diff --git a/tests/assets/trace-from-the-future.zip b/tests/assets/trace-from-the-future.zip
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..4100bf93c63050
Binary files /dev/null and b/tests/assets/trace-from-the-future.zip differ
diff --git a/tests/library/trace-viewer.spec.ts b/tests/library/trace-viewer.spec.ts
index 01e68269ec9c25..1b31c904c14370 100644
--- a/tests/library/trace-viewer.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/library/trace-viewer.spec.ts
@@ -120,6 +120,11 @@ test('should open simple trace viewer', async ({ showTraceViewer }) => {
   ]);
 });
 
+test('should complain about newer version of trace in old viewer', async ({ showTraceViewer, asset }, testInfo) => {
+  const traceViewer = await showTraceViewer([asset('trace-from-the-future.zip')]);
+  await expect(traceViewer.page.getByText('The trace was created by a newer version of Playwright and is not supported by this version of the viewer.')).toBeVisible();
+});
+
 test('should contain action info', async ({ showTraceViewer }) => {
   const traceViewer = await showTraceViewer([traceFile]);
   await traceViewer.selectAction('locator.click');