diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_triggers.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_triggers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4fe6e044ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_triggers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+
+import openmc
+
+def test_tally_trigger(run_in_tmpdir):
+    pincell = openmc.examples.pwr_pin_cell()
+
+    # create a tally filter on the materials
+    mat_filter = openmc.MaterialFilter(pincell.materials)
+
+    # create a tally with triggers applied
+    tally = openmc.Tally()
+    tally.filters = [mat_filter]
+    tally.scores = ['scatter']
+
+    trigger = openmc.Trigger('rel_err', 0.05)
+    trigger.scores = ['scatter']
+
+    tally.triggers = [trigger]
+
+    pincell.tallies = [tally]
+
+    pincell.settings.trigger_active = True
+    pincell.settings.trigger_max_batches = 100
+    pincell.settings.trigger_batch_interval = 5
+
+    sp_file = pincell.run()
+    with openmc.StatePoint(sp_file) as sp:
+        expected_realizations = sp.n_realizations
+
+    # adding other scores to the tally should not change the
+    # number of batches required to satisfy the trigger
+    tally.scores = ['total', 'absorption', 'scatter']
+
+    sp_file = pincell.run()
+
+    with openmc.StatePoint(sp_file) as sp:
+        realizations = sp.n_realizations
+
+    assert realizations == expected_realizations
+
+
+def test_tally_trigger_null_score(run_in_tmpdir):
+    pincell = openmc.examples.pwr_pin_cell()
+
+     # create a tally filter on the materials
+    mat_filter = openmc.MaterialFilter(pincell.materials)
+
+    # apply a tally with a score that be tallied in this model
+    tally = openmc.Tally()
+    tally.filters = [mat_filter]
+    tally.scores = ['pair-production']
+
+    trigger = openmc.Trigger('rel_err', 0.05)
+    trigger.scores = ['pair-production']
+
+    tally.triggers = [trigger]
+
+    pincell.tallies = [tally]
+
+    pincell.settings.trigger_active = True
+    pincell.settings.trigger_max_batches = 50
+    pincell.settings.trigger_batch_interval = 5
+
+    sp_file = pincell.run()
+
+    with openmc.StatePoint(sp_file) as sp:
+        # verify that the tally mean is zero
+        tally_out = sp.get_tally(id=tally.id)
+        assert all(tally_out.mean == 0.0)
+
+        # we expect that this simulation will run
+        # up to the max allowed batches
+        total_batches = sp.n_realizations + sp.n_inactive
+        assert total_batches == pincell.settings.trigger_max_batches
+