diff --git a/chain/transaction_pool_test.go b/chain/transaction_pool_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cc29f75e62
--- /dev/null
+++ b/chain/transaction_pool_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+package chain
+
+import (
+	"container/list"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/chain/types"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethutil"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/event"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/wire"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func newChainManager() *ChainManager {
+	bc := &ChainManager{}
+	bc.genesisBlock = types.NewBlockFromBytes(ethutil.Encode(Genesis))
+	bc.Reset()
+	return bc
+}
+
+type fakeEth struct{}
+
+func (e *fakeEth) BlockManager() *BlockManager                        { return nil }
+func (e *fakeEth) ChainManager() *ChainManager                        { return newChainManager() }
+func (e *fakeEth) TxPool() *TxPool                                    { return &TxPool{} }
+func (e *fakeEth) Broadcast(msgType wire.MsgType, data []interface{}) {}
+func (e *fakeEth) PeerCount() int                                     { return 0 }
+func (e *fakeEth) IsMining() bool                                     { return false }
+func (e *fakeEth) IsListening() bool                                  { return false }
+func (e *fakeEth) Peers() *list.List                                  { return nil }
+func (e *fakeEth) KeyManager() *crypto.KeyManager                     { return nil }
+func (e *fakeEth) ClientIdentity() wire.ClientIdentity                { return nil }
+func (e *fakeEth) Db() ethutil.Database                               { return nil }
+func (e *fakeEth) EventMux() *event.TypeMux                           { return nil }
+
+func TestValidateTransaction(t *testing.T) {
+	// this is a well formed transaction with a made up signature
+	badSig := "f87180881bc16d674ec80000881bc16d674ec8000094bbbd0256041f7aed3ce278c56ee61492de96d0018401312d008061a06162636465666768696a6b6c6d6e6f707172737475767778797a616263646566a06162636465666768696a6b6c6d6e6f707172737475767778797a616263646566"
+
+	pool := NewTxPool(new(fakeEth))
+
+	tx := types.NewTransactionFromBytes(ethutil.Hex2Bytes(badSig))
+	err := pool.ValidateTransaction(tx)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Error("Expected an error")
+	}
+}