diff --git a/tests/test-bootstrap.cpp b/tests/test-bootstrap.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5c58c52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test-bootstrap.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+/*
+ * (C) 2024 The University of Chicago
+ *
+ * See COPYRIGHT in top-level directory.
+ */
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <margo.h>
+#include <catch2/catch_test_macros.hpp>
+#include <catch2/catch_all.hpp>
+#include <flock/flock-group-view.h>
+#include <unordered_map>
+#include <flock/flock-bootstrap.h>
+
+struct TestContext {
+
+    margo_instance_id mid = MARGO_INSTANCE_NULL;
+    hg_addr_t         addr = HG_ADDR_NULL;
+
+    TestContext() {
+        mid = margo_init("na+sm", MARGO_SERVER_MODE, 0, 0);
+        margo_addr_self(mid, &addr);
+    }
+
+    ~TestContext() {
+        margo_addr_free(mid, addr);
+        margo_finalize(mid);
+    }
+};
+
+struct Member {
+    uint64_t    rank;
+    std::string address;
+    uint16_t    provider_id;
+};
+
+TEST_CASE("Test bootstrap with self or file", "[bootstrap]") {
+
+    // create test context
+    auto context = std::make_unique<TestContext>();
+
+    SECTION("Create group view from self, write to a file, then read ") {
+
+        flock_group_view_t view = FLOCK_GROUP_VIEW_INITIALIZER;
+        REQUIRE(view.members.size == 0);
+        REQUIRE(view.members.capacity == 0);
+        REQUIRE(view.members.data == nullptr);
+        REQUIRE(view.metadata.size == 0);
+        REQUIRE(view.metadata.capacity == 0);
+        REQUIRE(view.metadata.data == nullptr);
+        REQUIRE(view.digest == 0);
+
+        flock_return_t ret = flock_group_view_init_from_self(context->mid, 42, &view);
+        REQUIRE(ret == FLOCK_SUCCESS);
+
+        REQUIRE(view.members.size == 1u);
+        REQUIRE(view.members.data != nullptr);
+
+        auto me = flock_group_view_find_member(&view, 0);
+        REQUIRE(me->provider_id == 42);
+        REQUIRE(me->rank == 0u);
+
+        char self_addr[256];
+        hg_size_t self_addr_size = 256;
+        margo_addr_to_string(context->mid, self_addr, &self_addr_size, context->addr);
+
+        REQUIRE(strcmp(me->address, self_addr) == 0);
+
+        // write the view to a file
+        std::string filename = std::string{"tmp-group."} + std::to_string(time(nullptr));
+        ret = flock_group_view_serialize_to_file(context->mid, 123, &view, filename.c_str());
+        REQUIRE(ret == FLOCK_SUCCESS);
+
+        // clear the view
+        flock_group_view_clear(&view);
+
+        // read it back from the file
+        ret = flock_group_view_init_from_file(context->mid, filename.c_str(), &view);
+        REQUIRE(ret == FLOCK_SUCCESS);
+
+        REQUIRE(view.members.size == 1u);
+        REQUIRE(view.members.data != nullptr);
+
+        me = flock_group_view_find_member(&view, 0);
+        REQUIRE(me->provider_id == 42);
+        REQUIRE(me->rank == 0u);
+        REQUIRE(strcmp(me->address, self_addr) == 0);
+
+        flock_group_view_clear(&view);
+    }
+}