diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_automod.py b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_automod.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..abb9aa559
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_automod.py
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+""" test for app action functionality """
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+from django.test import TestCase
+from django.test.client import RequestFactory
+
+from bookwyrm import models
+from bookwyrm.models.antispam import automod_task
+
+
+@patch("bookwyrm.models.Status.broadcast")
+@patch("bookwyrm.activitystreams.add_status_task.delay")
+@patch("bookwyrm.activitystreams.remove_status_task.delay")
+class AutomodModel(TestCase):
+    """every response to a get request, html or json"""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        """we need basic test data and mocks"""
+        self.factory = RequestFactory()
+        with patch("bookwyrm.suggested_users.rerank_suggestions_task.delay"), patch(
+            "bookwyrm.activitystreams.populate_stream_task.delay"
+        ), patch("bookwyrm.lists_stream.populate_lists_task.delay"):
+            self.local_user = models.User.objects.create_user(
+                "mouse@local.com",
+                "mouse@mouse.mouse",
+                "password",
+                local=True,
+                localname="mouse",
+            )
+
+    def test_automod_task_no_rules(self, *_):
+        """nothing to see here"""
+        self.assertFalse(models.Report.objects.exists())
+        automod_task()
+        self.assertFalse(models.Report.objects.exists())
+
+    def test_automod_task_user(self, *_):
+        """scan activity"""
+        self.assertFalse(models.Report.objects.exists())
+        models.AutoMod.objects.create(
+            string_match="hi",
+            flag_users=True,
+            flag_statuses=True,
+            created_by=self.local_user,
+        )
+
+        self.local_user.name = "okay hi"
+        self.local_user.save(broadcast=False, update_fields=["name"])
+
+        automod_task()
+
+        reports = models.Report.objects.all()
+        self.assertEqual(reports.count(), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(reports.first().user, self.local_user)
+
+    def test_automod_status(self, *_):
+        """scan activity"""
+        self.assertFalse(models.Report.objects.exists())
+        models.AutoMod.objects.create(
+            string_match="hi",
+            flag_users=True,
+            flag_statuses=True,
+            created_by=self.local_user,
+        )
+
+        status = models.Status.objects.create(
+            user=self.local_user, content="hello", content_warning="hi"
+        )
+
+        automod_task()
+
+        reports = models.Report.objects.all()
+        self.assertEqual(reports.count(), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(reports.first().status, status)
+        self.assertEqual(reports.first().user, self.local_user)
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/views/admin/test_automod.py b/bookwyrm/tests/views/admin/test_automod.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1ed36caf5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/views/admin/test_automod.py
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+""" test for app action functionality """
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+from django.template.response import TemplateResponse
+from django.test import TestCase
+from django.test.client import RequestFactory
+
+from bookwyrm import forms, models, views
+from bookwyrm.tests.validate_html import validate_html
+
+
+class AutomodViews(TestCase):
+    """every response to a get request, html or json"""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        """we need basic test data and mocks"""
+        self.factory = RequestFactory()
+        with patch("bookwyrm.suggested_users.rerank_suggestions_task.delay"), patch(
+            "bookwyrm.activitystreams.populate_stream_task.delay"
+        ), patch("bookwyrm.lists_stream.populate_lists_task.delay"):
+            self.local_user = models.User.objects.create_user(
+                "mouse@local.com",
+                "mouse@mouse.mouse",
+                "password",
+                local=True,
+                localname="mouse",
+            )
+        models.SiteSettings.objects.create()
+
+    def test_automod_rules_get(self):
+        """there are so many views, this just makes sure it LOADS"""
+        view = views.AutoMod.as_view()
+        request = self.factory.get("")
+        request.user = self.local_user
+        request.user.is_superuser = True
+
+        result = view(request)
+        self.assertIsInstance(result, TemplateResponse)
+        validate_html(result.render())
+        self.assertEqual(result.status_code, 200)
+
+    def test_automod_rules_post(self):
+        """there are so many views, this just makes sure it LOADS"""
+        form = forms.AutoModRuleForm()
+        form.data["string_match"] = "hello"
+        form.data["flag_users"] = True
+        form.data["flag_statuses"] = False
+        form.data["created_by"] = self.local_user
+
+        view = views.AutoMod.as_view()
+        request = self.factory.post("", form.data)
+        request.user = self.local_user
+        request.user.is_superuser = True
+
+        result = view(request)
+        self.assertIsInstance(result, TemplateResponse)
+        validate_html(result.render())
+        self.assertEqual(result.status_code, 200)