diff --git a/src/testdir/test_backup.vim b/src/testdir/test_backup.vim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3187b58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/testdir/test_backup.vim
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+" Tests for the backup function
+
+func Test_backup()
+  set backup backupdir=.
+  new
+  call setline(1, ['line1', 'line2'])
+  :f Xbackup.txt
+  :w! Xbackup.txt
+  " backup file is only created after
+  " writing a second time (before overwriting)
+  :w! Xbackup.txt
+  let l = readfile('Xbackup.txt~')
+  call assert_equal(['line1', 'line2'], l)
+  bw!
+  set backup&vim backupdir&vim
+  call delete('Xbackup.txt')
+  call delete('Xbackup.txt~')
+endfunc
+
+func Test_backup2()
+  set backup backupdir=.//
+  new
+  call setline(1, ['line1', 'line2', 'line3'])
+  :f Xbackup.txt
+  :w! Xbackup.txt
+  " backup file is only created after
+  " writing a second time (before overwriting)
+  :w! Xbackup.txt
+  sp *Xbackup.txt~
+  call assert_equal(['line1', 'line2', 'line3'], getline(1,'$'))
+  let f=expand('%')
+  call assert_match('src%testdir%Xbackup.txt\~', f)
+  bw!
+  bw!
+  call delete('Xbackup.txt')
+  call delete(f)
+  set backup&vim backupdir&vim
+endfunc
+
+func Test_backup2_backupcopy()
+  set backup backupdir=.// backupcopy=yes
+  new
+  call setline(1, ['line1', 'line2', 'line3'])
+  :f Xbackup.txt
+  :w! Xbackup.txt
+  " backup file is only created after
+  " writing a second time (before overwriting)
+  :w! Xbackup.txt
+  sp *Xbackup.txt~
+  call assert_equal(['line1', 'line2', 'line3'], getline(1,'$'))
+  let f=expand('%')
+  call assert_match('src%testdir%Xbackup.txt\~', f)
+  bw!
+  bw!
+  call delete('Xbackup.txt')
+  call delete(f)
+  set backup&vim backupdir&vim backupcopy&vim
+endfunc