diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_directory.py b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_directory.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..80d9eaf7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_directory.py
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+""" test for app action functionality """
+from django.template.response import TemplateResponse
+from django.test import TestCase
+from django.test.client import RequestFactory
+
+from bookwyrm import models, views
+
+# pylint: disable=unused-argument
+class DirectoryViews(TestCase):
+    """ tag views"""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        """ we need basic test data and mocks """
+        self.factory = RequestFactory()
+        self.local_user = models.User.objects.create_user(
+            "mouse@local.com",
+            "mouse@mouse.com",
+            "mouseword",
+            local=True,
+            localname="mouse",
+            remote_id="https://example.com/users/mouse",
+        )
+        self.rat = models.User.objects.create_user(
+            "rat@local.com",
+            "rat@rat.com",
+            "ratword",
+            local=True,
+            localname="rat",
+            remote_id="https://example.com/users/rat",
+            discoverable=True,
+        )
+        models.SiteSettings.objects.create()
+
+    def test_directory_page(self):
+        """ there are so many views, this just makes sure it LOADS """
+        view = views.Directory.as_view()
+        request = self.factory.get("")
+        request.user = self.local_user
+
+        result = view(request)
+        self.assertIsInstance(result, TemplateResponse)
+        result.render()
+        self.assertEqual(result.status_code, 200)