diff --git a/nixos/tests/all-tests.nix b/nixos/tests/all-tests.nix
index c860c8a6a782..3a0359f95556 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/all-tests.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/all-tests.nix
@@ -1152,6 +1152,7 @@ in {
   systemd-userdbd = handleTest ./systemd-userdbd.nix {};
   systemd-homed = handleTest ./systemd-homed.nix {};
   systemtap = handleTest ./systemtap.nix {};
+  startx = runTest ./startx.nix;
   taler = handleTest ./taler {};
   tandoor-recipes = handleTest ./tandoor-recipes.nix {};
   tandoor-recipes-script-name = handleTest ./tandoor-recipes-script-name.nix {};
diff --git a/nixos/tests/startx.nix b/nixos/tests/startx.nix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..eb83d60997e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nixos/tests/startx.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+{ lib, ... }:
+
+{
+  name = "startx";
+  meta.maintainers = with lib.maintainers; [ rnhmjoj ];
+
+  nodes.machine =
+    { pkgs, ... }:
+    {
+      services.getty.autologinUser = "root";
+
+      environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [
+        xdotool
+        catclock
+      ];
+
+      programs.bash.promptInit = "PS1='# '";
+
+      # startx+bspwm setup
+      services.xserver = {
+        enable = true;
+        windowManager.bspwm = {
+          enable = true;
+          configFile = pkgs.writeShellScript "bspwrc" ''
+            bspc config border_width 2
+            bspc config window_gap 12
+            bspc rule -a xclock state=floating sticky=on
+          '';
+          sxhkd.configFile = pkgs.writeText "sxhkdrc" ''
+            # open a terminal
+            super + Return
+              urxvtc
+            # quit bspwm
+            super + alt + Escape
+              bspc quit
+          '';
+        };
+        displayManager.startx = {
+          enable = true;
+          generateScript = true;
+          extraCommands = ''
+            xrdb -load ~/.Xresources
+            xsetroot -solid '#343d46'
+            xsetroot -cursor_name trek
+            xclock &
+          '';
+        };
+      };
+
+      # enable some user services
+      security.polkit.enable = true;
+      services.urxvtd.enable = true;
+      programs.xss-lock.enable = true;
+    };
+
+  testScript = ''
+    import textwrap
+
+    sysu = "env XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=/run/user/0 systemctl --user";
+    prompt = "# "
+
+    with subtest("Wait for the autologin"):
+        machine.wait_until_tty_matches("1", prompt)
+
+    with subtest("Setup dotfiles"):
+        machine.execute(textwrap.dedent("""
+          cat <<EOF > ~/.Xresources
+            urxvt*foreground: #9b9081
+            urxvt*background: #181b20
+            urxvt*scrollBar:  false
+            urxvt*title:      myterm
+            urxvt*geometry:   80x240+0+0
+            xclock*geometry:  164x164+24+440
+          EOF
+        """))
+
+    with subtest("Can start the X server"):
+        machine.send_chars("startx\n")
+        machine.wait_for_x()
+        machine.wait_for_window("xclock")
+
+    with subtest("Graphical services are running"):
+        machine.succeed(f"{sysu} is-active graphical-session.target")
+        machine.succeed(f"{sysu} is-active urxvtd")
+        machine.succeed(f"{sysu} is-active xss-lock")
+
+    with subtest("Can interact with the WM"):
+        machine.wait_until_succeeds("pgrep sxhkd")
+        machine.wait_until_succeeds("pgrep bspwm")
+        # spawn some terminals
+        machine.send_key("meta_l-ret", delay=0.5)
+        machine.send_key("meta_l-ret", delay=0.5)
+        machine.send_key("meta_l-ret", delay=0.5)
+        # Note: this tests that resources have beeen loaded
+        machine.wait_for_window("myterm")
+        machine.screenshot("screenshot.png")
+
+    with subtest("Can stop the X server"):
+        # kill the WM
+        machine.send_key("meta_l-alt-esc")
+        machine.wait_until_tty_matches("1", prompt)
+
+    with subtest("Graphical session has stopped"):
+        machine.fail(f"{sysu} is-active graphical-session.target")
+        machine.fail(f"{sysu} is-active urxvtd")
+        machine.fail(f"{sysu} is-active xss-lock")
+  '';
+}