diff --git a/meta/classes/testimage-auto.bbclass b/meta/classes/testimage-auto.bbclass
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..860599d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/meta/classes/testimage-auto.bbclass
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2013 Intel Corporation
+#
+# Released under the MIT license (see COPYING.MIT)
+
+
+# Run tests automatically on an image after the image is constructed
+# (as opposed to testimage.bbclass alone where tests must be called
+# manually using bitbake -c testimage <image>).
+#
+# NOTE: to use this class, simply set TEST_IMAGE = "1" - no need to
+# inherit it since that will be done in image.bbclass when this variable
+# has been set.
+#
+# See testimage.bbclass for the test implementation.
+
+inherit testimage
+
+python do_testimage_auto() {
+    testimage_main(d)
+}
+addtask testimage_auto before do_build after do_rootfs
+do_testimage_auto[depends] += "${TESTIMAGEDEPENDS}"
+do_testimage_auto[lockfiles] += "${TESTIMAGELOCK}"