diff --git a/cloud/shepherd/manager/initializer_test.go b/cloud/shepherd/manager/initializer_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ba2253
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cloud/shepherd/manager/initializer_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+package manager
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"golang.org/x/time/rate"
+
+	"source.monogon.dev/cloud/bmaas/bmdb"
+	"source.monogon.dev/cloud/bmaas/bmdb/model"
+	"source.monogon.dev/cloud/lib/component"
+)
+
+// TestInitializerSmokes makes sure the Initializer doesn't go up in flames on
+// the happy path.
+func TestInitializerSmokes(t *testing.T) {
+	provider := newDummyProvider(100)
+
+	ic := InitializerConfig{
+		ControlLoopConfig: ControlLoopConfig{
+			DBQueryLimiter: rate.NewLimiter(rate.Every(time.Second), 10),
+		},
+		Executable:        []byte("beep boop i'm a real program"),
+		TargetPath:        "/fake/path",
+		Endpoint:          "example.com:1234",
+		SSHConnectTimeout: time.Second,
+		SSHExecTimeout:    time.Second,
+	}
+
+	i, err := NewInitializer(provider, provider.sshClient(), ic)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Could not create Initializer: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	b := bmdb.BMDB{
+		Config: bmdb.Config{
+			Database: component.CockroachConfig{
+				InMemory: true,
+			},
+			ComponentName: "test",
+			RuntimeInfo:   "test",
+		},
+	}
+	conn, err := b.Open(true)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Could not create in-memory BMDB: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	ctx, ctxC := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	t.Cleanup(ctxC)
+
+	go RunControlLoop(ctx, conn, i)
+
+	sess, err := conn.StartSession(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create BMDB session for verifiaction: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Create 10 provided machines for testing.
+	if _, err := provider.createDummyMachines(ctx, sess, 10); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create dummy machines: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Expect to find 0 machines needing start.
+	for {
+		time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
+
+		var machines []model.MachineProvided
+		err = sess.Transact(ctx, func(q *model.Queries) error {
+			var err error
+			machines, err = q.GetMachinesForAgentStart(ctx, model.GetMachinesForAgentStartParams{
+				Limit:    100,
+				Provider: provider.Type(),
+			})
+			return err
+		})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Failed to run Transaction: %v", err)
+		}
+		if len(machines) == 0 {
+			break
+		}
+	}
+
+	for _, m := range provider.machines {
+		if !m.agentStarted {
+			t.Fatalf("Initializer didn't start agent on machine %q", m.id)
+		}
+	}
+}