diff --git a/tests/py/test_db_checks.py b/tests/py/test_db_checks.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ca9970caed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/py/test_db_checks.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function, unicode_literals
+
+from gratipay import models
+from gratipay.testing import Harness
+
+
+class Tests(Harness):
+
+    # cb - _check_balances - calls assert so we don't need asserts here
+
+    def test_cb_is_fine_with_empty_database(self):
+        with self.db.get_cursor() as cursor:
+            models._check_balances(cursor)
+
+    def test_cb_is_fine_with_status_unknown(self):
+        self.make_team()
+        alice = self.make_participant('alice')
+        self.make_exchange('braintree-cc', 12, 0, alice, status='unknown')
+        self.db.run('INSERT INTO payments (participant, team, amount, direction) '
+                    "VALUES ('alice', 'TheEnterprise', 11, 'to-team')")
+
+        # force expected balance - unknown doesn't update balance, and we don't
+        # have a good make_payment to do it for us either
+        self.db.run("UPDATE participants SET balance=1 WHERE username='alice'")
+
+        with self.db.get_cursor() as cursor:
+            models._check_balances(cursor)