diff --git a/test.sh b/test.sh
new file mode 100755
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+#!/bin/sh -x
+PYTHONPATH=. pytest --pdb --pdbcls=IPython.terminal.debugger:Pdb -rA -s -v -x 
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d254d48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
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+"""
+Helpers for the pyacl test suite
+Copyright 2024, Georg Pfuetzenreuter <mail@georg-pfuetzenreuter.net>
+
+Licensed under the EUPL, Version 1.2 or - as soon they will be approved by the European Commission - subsequent versions of the EUPL (the "Licence").
+You may not use this work except in compliance with the Licence.
+An English copy of the Licence is shipped in a file called LICENSE along with this applications source code.
+You may obtain copies of the Licence in any of the official languages at https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/eupl/eupl-text-eupl-12.
+"""
+
+from shutil import rmtree
+from subprocess import run
+
+import pytest
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope='session')
+def sample_file(tmp_path_factory):
+  directory = tmp_path_factory.mktemp('sample_files')
+  file = directory / 'file_with_user_read_acl'
+  file.touch()
+  assert not file.read_text()  # file should exist
+  run(['setfacl', '-m', 'u:georg2:r', file], check=True)
+  out = run(['getfacl', '-c', file], check=True, capture_output=True)
+  assert 'user:georg2:r--' in out.stdout.decode()  # file should have the ACL set
+  yield file
+  rmtree(directory)
diff --git a/tests/test_pyacl.py b/tests/test_pyacl.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fc4fd1f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_pyacl.py
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+"""
+Test suite for pyacl
+Copyright 2024, Georg Pfuetzenreuter <mail@georg-pfuetzenreuter.net>
+
+Licensed under the EUPL, Version 1.2 or - as soon they will be approved by the European Commission - subsequent versions of the EUPL (the "Licence").
+You may not use this work except in compliance with the Licence.
+An English copy of the Licence is shipped in a file called LICENSE along with this applications source code.
+You may obtain copies of the Licence in any of the official languages at https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/eupl/eupl-text-eupl-12.
+"""
+
+import posix1e
+
+from pyacl import acl
+
+
+def test_parse_acl(sample_file):
+  want = {
+    'user': {
+      'georg2': {
+        'read': True,
+        'write': False,
+        'execute': False,
+      },
+    },
+    'group': {
+      None: {
+        'read': True,
+        'write': False,
+        'execute': False,
+      },
+    },
+    'mask': {
+      None: {
+        'read': True,
+        'write': False,
+        'execute': False,
+      },
+    },
+    'other': {
+      None: {
+        'read': True,
+        'write': False,
+        'execute': False,
+      },
+    },
+  }
+  have = acl.acl_parse_entries(acl.acl_reduce_entries(posix1e.ACL(file=sample_file)))
+  assert want == have