diff --git a/parsl/tests/test_python_apps/test_lifted_dict.py b/parsl/tests/test_python_apps/test_lifted_dict.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..acf3d6389f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/parsl/tests/test_python_apps/test_lifted_dict.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+from parsl import python_app
+
+
+@python_app
+def returns_a_dict():
+    return {"a": "X", "b": "Y"}
+
+
+def test_returns_a_dict():
+
+    # precondition that returns_a_dict behaves
+    # correctly
+    assert returns_a_dict().result()["a"] == "X"
+
+    # check that the deferred __getitem__ functionality works,
+    # allowing [] to be used on an AppFuture
+    assert returns_a_dict()["a"].result() == "X"
+
+    # other things to test: when the result is a sequence, so that
+    # [] is a position
+
+    # when the result is not indexable, a sensible error should
+    # appear in the appropriate future