diff --git a/server_test.go b/server_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..49d59b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+package soju
+
+import (
+	"net"
+	"testing"
+
+	"golang.org/x/crypto/bcrypt"
+	"gopkg.in/irc.v3"
+)
+
+const (
+	testUsername = "soju-test-user"
+	testPassword = testUsername
+)
+
+func ircPipe() (ircConn, ircConn) {
+	c1, c2 := net.Pipe()
+	return newNetIRCConn(c1), newNetIRCConn(c2)
+}
+
+func createTempDB(t *testing.T) Database {
+	db, err := OpenSqliteDB("sqlite3", ":memory:")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to create temporary SQLite database: %v", err)
+	}
+	// :memory: will open a separate database for each new connection. Make
+	// sure the sql package only uses a single connection. An alternative
+	// solution is to use "file::memory:?cache=shared".
+	db.(*SqliteDB).db.SetMaxOpenConns(1)
+	return db
+}
+
+func createTestUser(t *testing.T) *Server {
+	db := createTempDB(t)
+
+	hashed, err := bcrypt.GenerateFromPassword([]byte(testPassword), bcrypt.DefaultCost)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to generate bcrypt hash: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	record := &User{Username: testUsername, Password: string(hashed)}
+	if err := db.StoreUser(record); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to store test user: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	return NewServer(db)
+}
+
+func expectMessage(t *testing.T, c ircConn, cmd string) *irc.Message {
+	msg, err := c.ReadMessage()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to read IRC message (want %q): %v", cmd, err)
+	}
+	if msg.Command != cmd {
+		t.Fatalf("invalid message received: want %q, got: %v", cmd, msg)
+	}
+	return msg
+}
+
+func authTestUser(t *testing.T, c ircConn) {
+	c.WriteMessage(&irc.Message{
+		Command: "PASS",
+		Params:  []string{testPassword},
+	})
+	c.WriteMessage(&irc.Message{
+		Command: "NICK",
+		Params:  []string{testUsername},
+	})
+	c.WriteMessage(&irc.Message{
+		Command: "USER",
+		Params:  []string{testUsername, "0", "*", testUsername},
+	})
+
+	expectMessage(t, c, irc.RPL_WELCOME)
+}
+
+func TestServer(t *testing.T) {
+	srv := createTestUser(t)
+	if err := srv.Start(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to start server: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer srv.Shutdown()
+
+	c, srvConn := ircPipe()
+	defer c.Close()
+	go srv.handle(srvConn)
+
+	authTestUser(t, c)
+}