diff --git a/gnu/local.mk b/gnu/local.mk
index 1bec2227ec..253e0c8db6 100644
--- a/gnu/local.mk
+++ b/gnu/local.mk
@@ -494,6 +494,7 @@ GNU_SYSTEM_MODULES =				\
   %D%/tests/messaging.scm			\
   %D%/tests/networking.scm			\
   %D%/tests/ssh.scm				\
+  %D%/tests/virtualization.scm			\
   %D%/tests/web.scm
 
 # Modules that do not need to be compiled.
diff --git a/gnu/tests/virtualization.scm b/gnu/tests/virtualization.scm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c2939355b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gnu/tests/virtualization.scm
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+;;; GNU Guix --- Functional package management for GNU
+;;; Copyright © 2017 Christopher Baines <mail@cbaines.net>
+;;;
+;;; This file is part of GNU Guix.
+;;;
+;;; GNU Guix is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+;;; under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+;;; the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or (at
+;;; your option) any later version.
+;;;
+;;; GNU Guix is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+;;; WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+;;; MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+;;; GNU General Public License for more details.
+;;;
+;;; You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+;;; along with GNU Guix.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+(define-module (gnu tests virtualization)
+  #:use-module (gnu tests)
+  #:use-module (gnu system)
+  #:use-module (gnu system file-systems)
+  #:use-module (gnu system vm)
+  #:use-module (gnu services)
+  #:use-module (gnu services dbus)
+  #:use-module (gnu services networking)
+  #:use-module (gnu services virtualization)
+  #:use-module (gnu packages virtualization)
+  #:use-module (guix gexp)
+  #:use-module (guix store)
+  #:export (%test-libvirt))
+
+(define %libvirt-os
+  (simple-operating-system
+   (dhcp-client-service)
+   (dbus-service)
+   (polkit-service)
+   (service libvirt-service-type)))
+
+(define (run-libvirt-test)
+  "Run tests in %LIBVIRT-OS."
+  (define os
+    (marionette-operating-system
+     %libvirt-os
+     #:imported-modules '((gnu services herd)
+                          (guix combinators))))
+
+  (define vm
+    (virtual-machine
+     (operating-system os)
+     (port-forwardings '())))
+
+  (define test
+    (with-imported-modules '((gnu build marionette))
+      #~(begin
+          (use-modules (srfi srfi-11) (srfi srfi-64)
+                       (gnu build marionette))
+
+          (define marionette
+            (make-marionette (list #$vm)))
+
+          (mkdir #$output)
+          (chdir #$output)
+
+          (test-begin "libvirt")
+
+          (test-assert "service running"
+            (marionette-eval
+             '(begin
+                (use-modules (gnu services herd))
+                (match (start-service 'libvirtd)
+                  (#f #f)
+                  (('service response-parts ...)
+                   (match (assq-ref response-parts 'running)
+                     ((pid) (number? pid))))))
+             marionette))
+
+          (test-eq "fetch version"
+            0
+            (marionette-eval
+             `(begin
+                (system* ,(string-append #$libvirt "/bin/virsh")
+                         "-c" "qemu:///system" "version"))
+             marionette))
+
+          (test-end)
+          (exit (= (test-runner-fail-count (test-runner-current)) 0)))))
+
+  (gexp->derivation "libvirt-test" test))
+
+(define %test-libvirt
+  (system-test
+   (name "libvirt")
+   (description "Connect to the running LIBVIRT service.")
+   (value (run-libvirt-test))))