diff --git a/tests/src/unit-regression2.cpp b/tests/src/unit-regression2.cpp
index 63df1a63b4..79b56d07ec 100644
--- a/tests/src/unit-regression2.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/unit-regression2.cpp
@@ -862,6 +862,21 @@ TEST_CASE("regression tests 2")
         CHECK(a2.type() == typeid(j));
     }
 #endif
+
+    SECTION("issue #3134 - Applying JSON patch creates parent object")
+    {
+        json doc = R"({
+            "a": {}
+        })"_json;
+        json patch = R"([{
+            "op": "add",
+            "path": "/a/b/c",
+            "value": 1
+        }])"_json;
+
+        // patch should cause an error because "b" does not exist in doc
+        CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(doc.patch(patch), "[json.exception.out_of_range.403] key 'b' not found", json::out_of_range&);
+    }
 }
 
 DOCTEST_CLANG_SUPPRESS_WARNING_POP