kubernetes/update.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import (
 // the source to learn about them.
 func updatePodController(def []byte, container string, newImageID image.Ref) ([]byte, error) {
 	// Sanity check
-	obj, err := definitionObj(def)
+	obj, err := parseObj(def)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/cluster/manifests.go b/cluster/manifests.go
index 6d6cbcb94..0f85a704a 100644
--- a/cluster/manifests.go
+++ b/cluster/manifests.go
@@ -20,8 +20,11 @@ type Manifests interface {
 	// Update the definitions in a manifests bytes according to the
 	// spec given.
 	UpdateDefinition(def []byte, container string, newImageID image.Ref) ([]byte, error)
-	// Load all the resource manifests under the path given
-	LoadManifests(paths ...string) (map[string]resource.Resource, error)
+	// Load all the resource manifests under the path given. `baseDir`
+	// is used to relativise the paths, which are supplied as absolute
+	// paths to directories or files; at least one path must be
+	// supplied.
+	LoadManifests(baseDir, first string, rest ...string) (map[string]resource.Resource, error)
 	// Parse the manifests given in an exported blob
 	ParseManifests([]byte) (map[string]resource.Resource, error)
 	// UpdatePolicies modifies a manifest to apply the policy update specified
diff --git a/cluster/mock.go b/cluster/mock.go
index 78a180cc2..5f14f16ea 100644
--- a/cluster/mock.go
+++ b/cluster/mock.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ type Mock struct {
 	PublicSSHKeyFunc         func(regenerate bool) (ssh.PublicKey, error)
 	FindDefinedServicesFunc  func(path string) (map[flux.ResourceID][]string, error)
 	UpdateDefinitionFunc     func(def []byte, container string, newImageID image.Ref) ([]byte, error)
-	LoadManifestsFunc        func(paths ...string) (map[string]resource.Resource, error)
+	LoadManifestsFunc        func(base, first string, rest ...string) (map[string]resource.Resource, error)
 	ParseManifestsFunc       func([]byte) (map[string]resource.Resource, error)
 	UpdateManifestFunc       func(path, resourceID string, f func(def []byte) ([]byte, error)) error
 	UpdatePoliciesFunc       func([]byte, policy.Update) ([]byte, error)
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ func (m *Mock) UpdateDefinition(def []byte, container string, newImageID image.R
 	return m.UpdateDefinitionFunc(def, container, newImageID)
 }
 
-func (m *Mock) LoadManifests(paths ...string) (map[string]resource.Resource, error) {
-	return m.LoadManifestsFunc(paths...)
+func (m *Mock) LoadManifests(base, first string, rest ...string) (map[string]resource.Resource, error) {
+	return m.LoadManifestsFunc(base, first, rest...)
 }
 
 func (m *Mock) ParseManifests(def []byte) (map[string]resource.Resource, error) {
diff --git a/cluster/sync.go b/cluster/sync.go
index 0993df2aa..9859ee00f 100644
--- a/cluster/sync.go
+++ b/cluster/sync.go
@@ -2,24 +2,17 @@ package cluster
 
 import (
 	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/weaveworks/flux/resource"
 )
 
 // Definitions for use in synchronising a cluster with a git repo.
 
-// Yep, resources are defined by opaque bytes. It's up to the cluster
-// at the other end to do the right thing.
-type ResourceDef []byte
-
-// The action(s) to take on a particular resource.
-// This should just be done in order, i.e.,:
-//  1. delete if something in Delete
-//  2. apply if something in Apply
+// SyncAction represents either the deletion or application (create or
+// update) of a resource.
 type SyncAction struct {
-	// The ID is just a handle for labeling any error. No other
-	// meaning is attached to it.
-	ResourceID string
-	Delete     ResourceDef
-	Apply      ResourceDef
+	Delete resource.Resource // ) one of these
+	Apply  resource.Resource // )
 }
 
 type SyncDef struct {
@@ -27,12 +20,17 @@ type SyncDef struct {
 	Actions []SyncAction
 }
 
