diff --git a/tests/interactive/Makefile.am b/tests/interactive/Makefile.am
index 357b6bd56..aa8628e98 100644
--- a/tests/interactive/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/interactive/Makefile.am
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@ UNIT_TESTS = \
 	test-snap-constraint.c \
 	test-state-script.c \
 	test-drop.c \
-	test-devices.c
+	test-devices.c \
+	test-actor.c
 
 if X11_TESTS
 UNIT_TESTS += test-pixmap.c
diff --git a/tests/interactive/test-actor.c b/tests/interactive/test-actor.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..35a18f881
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/interactive/test-actor.c
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <gmodule.h>
+#include <clutter/clutter.h>
+
+#define SIZE    128
+
+G_MODULE_EXPORT int
+test_actor_main (int argc, char *argv[])
+{
+  ClutterActor *stage, *vase;
+  ClutterActor *flowers[3];
+
+  if (clutter_init (&argc, &argv) != CLUTTER_INIT_SUCCESS)
+    return EXIT_FAILURE;
+
+  stage = clutter_stage_new ();
+  g_signal_connect (stage, "destroy", G_CALLBACK (clutter_main_quit), NULL);
+  clutter_stage_set_title (CLUTTER_STAGE (stage), "Three Flowers in a Vase");
+  clutter_stage_set_user_resizable (CLUTTER_STAGE (stage), TRUE);
+
+  /* there are three flowers in a vase */
+  vase = clutter_actor_new ();
+  clutter_actor_set_name (vase, "vase");
+  clutter_actor_set_layout_manager (vase, clutter_flow_layout_new (CLUTTER_FLOW_HORIZONTAL));
+  clutter_actor_set_margin_top (vase, 18);
+  clutter_actor_set_margin_bottom (vase, 18);
+  clutter_actor_set_margin_left (vase, 6);
+  clutter_actor_set_margin_right (vase, 6);
+  clutter_actor_add_constraint (vase, clutter_align_constraint_new (stage, CLUTTER_ALIGN_BOTH, 0.5));
+  clutter_actor_add_child (stage, vase);
+
+  flowers[0] = clutter_actor_new ();
+  clutter_actor_set_name (flowers[0], "flower.1");
+  clutter_actor_set_size (flowers[0], SIZE, SIZE);
+  clutter_actor_set_background_color (flowers[0], CLUTTER_COLOR_Red);
+  clutter_actor_add_child (vase, flowers[0]);
+
+  flowers[1] = clutter_actor_new ();
+  clutter_actor_set_name (flowers[1], "flower.2");
+  clutter_actor_set_size (flowers[1], SIZE, SIZE);
+  clutter_actor_set_background_color (flowers[1], CLUTTER_COLOR_Yellow);
+  clutter_actor_add_child (vase, flowers[1]);
+
+  /* the third one is green */
+  flowers[2] = clutter_actor_new ();
+  clutter_actor_set_name (flowers[2], "flower.3");
+  clutter_actor_set_size (flowers[2], SIZE, SIZE);
+  clutter_actor_set_background_color (flowers[2], CLUTTER_COLOR_Green);
+  clutter_actor_add_child (vase, flowers[2]);
+
+  clutter_actor_show (stage);
+
+  clutter_main ();
+
+  return EXIT_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+G_MODULE_EXPORT const char *
+test_actor_describe (void)
+{
+  return "Basic example of actor usage.";
+}