diff --git a/test/test_world.py b/test/test_world.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..319ed7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_world.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+import unittest
+
+import os
+
+from overviewer_core import world
+
+class ExampleWorldTest(unittest.TestCase):
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        # Make sure that test/data/worlds/example exists
+        # if it doesn't, then give a little 
+        if not os.path.exists("test/data/worlds/exmaple"):
+            raise Exception("test data doesn't exist.  Maybe you need to init/update your submodule?")
+
+    def test_basic(self):
+        "Basic test of the world constructor and regionset constructor"
+        w = world.World("test/data/worlds/exmaple")
+
+        regionsets = w.get_regionsets()
+        self.assertEquals(len(regionsets), 3)
+        
+         
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()