diff --git a/t/utils/llist_test.c b/t/utils/llist_test.c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/utils/llist_test.c
@@ -0,0 +1,218 @@
+/*
+ * SysDB - t/utils/llist_test.c
+ * Copyright (C) 2013 Sebastian 'tokkee' Harl <sh@tokkee.org>
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ * are met:
+ * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ * documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
+ * TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
+ * PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS OR
+ * CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
+ * EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
+ * PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS;
+ * OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY,
+ * WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR
+ * OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF
+ * ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+#include <check.h>
+
+#include "libsysdb_test.h"
+#include "utils/llist.h"
+
+/*
+ * private data types
+ */
+
+static sdb_object_t golden_data[] = {
+ SSTRING_OBJ("abc"),
+ SSTRING_OBJ("bcd"),
+ SSTRING_OBJ("cde"),
+ SSTRING_OBJ("def"),
+ SSTRING_OBJ("efg"),
+ SSTRING_OBJ("fgh"),
+ SSTRING_OBJ("ghi")
+};
+
+static char *unused_names[] = {
+ "xyz",
+ "yza",
+ "zab"
+};
+
+static sdb_llist_t *list;
+
+static void
+setup(void)
+{
+ list = sdb_llist_create();
+} /* setup */
+
+static void
+teardown(void)
+{
+ sdb_llist_destroy(list);
+ list = NULL;
+} /* teardown */
+
+/* populate the list with the golden data in the specified order */
+static void
+populate(void)
+{
+ int i;
+ for (i = 0; i < SDB_STATIC_ARRAY_LEN(golden_data); ++i) {
+ int check = sdb_llist_append(list, &golden_data[i]);
+ fail_unless(check == 0,
+ "sdb_llist_append(%s) = %i; expected: 0",
+ golden_data[i].name, check);
+ }
+} /* populate */
+
+START_TEST(test_append)
+{
+ int i;
+ for (i = 0; i < SDB_STATIC_ARRAY_LEN(golden_data); ++i) {
+ int check = sdb_llist_append(list, &golden_data[i]);
+ fail_unless(check == 0,
+ "sdb_llist_append(%s) = %i; expected: 0",
+ golden_data[i].name, check);
+ fail_unless(golden_data[i].ref_cnt == 2,
+ "sdb_llist_append(%s) did not take ownership",
+ golden_data[i].name);
+ }
+}
+END_TEST
+
+START_TEST(test_insert)
+{
+ int i;
+ for (i = 0; i < SDB_STATIC_ARRAY_LEN(golden_data); ++i) {
+ int check = sdb_llist_insert(list, &golden_data[i], 0);
+ fail_unless(check == 0,
+ "sdb_llist_insert(%s, 0) = %i; expected: 0",
+ golden_data[i].name, check);
+ fail_unless(golden_data[i].ref_cnt == 2,
+ "sdb_llist_insert(%s, 0) did not take ownership",
+ golden_data[i].name);
+ }
+}
+END_TEST
+
+START_TEST(test_insert_invalid)
+{
+ int i;
+ for (i = 0; i < SDB_STATIC_ARRAY_LEN(golden_data); ++i) {
+ /* none of these operations will succeed
+ * => 1 is invalid for each case */
+ int check = sdb_llist_insert(list, &golden_data[i], 1);
+ fail_unless(check == -1,
+ "sdb_llist_insert(%s, 1) = %i; expected: -1",
+ golden_data[i].name, check);
+ fail_unless(golden_data[i].ref_cnt == 1,
+ "sdb_llist_insert(%s, 1) took ownership",
+ golden_data[i].name);
+ }
+}
+END_TEST
+
+START_TEST(test_search)
+{
+ int i;
+ populate();
+ for (i = 0; i < SDB_STATIC_ARRAY_LEN(golden_data); ++i) {
+ sdb_object_t *check = sdb_llist_search_by_name(list,
+ golden_data[i].name);
+ fail_unless(check == &golden_data[i],
+ "sdb_llist_search_by_name(%s) = NULL; expected: %p",
+ golden_data[i].name, &golden_data[i]);
+ }
+
+ for (i = 0; i < SDB_STATIC_ARRAY_LEN(unused_names); ++i) {
+ sdb_object_t *check = sdb_llist_search_by_name(list,
+ unused_names[i]);
+ fail_unless(check == NULL,
+ "sdb_llist_search_by_name(%s) = %p; expected: NULL",
+ unused_names[i], check);
+ }
+}
+END_TEST
+
+START_TEST(test_shift)
+{
+ int i;
+ populate();
+ for (i = 0; i < SDB_STATIC_ARRAY_LEN(golden_data); ++i) {
+ sdb_object_t *check = sdb_llist_shift(list);
+ fail_unless(check == &golden_data[i],
+ "sdb_llist_shift() = NULL; expected: %p",
+ &golden_data[i]);
+ fail_unless(check->ref_cnt == 2,
+ "sdb_llist_shift() changed reference count; got: %i; "
+ "expected: 2", check->ref_cnt);
+ }
+
+ /* must be empty now */
+ fail_unless(sdb_llist_shift(list) == NULL,
+ "sdb_llist_shift() returned value; expected: NULL");
+}
+END_TEST
+
+START_TEST(test_iter)
+{
+ sdb_llist_iter_t *iter;
+ int i;
+
+ populate();
+
+ iter = sdb_llist_get_iter(list);
+ fail_unless(iter != NULL,
+ "sdb_llist_get_iter() did not return an iterator");
+
+ for (i = 0; i < SDB_STATIC_ARRAY_LEN(golden_data); ++i) {
+ sdb_object_t *check;
+ fail_unless(sdb_llist_iter_has_next(iter),
+ "sdb_llist_iter_has_next() = FALSE; expected: TRUE");
+ check = sdb_llist_iter_get_next(iter);
+ fail_unless(check == &golden_data[i],
+ "sdb_llist_iter_get_next() = %p; expected: %p",
+ check, &golden_data[i]);
+ }
+
+ fail_unless(!sdb_llist_iter_has_next(iter),
+ "sdb_llist_iter_has_next() = TRUE; expected: FALSE");
+ fail_unless(sdb_llist_iter_get_next(iter) == NULL,
+ "sdb_llist_iter_get_next() returned value; expected: NULL");
+ sdb_llist_iter_destroy(iter);
+}
+END_TEST
+
+Suite *
+util_llist_suite(void)
+{
+ Suite *s = suite_create("utils::llist");
+
+ TCase *tc_core = tcase_create("core");
+ tcase_add_checked_fixture(tc_core, setup, teardown);
+ tcase_add_test(tc_core, test_append);
+ tcase_add_test(tc_core, test_insert);
+ tcase_add_test(tc_core, test_insert_invalid);
+ tcase_add_test(tc_core, test_search);
+ tcase_add_test(tc_core, test_shift);
+ tcase_add_test(tc_core, test_iter);
+ suite_add_tcase(s, tc_core);
+
+ return s;
+} /* util_llist_suite */
+
+/* vim: set tw=78 sw=4 ts=4 noexpandtab : */
+