diff --git a/tests/basic.py b/tests/basic.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..d0ecaf1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/basic.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+import xcffib.xproto as xproto
+import xcffib
+
+conn = xcffib.connect()
+setup = conn.get_setup()
+root = setup.roots[0].root
+visual = setup.roots[0].root_visual
+depth = setup.roots[0].root_depth
+
+wid = conn.generate_id()
+conn.core.CreateWindowChecked(depth, wid, root, 0, 0, 100, 100, 0, xproto.WindowClass.InputOutput, visual, 0, []).check()
+conn.core.MapWindowChecked(wid).check()
+conn.core.UnmapWindowChecked(wid).check()
+conn.core.DestroyWindowChecked(wid).check()
+
+
diff --git a/tests/run_one_test.sh b/tests/run_one_test.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..0b86e22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/run_one_test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+if [ -z $DISPLAY ]; then
+	exec xvfb-run -s "+extension composite" -a $0 $1 $2
+fi
+
+echo "Running test $2"
+
+# TODO keep the log file, and parse it to see if test is successful
+($1 --experimental-backends --backend dummy --log-level=debug --log-file=/dev/null) &
+compton_pid=$!
+$2
+
+kill -INT $compton_pid
+
+