-type SyncError map[string]error
+type ResourceError struct {
+	resource.Resource
+	Error error
+}
+
+type SyncError []ResourceError
 
 func (err SyncError) Error() string {
 	var errs []string
-	for id, e := range err {
-		errs = append(errs, id+": "+e.Error())
+	for _, e := range err {
+		errs = append(errs, e.ResourceID().String()+": "+e.Error.Error())
 	}
 	return strings.Join(errs, "; ")
 }
diff --git a/daemon/daemon_test.go b/daemon/daemon_test.go
index a987f0cc6..ca6ab0007 100644
--- a/daemon/daemon_test.go
+++ b/daemon/daemon_test.go
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ func TestDaemon_PolicyUpdate(t *testing.T) {
 			return false
 		}
 		defer co.Clean()
-		m, err := d.Manifests.LoadManifests(co.ManifestDir())
+		m, err := d.Manifests.LoadManifests(co.Dir(), co.ManifestDir())
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("Error: %s", err.Error())
 		}
diff --git a/daemon/loop.go b/daemon/loop.go
index 2e7a4db3a..a298ce77f 100644
--- a/daemon/loop.go
+++ b/daemon/loop.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 
 	"github.com/weaveworks/flux"
+	"github.com/weaveworks/flux/cluster"
 	"github.com/weaveworks/flux/event"
 	"github.com/weaveworks/flux/git"
 	fluxmetrics "github.com/weaveworks/flux/metrics"
@@ -187,21 +188,27 @@ func (d *Daemon) doSync(logger log.Logger) (retErr error) {
 	}
 
 	// Get a map of all resources defined in the repo
-	allResources, err := d.Manifests.LoadManifests(working.ManifestDir())
+	allResources, err := d.Manifests.LoadManifests(working.Dir(), working.ManifestDir())
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "loading resources from repo")
 	}
 
+	var syncErrors []event.ResourceError
 	// TODO supply deletes argument from somewhere (command-line?)
 	if err := fluxsync.Sync(d.Manifests, allResources, d.Cluster, false, logger); err != nil {
 		logger.Log("err", err)
-		// TODO(michael): we should distinguish between "fully mostly
-		// succeeded" and "failed utterly", since we want to abandon
-		// this and not move the tag (and send a SyncFail event
-		// upstream?), if the latter. For now, it's presumed that any
-		// error returned is at worst a minor, partial failure (e.g.,
-		// a small number of resources failed to sync, for unimportant
-		// reasons)
+		switch syncerr := err.(type) {
+		case cluster.SyncError:
+			for _, e := range syncerr {
+				syncErrors = append(syncErrors, event.ResourceError{
+					ID:    e.ResourceID(),
+					Path:  e.Source(),
+					Error: e.Error.Error(),
+				})
+			}
+		default:
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 
 	// update notes and emit events for applied commits
@@ -232,9 +239,9 @@ func (d *Daemon) doSync(logger log.Logger) (retErr error) {
 	} else {
 		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, gitOpTimeout)
 		changedFiles, err := working.ChangedFiles(ctx, oldTagRev)
-		if err == nil {
+		if err == nil && len(changedFiles) > 0 {
 			// We had some changed files, we're syncing a diff
-			changedResources, err = d.Manifests.LoadManifests(changedFiles...)
+			changedResources, err = d.Manifests.LoadManifests(working.Dir(), changedFiles[0], changedFiles[1:]...)
 		}
 		cancel()
 		if err != nil {
@@ -361,6 +368,7 @@ func (d *Daemon) doSync(logger log.Logger) (retErr error) {
 				Commits:     cs,
 				InitialSync: initialSync,
 				Includes:    includes,
+				Errors:      syncErrors,
 			},
 		}); err != nil {
 			logger.Log("err", err)
diff --git a/event/event.go b/event/event.go
index 6cd26ee9e..ff031c1ac 100644
--- a/event/event.go
+++ b/event/event.go
@@ -195,6 +195,12 @@ type Commit struct {
 	Message  string `json:"message"`
 }
 
