diff --git a/src/engine/test/Makefile.am b/src/engine/test/Makefile.am
index 34a18ab543..d44a0e9ae7 100644
--- a/src/engine/test/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/engine/test/Makefile.am
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ TESTS = \
   test-commodities \
   test-date \
   test-group-vs-book \
+  test-period \
   test-query \
   test-resolve-file-path \
   test-split-vs-account  \
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ noinst_PROGRAMS = \
   test-freq-spec \
   test-group-vs-book \
   test-load-engine \
+  test-period \
   test-query \
   test-resolve-file-path \
   test-scm-query \
diff --git a/src/engine/test/test-period.c b/src/engine/test/test-period.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7fdfac3270
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/engine/test/test-period.c
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+
+/* test file created by Linas Vepstas <linas@linas.org>
+ * December 2001
+ * License: GPL
+ */
+
+#include <ctype.h>
+#include <glib.h>
+#include <guile/gh.h>
+#include <time.h>
+
+#include "Period.h"
+#include "gnc-book.h"
+#include "gnc-book-p.h"
+#include "gnc-module.h"
+#include "test-stuff.h"
+#include "test-engine-stuff.h"
+
+
+
+static void
+run_test (void)
+{
+  AccountGroup *grp;
+  GNCBook *book;
+  Timespec ts;
+
+int ok = 1;
+    if (!ok)
+    {
+      failure ("its borken");
+    }
+
+  book = gnc_book_new ();
+  if (!book)
+  {
+    failure("book not created");
+    exit(get_rv());
+  }
+
+  grp = get_random_group (book);
+  if(!grp)
+  {
+    failure("group not created");
+    exit(get_rv());
+  }
+
+  gnc_book_set_group (book, grp);
+
+
+  success ("periods work but wern't really tested yet");
+}
+
+int
+main (int argc, char **argv)
+{
+  run_test ();
+
+  success ("periods aren't realy tested yet");
+
+  print_test_results();
+  exit(get_rv());
+}