diff --git a/testcases/t/177-bar-config.t b/testcases/t/177-bar-config.t
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..98eb4edd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testcases/t/177-bar-config.t
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+#!perl
+# vim:ts=4:sw=4:expandtab
+# !NO_I3_INSTANCE! will prevent complete-run.pl from starting i3
+#
+# Checks that the bar config is parsed correctly.
+#
+
+use i3test;
+
+#####################################################################
+# test a config without any bars
+#####################################################################
+
+my $config = <<EOT;
+# i3 config file (v4)
+font -misc-fixed-medium-r-normal--13-120-75-75-C-70-iso10646-1
+EOT
+
+my $pid = launch_with_config($config);
+
+my $i3 = i3(get_socket_path(0));
+my $bars = $i3->get_bar_config()->recv;
+is(@$bars, 0, 'no bars configured');
+
+exit_gracefully($pid);
+
+#####################################################################
+# now provide a simple bar configuration
+#####################################################################
+
+$config = <<EOT;
+# i3 config file (v4)
+font -misc-fixed-medium-r-normal--13-120-75-75-C-70-iso10646-1
+
+bar {
+    # Start a default instance of i3bar which provides workspace buttons.
+    # Additionally, i3status will provide a statusline.
+    status_command i3status --foo
+}
+EOT
+
+$pid = launch_with_config($config);
+
+$i3 = i3(get_socket_path(0));
+$bars = $i3->get_bar_config()->recv;
+is(@$bars, 1, 'one bar configured');
+
+my $bar_id = shift @$bars;
+
+my $bar_config = $i3->get_bar_config($bar_id)->recv;
+is($bar_config->{status_command}, 'i3status --foo', 'status_command correct');
+ok(!$bar_config->{verbose}, 'verbose off by default');
+ok($bar_config->{workspace_buttons}, 'workspace buttons enabled per default');
+is($bar_config->{mode}, 'hide', 'hide mode by default');
+is($bar_config->{position}, 'bottom', 'position bottom by default');
+
+exit_gracefully($pid);
+
+#####################################################################
+# validate a more complex configuration
+#####################################################################
+
+$config = <<EOT;
+# i3 config file (v4)
+font -misc-fixed-medium-r-normal--13-120-75-75-C-70-iso10646-1
+
+bar {
+    # Start a default instance of i3bar which provides workspace buttons.
+    # Additionally, i3status will provide a statusline.
+    status_command i3status --bar
+
+    output HDMI1
+    output HDMI2
+
+    tray_output LVDS1
+    tray_output HDMI2
+    position top
+    mode dock
+    font Terminus
+    workspace_buttons no
+    verbose yes
+    socket_path /tmp/foobar
+
+    colors {
+        background #ff0000
+        statusline   #00ff00
+
+        focused_workspace   #ffffff #285577
+        active_workspace    #888888 #222222
+        inactive_workspace  #888888 #222222
+        urgent_workspace    #ffffff #900000
+    }
+}
+EOT
+
+$pid = launch_with_config($config);
+
+$i3 = i3(get_socket_path(0));
+$bars = $i3->get_bar_config()->recv;
+is(@$bars, 1, 'one bar configured');
+
+my $bar_id = shift @$bars;
+
+my $bar_config = $i3->get_bar_config($bar_id)->recv;
+is($bar_config->{status_command}, 'i3status --bar', 'status_command correct');
+ok($bar_config->{verbose}, 'verbose on');
+ok(!$bar_config->{workspace_buttons}, 'workspace buttons disabled');
+is($bar_config->{mode}, 'dock', 'dock mode');
+is($bar_config->{position}, 'top', 'position top');
+is_deeply($bar_config->{outputs}, [ 'HDMI1', 'HDMI2' ], 'outputs ok');
+is($bar_config->{tray_output}, 'HDMI2', 'tray_output ok');
+is($bar_config->{font}, 'Terminus', 'font ok');
+is($bar_config->{socket_path}, '/tmp/foobar', 'socket_path ok');
+is_deeply($bar_config->{colors},
+    {
+        background => 'ff0000',
+        statusline => '00ff00',
+        focused_workspace_text => 'ffffff',
+        focused_workspace_bg => '285577',
+        active_workspace_text => '888888',
+        active_workspace_bg => '222222',
+        inactive_workspace_text => '888888',
+        inactive_workspace_bg => '222222',
+        urgent_workspace_text => 'ffffff',
+        urgent_workspace_bg => '900000',
+    }, 'colors ok');
+
+exit_gracefully($pid);
+
+done_testing;