diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/management/__init__.py b/bookwyrm/tests/management/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b6e690fd5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/management/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+from . import *
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/management/test_populate_streams.py b/bookwyrm/tests/management/test_populate_streams.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6a9b6b8ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/management/test_populate_streams.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+""" test populating user streams """
+from unittest.mock import patch
+from django.test import TestCase
+
+from bookwyrm import models
+from bookwyrm.management.commands.populate_streams import populate_streams
+
+
+@patch("bookwyrm.models.activitypub_mixin.broadcast_task.delay")
+class Activitystreams(TestCase):
+    """ using redis to build activity streams """
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        """ we need some stuff """
+        self.local_user = models.User.objects.create_user(
+            "mouse", "mouse@mouse.mouse", "password", local=True, localname="mouse"
+        )
+        self.another_user = models.User.objects.create_user(
+            "nutria", "nutria@nutria.nutria", "password", local=True, localname="nutria"
+        )
+        with patch("bookwyrm.models.user.set_remote_server.delay"):
+            self.remote_user = models.User.objects.create_user(
+                "rat",
+                "rat@rat.com",
+                "ratword",
+                local=False,
+                remote_id="https://example.com/users/rat",
+                inbox="https://example.com/users/rat/inbox",
+                outbox="https://example.com/users/rat/outbox",
+            )
+        self.book = models.Edition.objects.create(title="test book")
+
+    def test_populate_streams(self, _):
+        """ make sure the function on the redis manager gets called """
+        with patch("bookwyrm.activitystreams.ActivityStream.add_status"):
+            models.Comment.objects.create(
+                user=self.local_user, content="hi", book=self.book
+            )
+
+        with patch(
+            "bookwyrm.activitystreams.ActivityStream.populate_store"
+        ) as redis_mock:
+            populate_streams()
+        self.assertEqual(redis_mock.call_count, 6)  # 2 users x 3 streams