diff --git a/tests/base.bats b/tests/base.bats
index 157f53a..7ebaccf 100644
--- a/tests/base.bats
+++ b/tests/base.bats
@@ -2,7 +2,13 @@
 
 load ../common
 
-@test "curl should connect to InCommon cert chain site successfully" {
+
+@test "Base container is running" {
+  run docker inspect $maintainer/$imagename
+  [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+}
+
+@test "curl can connect to InCommon cert chain site successfully" {
   run docker run -i $maintainer/$imagename curl -o /dev/null --silent --head --write-out '%{http_code}\n' https://github.internet2.edu/
   echo ${output}
   [ "$status" -eq 0 ]