diff --git a/tests/test_mpsd_software.py b/tests/test_mpsd_software.py
index 91950f60ddf330be544bce82653fd29fb2c2d2cf..7a8e4c1863f68ed4ef2ef86560894dcdc246d1db 100644
--- a/tests/test_mpsd_software.py
+++ b/tests/test_mpsd_software.py
@@ -560,6 +560,12 @@ def test_get_root_dir(tmp_path):
             root_dir = mod.get_root_dir()
             assert root_dir == tmp_path
 
+        # test that initialising in a subdirectory makes it the root dir
+        with mod.os_chdir(sub_dir):
+            mod.initialize_environment(sub_dir)
+            root_dir = mod.get_root_dir()
+            assert root_dir == sub_dir
+
 
 def test_interface(tmp_path):
     """Test other things (not implemented yet)."""