diff --git a/test.py b/test.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..a2fd7f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+
+import argparse
+import datetime
+import tempfile
+import subprocess
+import re
+import json
+import time
+import socket
+import os.path
+import urllib.request
+import urllib.error
+
+scriptdir = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))
+
+def log(*x):
+    print(datetime.datetime.now(), ':', *x)
+
+def doapi(token, path, args_or_method=None):
+    if args_or_method is None:
+        method = 'GET'
+        data = None
+    elif isinstance(args_or_method, dict):
+        method = 'POST'
+        data = json.dumps(args_or_method).encode()
+    else:
+        method = args_or_method
+        data = None
+    req = urllib.request.Request(
+        url='https://api.digitalocean.com' + path,
+        method=method,
+        data=data,
+        headers={
+            'Authorization': 'Bearer {}'.format(token),
+            'Content-Type': 'application/json'})
+    with urllib.request.urlopen(req) as hnd:
+        res = hnd.read().decode()
+        if res:
+            return json.loads(res)
+        else:
+            return None
+
+def waitssh(ipaddr):
+    log('Waiting for SSH ...')
+    sshup = False
+    while not sshup:
+        try:
+            sock = socket.socket()
+            sock.settimeout(5)
+            sock.connect((ipaddr, 22))
+            sshup = True
+        except OSError:
+            pass
+        finally:
+            sock.close()
+        time.sleep(5)
+
+def main(args):
+    # parse args
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='tests the install script')
+    parser.add_argument('access_token', help='DigitalOcean API access token')
+    args = parser.parse_args(args)
+    token = args.access_token
+    # check the token
+    log('Validating access token ...')
+    try:
+        doapi(token, '/v2/droplets')
+    except urllib.error.URLError:
+        log('Token is invalid.')
+        raise SystemExit
+    # create tempdir
+    tempdir = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory()
+    tempname = re.sub(r'[^A-Za-z0-9]+', '-', tempdir.name)
+    # generate a key
+    log('Generating SSH key ...')
+    subprocess.check_call(['ssh-keygen', '-f', tempdir.name + '/key', '-N', '', '-q'])
+    # add the key
+    log('Adding key ...')
+    keyid = doapi(token, '/v2/account/keys', {
+        'name': tempname,
+        'public_key': open(tempdir.name + '/key.pub').read()
+    })['ssh_key']['id']
+    # create new droplet
+    log('Creating droplet ...')
+    dropid = doapi(token, '/v2/droplets', {
+        'name': tempname,
+        'region': 'sfo1',
+        'size': '512mb',
+        'image': 'debian-7-0-x64',
+        'ssh_keys': [keyid]
+    })['droplet']['id']
+    # wait for completion
+    completed = False
+    while not completed:
+        time.sleep(5)
+        result = doapi(token, '/v2/droplets/{}/actions'.format(dropid))
+        completed = all(x['status'] == 'completed' for x in result['actions'])
+    # get ip address
+    v4nets = doapi(token, '/v2/droplets/{}'.format(dropid))['droplet']['networks']['v4']
+    ipaddr = next(x['ip_address'] for x in v4nets if x['type'] == 'public')
+    # wait for SSH to start
+    waitssh(ipaddr)
+    # run the script
+    commonsshargs = [
+        'ssh',
+        '-i', tempdir.name + '/key',
+        '-o', 'StrictHostKeyChecking=no',
+        'root@{}'.format(ipaddr)]
+    log('Running script ...')
+    with open(scriptdir + '/install.sh', 'rb') as scr:
+        subprocess.check_call(
+            commonsshargs + ['cat > install.sh && yes "" | bash install.sh'],
+            stdin=scr)
+    # wait for SSH to restart
+    time.sleep(5)
+    waitssh(ipaddr)
+    # check for /etc/arch-release
+    try:
+        subprocess.check_call(commonsshargs + ['cat /etc/arch-release'])
+        success = True
+    except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
+        success = False
+    # cleanup
+    if success:
+        log('>>> SUCCESS! Deleting droplet... <<<')
+        doapi(token, '/v2/droplets/{}'.format(dropid), 'DELETE')
+    else:
+        log('>>> FAILURE! Droplet saved for analysis. Remember to delete it to avoid charges. <<<')
+    doapi(token, '/v2/account/keys/{}'.format(keyid), 'DELETE')
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    import sys
+    try:
+        main(sys.argv[1:])
+    except SystemExit:
+        sys.exit(1)