diff --git a/artiq/test/coredevice/test_spi.py b/artiq/test/coredevice/test_spi.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ac1838d5d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/artiq/test/coredevice/test_spi.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+from artiq.experiment import *
+from artiq.test.hardware_testbench import ExperimentCase
+
+
+class Busy(EnvExperiment):
+    def build(self):
+        self.setattr_device("core")
+        self.setattr_device("spi0")
+        self.setattr_device("led")
+
+    @kernel
+    def run(self):
+        self.spi0.set_config_mu()
+        delay(-8*ns)
+        self.spi0.set_config_mu()  # causes the error
+        self.led.on()
+        self.led.sync()            # registers the error
+        self.core.break_realtime()
+        self.spi0.set_config_mu()  # raises the error
+
+
+class SPITest(ExperimentCase):
+    def test_busy(self):
+        self.execute(Busy)