+type ResourceError struct {
+	ID    flux.ResourceID
+	Path  string
+	Error string
+}
+
 // SyncEventMetadata is the metadata for when new a commit is synced to the cluster
 type SyncEventMetadata struct {
 	// for parsing old events; Commits is now used in preference
@@ -204,6 +210,8 @@ type SyncEventMetadata struct {
 	// policy changes, and "other" (meaning things we didn't commit
 	// ourselves)
 	Includes map[string]bool `json:"includes,omitempty"`
+	// Per-resource errors
+	Errors []ResourceError `json:"errors,omitempty"`
 	// `true` if we have no record of having synced before
 	InitialSync bool `json:"initialSync,omitempty"`
 }
diff --git a/git/working.go b/git/working.go
index 94e95e37f..b81370eb8 100644
--- a/git/working.go
+++ b/git/working.go
@@ -84,7 +84,12 @@ func (c *Checkout) Clean() {
 	}
 }
 
-// ManifestDir returns a path to where the files are
+// Dir returns the path to the repo
+func (c *Checkout) Dir() string {
+	return c.dir
+}
+
+// ManifestDir returns the path to the manifests files
 func (c *Checkout) ManifestDir() string {
 	return filepath.Join(c.dir, c.config.Path)
 }
diff --git a/sync/sync.go b/sync/sync.go
index 1435d6a71..937169091 100644
--- a/sync/sync.go
+++ b/sync/sync.go
@@ -55,8 +55,7 @@ func prepareSyncDelete(logger log.Logger, repoResources map[string]resource.Reso
 	}
 	if _, ok := repoResources[id]; !ok {
 		sync.Actions = append(sync.Actions, cluster.SyncAction{
-			ResourceID: id,
-			Delete:     res.Bytes(),
+			Delete:     res,
 		})
 	}
 }
@@ -73,7 +72,6 @@ func prepareSyncApply(logger log.Logger, clusterResources map[string]resource.Re
 		}
 	}
 	sync.Actions = append(sync.Actions, cluster.SyncAction{
-		ResourceID: id,
-		Apply:      res.Bytes(),
+		Apply:      res,
 	})
 }
diff --git a/sync/sync_test.go b/sync/sync_test.go
index ee4168b12..37eb99bcc 100644
--- a/sync/sync_test.go
+++ b/sync/sync_test.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ func TestSync(t *testing.T) {
 	manifests := &kubernetes.Manifests{}
 	var clus cluster.Cluster = &syncCluster{mockCluster, map[string][]byte{}}
 
-	resources, err := manifests.LoadManifests(checkout.ManifestDir())
+	resources, err := manifests.LoadManifests(checkout.Dir(), checkout.ManifestDir())
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func TestSync(t *testing.T) {
 		break
 	}
 
-	resources, err = manifests.LoadManifests(checkout.ManifestDir())
+	resources, err = manifests.LoadManifests(checkout.Dir(), checkout.ManifestDir())
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -69,14 +69,12 @@ func TestPrepareSyncDelete(t *testing.T) {
 	var tests = []struct {
 		msg      string
 		repoRes  map[string]resource.Resource
-		id       string
 		res      resource.Resource
 		expected *cluster.SyncDef
 	}{
 		{
 			msg:      "No repo resources provided during sync delete",
 			repoRes:  map[string]resource.Resource{},
-			id:       "res7",
 			res:      mockResourceWithIgnorePolicy("service", "ns1", "s2"),
 			expected: &cluster.SyncDef{},
 		},
@@ -90,7 +88,6 @@ func TestPrepareSyncDelete(t *testing.T) {
 				"res5": mockResourceWithoutIgnorePolicy("deployment", "ns2", "d2"),
 				"res6": mockResourceWithoutIgnorePolicy("service", "ns3", "s1"),
 			},
-			id:       "res7",
 			res:      mockResourceWithIgnorePolicy("service", "ns1", "s2"),
 			expected: &cluster.SyncDef{},
 		},
@@ -104,16 +101,15 @@ func TestPrepareSyncDelete(t *testing.T) {
 				"res5": mockResourceWithoutIgnorePolicy("deployment", "ns2", "d2"),
 				"res6": mockResourceWithoutIgnorePolicy("service", "ns3", "s1"),
 			},
-			id:       "res7",
 			res:      mockResourceWithoutIgnorePolicy("service", "ns1", "s2"),
-			expected: &cluster.SyncDef{Actions: []cluster.SyncAction{cluster.SyncAction{ResourceID: "res7", Delete: cluster.ResourceDef{}, Apply: cluster.ResourceDef(nil)}}},
+			expected: &cluster.SyncDef{Actions: []cluster.SyncAction{cluster.SyncAction{Delete: mockResourceWithoutIgnorePolicy("service", "ns1", "s2")}}},
 		},
 	}
 
