diff --git a/functional/unit_action_test.go b/functional/unit_action_test.go
index 9212857bb..10e7438e9 100644
--- a/functional/unit_action_test.go
+++ b/functional/unit_action_test.go
@@ -278,6 +278,30 @@ func TestUnitCat(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestUnitStatus simply checks "fleetctl status" actually works.
+func TestUnitStatus(t *testing.T) {
+	cluster, err := platform.NewNspawnCluster("smoke")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer cluster.Destroy()
+
+	m, err := cluster.CreateMember()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	_, err = cluster.WaitForNMachines(m, 1)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// submit a unit and assert it shows up
+	_, _, err = cluster.Fleetctl(m, "status")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Unable to get fleet status: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
 // runListUnits runs fleetctl list-units to verify the actual number of units
 // matches with the given expected number. It periodically runs list-units
 // waiting until list-units actually shows the expected units.