diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fd67302..d3313db 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -26,12 +26,28 @@ You can run this application locally in dev mode that enables live coding using:
 The application can be packaged using:
 
 ```shell script
-./mvnw package
+./mvnw clean package -DskipTests
 ```
 
 It produces the `.jar` file in the `target/` directory.
 Be aware that it’s not an _über-jar_ as the dependencies are copied into the `target/quarkus-app/lib/` directory.
 
+## Testing
+
+The application uses integration tests to fully verify the api endpoints. The package needs to be built above first.
+
+A database is needed with some test data in it.
+
+```shell script
+# this will start a local db with some dummy data in it to tests against
+docker compose up
+```
+then the tests can be run:
+
+```shell script
+./mvnw failsafe:integration-test
+```
+
 The application can be run using:
 
 ```shell script
@@ -41,7 +57,7 @@ java -jar target/quarkus-app/quarkus-run.jar
 If you want to build an [_über-jar_](https://blog.payara.fish/what-is-a-java-uber-jar), execute the following command:
 
 ```shell script
-./mvnw package -Dquarkus.package.jar.type=uber-jar
+./mvnw package -DskipTests -Dquarkus.package.jar.type=uber-jar
 ```
 
 The application, packaged as an _über-jar_, is now runnable using `java -jar target/*-runner.jar`.
@@ -51,7 +67,7 @@ The application, packaged as an _über-jar_, is now runnable using `java -jar ta
 You can create a [native](https://quarkus.io/guides/building-native-image#producing-a-native-executable) executable using docker by:
 
 ```shell script
-./mvnw package -Dnative -Dquarkus.native.container-build=true
+./mvnw package -DskipTests -Dnative -Dquarkus.native.container-build=true
 ```
 
 You can then execute the native executable with: `./target/*-runner`
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 6b4d6bb..3e1f51c 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -153,7 +153,23 @@
                     </systemPropertyVariables>
                 </configuration>
             </plugin>
-        </plugins>
+                <plugin>
+                    <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
+                    <artifactId>maven-failsafe-plugin</artifactId>
+                    <version>3.5.0</version>
+                    <executions>
+                        <execution>
+                            <goals>
+                                <goal>integration-test</goal>
+                                <goal>verify</goal>
+                            </goals>
+                        </execution>
+                    </executions>
+                    <configuration>
+                        <skipITs>false</skipITs>
+                    </configuration>
+                </plugin>
+            </plugins>
     </build>
 
     <profiles>