 	logger := log.NewNopLogger()
 	for _, sc := range tests {
 		sync := &cluster.SyncDef{}
-		prepareSyncDelete(logger, sc.repoRes, sc.id, sc.res, sync)
+		prepareSyncDelete(logger, sc.repoRes, sc.res.ResourceID().String(), sc.res, sync)
 
 		if !reflect.DeepEqual(sc.expected, sync) {
 			t.Errorf("%s: expected %+v, got %+v\n", sc.msg, sc.expected, sync)
@@ -125,14 +121,12 @@ func TestPrepareSyncApply(t *testing.T) {
 	var tests = []struct {
 		msg      string
 		clusRes  map[string]resource.Resource
-		id       string
 		res      resource.Resource
 		expected *cluster.SyncDef
 	}{
 		{
 			msg:      "No repo resources provided during sync apply",
 			clusRes:  map[string]resource.Resource{},
-			id:       "res1",
 			res:      mockResourceWithIgnorePolicy("service", "ns1", "s2"),
 			expected: &cluster.SyncDef{},
 		},
@@ -146,7 +140,6 @@ func TestPrepareSyncApply(t *testing.T) {
 				"res5": mockResourceWithoutIgnorePolicy("deployment", "ns2", "d2"),
 				"res6": mockResourceWithoutIgnorePolicy("service", "ns3", "s1"),
 			},
-			id:       "res7",
 			res:      mockResourceWithIgnorePolicy("service", "ns1", "s2"),
 			expected: &cluster.SyncDef{},
 		},
@@ -160,16 +153,15 @@ func TestPrepareSyncApply(t *testing.T) {
 				"res5": mockResourceWithoutIgnorePolicy("deployment", "ns2", "d2"),
 				"res6": mockResourceWithoutIgnorePolicy("service", "ns3", "s1"),
 			},
-			id:       "res7",
 			res:      mockResourceWithoutIgnorePolicy("service", "ns1", "s2"),
-			expected: &cluster.SyncDef{Actions: []cluster.SyncAction{cluster.SyncAction{ResourceID: "res7", Apply: cluster.ResourceDef{}, Delete: cluster.ResourceDef(nil)}}},
+			expected: &cluster.SyncDef{Actions: []cluster.SyncAction{cluster.SyncAction{Apply: mockResourceWithoutIgnorePolicy("service", "ns1", "s2")}}},
 		},
 	}
 
 	logger := log.NewNopLogger()
 	for _, sc := range tests {
 		sync := &cluster.SyncDef{}
-		prepareSyncApply(logger, sc.clusRes, sc.id, sc.res, sync)
+		prepareSyncApply(logger, sc.clusRes, sc.res.ResourceID().String(), sc.res, sync)
 
 		if !reflect.DeepEqual(sc.expected, sync) {
 			t.Errorf("%s: expected %+v, got %+v\n", sc.msg, sc.expected, sync)
@@ -211,12 +203,12 @@ func (p *syncCluster) Sync(def cluster.SyncDef) error {
 	println("=== Syncing ===")
 	for _, action := range def.Actions {
 		if action.Delete != nil {
-			println("Deleting " + action.ResourceID)
-			delete(p.resources, action.ResourceID)
+			println("Deleting " + action.Delete.ResourceID().String())
+			delete(p.resources, action.Delete.ResourceID().String())
 		}
 		if action.Apply != nil {
-			println("Applying " + action.ResourceID)
-			p.resources[action.ResourceID] = action.Apply
+			println("Applying " + action.Apply.ResourceID().String())
+			p.resources[action.Apply.ResourceID().String()] = action.Apply.Bytes()
 		}
 	}
 	println("=== Done syncing ===")
@@ -252,7 +244,7 @@ func checkClusterMatchesFiles(t *testing.T, m cluster.Manifests, c cluster.Clust
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	files, err := m.LoadManifests(dir)
+	files, err := m.LoadManifests(dir, dir)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}