diff --git a/testcases/t/213-layout-restore-simple.t b/testcases/t/213-layout-restore-simple.t
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b10dfdf6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testcases/t/213-layout-restore-simple.t
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+#!perl
+# vim:ts=4:sw=4:expandtab
+#
+# Please read the following documents before working on tests:
+# • http://build.i3wm.org/docs/testsuite.html
+#   (or docs/testsuite)
+#
+# • http://build.i3wm.org/docs/lib-i3test.html
+#   (alternatively: perldoc ./testcases/lib/i3test.pm)
+#
+# • http://build.i3wm.org/docs/ipc.html
+#   (or docs/ipc)
+#
+# • http://onyxneon.com/books/modern_perl/modern_perl_a4.pdf
+#   (unless you are already familiar with Perl)
+#
+# Restores a simple layout from a JSON file.
+use i3test;
+use File::Temp qw(tempfile);
+use IO::Handle;
+
+################################################################################
+# empty layout file.
+################################################################################
+
+my ($fh, $filename) = tempfile(UNLINK => 1);
+cmd "append_layout $filename";
+
+does_i3_live;
+
+close($fh);
+
+################################################################################
+# simple vsplit layout
+################################################################################
+
+my $ws = fresh_workspace;
+
+my @content = @{get_ws_content($ws)};
+is(@content, 0, 'no nodes on the new workspace yet');
+
+($fh, $filename) = tempfile(UNLINK => 1);
+print $fh <<EOT;
+{
+    "layout": "splitv",
+    "nodes": [
+        {
+        },
+        {
+        }
+    ]
+}
+EOT
+$fh->flush;
+cmd "append_layout $filename";
+
+does_i3_live;
+
+@content = @{get_ws_content($ws)};
+is(@content, 1, 'one node on the workspace now');
+is($content[0]->{layout}, 'splitv', 'node has splitv layout');
+is(@{$content[0]->{nodes}}, 2, 'node has two children');
+
+close($fh);
+
+################################################################################
+# simple vsplit layout with swallow specifications
+################################################################################
+
+$ws = fresh_workspace;
+
+@content = @{get_ws_content($ws)};
+is(@content, 0, 'no nodes on the new workspace yet');
+
+($fh, $filename) = tempfile(UNLINK => 1);
+print $fh <<EOT;
+{
+    "layout": "splitv",
+    "nodes": [
+        {
+            "swallows": [
+                {
+                    "class": "top"
+                }
+            ]
+        },
+        {
+            "swallows": [
+                {
+                    "class": "bottom"
+                }
+            ]
+        }
+    ]
+}
+EOT
+$fh->flush;
+cmd "append_layout $filename";
+
+does_i3_live;
+
+@content = @{get_ws_content($ws)};
+is(@content, 1, 'one node on the workspace now');
+
+my $top = open_window(
+    name => 'top window',
+    wm_class => 'top',
+    instance => 'top',
+);
+
+my $bottom = open_window(
+    name => 'bottom window',
+    wm_class => 'bottom',
+    instance => 'bottom',
+);
+
+@content = @{get_ws_content($ws)};
+is(@content, 1, 'still one node on the workspace now');
+my @nodes = @{$content[0]->{nodes}};
+is($nodes[0]->{name}, 'top window', 'top window on top');
+
+close($fh);
+
+done_testing;