diff --git a/tests/test-execute-bit b/tests/test-execute-bit
new file mode 100755
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test-execute-bit
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+hg init
+echo a > a
+hg ci -d'0 0' -Am'not executable'
+
+chmod +x a
+hg ci -d'1 0' -m'executable'
+hg id
+
+hg up 0
+hg id
+test -x a && echo executable -- eek || echo not executable -- whew