diff --git a/tests/test_reference_files.py b/tests/test_reference_files.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a5dde810
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_reference_files.py
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+import os
+
+import pytest
+from asdf import open as asdf_open
+from asdf import versioning
+from asdf._tests._helpers import assert_tree_match
+
+_REFFILE_PATH = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "..", "reference_files")
+
+
+def get_test_id(reference_file_path):
+    """Helper function to return the informative part of a schema path"""
+    path = os.path.normpath(str(reference_file_path))
+    return os.path.sep.join(path.split(os.path.sep)[-3:])
+
+
+def collect_reference_files():
+    """Function used by pytest to collect ASDF reference files for testing."""
+    for version in versioning.supported_versions:
+        version_dir = os.path.join(_REFFILE_PATH, str(version))
+        if os.path.exists(version_dir):
+            for filename in os.listdir(version_dir):
+                if filename.endswith(".asdf"):
+                    filepath = os.path.join(version_dir, filename)
+                    basename, _ = os.path.splitext(filepath)
+                    if os.path.exists(basename + ".yaml"):
+                        yield filepath
+
+
+def _compare_trees(name_without_ext):
+    asdf_path = name_without_ext + ".asdf"
+    yaml_path = name_without_ext + ".yaml"
+
+    with asdf_open(asdf_path) as af_handle:
+        af_handle.resolve_references()
+
+        with asdf_open(yaml_path) as ref:
+            assert_tree_match(af_handle.tree, ref.tree)
+
+
+def test_reference_files_exist():
+    assert list(collect_reference_files())
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("reference_file", collect_reference_files(), ids=get_test_id)
+def test_reference_file(reference_file):
+    name_without_ext, _ = os.path.splitext(reference_file)
+    _compare_trees(name_without_ext)