diff --git a/test/source/base.cpp b/test/source/base.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3bf76c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/source/base.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+#include <gmock/gmock.h>
+#include <gtest/gtest.h>
+#include <sdeventplus/internal/sdevent.hpp>
+#include <sdeventplus/source/base.hpp>
+#include <sdeventplus/test/sdevent.hpp>
+#include <type_traits>
+
+namespace sdeventplus
+{
+namespace source
+{
+namespace
+{
+
+using testing::Return;
+
+class BaseImpl : public Base
+{
+  public:
+    BaseImpl(sd_event_source* source, internal::SdEvent* sdevent) :
+        Base(source, sdevent)
+    {
+    }
+    BaseImpl(sd_event_source* source, std::false_type,
+             internal::SdEvent* sdevent) :
+        Base(source, std::false_type(), sdevent)
+    {
+    }
+};
+
+class BaseTest : public testing::Test
+{
+  protected:
+    testing::StrictMock<test::SdEventMock> mock;
+    sd_event_source* const expected_source =
+        reinterpret_cast<sd_event_source*>(1234);
+};
+
+TEST_F(BaseTest, NewBaseRef)
+{
+    EXPECT_CALL(mock, sd_event_source_ref(expected_source))
+        .WillOnce(Return(expected_source));
+    BaseImpl source(expected_source, &mock);
+
+    EXPECT_CALL(mock, sd_event_source_unref(expected_source))
+        .WillOnce(Return(nullptr));
+}
+
+TEST_F(BaseTest, NewBaseNoRef)
+{
+    BaseImpl source(expected_source, std::false_type(), &mock);
+
+    EXPECT_CALL(mock, sd_event_source_unref(expected_source))
+        .WillOnce(Return(nullptr));
+}
+
+} // namespace
+} // namespace source
+} // namespace sdeventplus