diff --git a/core/TESTS/test_imports.py b/core/TESTS/test_imports.py
index 3104a72..d8bbe42 100644
--- a/core/TESTS/test_imports.py
+++ b/core/TESTS/test_imports.py
@@ -134,5 +134,29 @@ class SubprocessTest(TestCase):
             except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
                 self.assertTrue( False, f'no {i} installed')
 
+    def test_repos_git_status(self):
+        '''Expects a clean git repo with no added files and no merge failures
+        '''
+        from pathlib import Path
+        import troggle.settings as settings
+        for cwd in [settings.EXPOWEB, settings.DRAWINGS_DATA, Path(settings.REPOS_ROOT_PATH) / "troggle"]: # add settings.SURVEX_DATA when loser is gitified
+ 
+            sp = subprocess.run([settings.GIT, "status"], cwd=cwd, capture_output=True, text=True)
+            print(str(cwd) + ":\n\n" + sp.stderr + '\n\n' + sp.stdout  + '\n\nreturn code: ' + str(sp.returncode))
+            if sp.returncode != 0:
+                print(str(cwd) + ":\n\n" + sp.stderr + '\n\n' + sp.stdout  + '\n\nreturn code: ' + str(sp.returncode))
+            self.assertTrue( sp.returncode == 0, f'{cwd} - git is unhappy')
+
+            content = sp.stdout
+            ph = r'Your branch is up to date'
+            phmatch    = re.search(ph, content)
+            self.assertIsNotNone(phmatch, f"{cwd} - Failed to find expected git output: '" + ph +"'")
+
+            ph1 = r'no changes added to commit'
+            phmatch1    = re.search(ph1, content)
+            ph2 = r'nothing to commit'
+            phmatch2    = re.search(ph2, content)
+            phmatch = phmatch1 or phmatch2
+            self.assertIsNotNone(phmatch, f"{cwd} - Failed to find expected git output: {ph1} or {ph2}")