diff --git a/lib/bb/tests/fetch.py b/lib/bb/tests/fetch.py
index c0b53da31..27924881d 100644
--- a/lib/bb/tests/fetch.py
+++ b/lib/bb/tests/fetch.py
@@ -2298,7 +2298,17 @@ class GitShallowTest(FetcherTest):
         self.assertIn("No up to date source found", context.exception.msg)
         self.assertIn("clone directory not available or not up to date", context.exception.msg)
 
+    def test_shallow_check_is_shallow(self):
+        self.add_empty_file('a')
+        self.add_empty_file('b')
+
+        # Fetch and unpack without the clonedir and *only* shallow tarball available
+        bb.utils.remove(self.gitdir, recurse=True)
+        fetcher, ud = self.fetch_and_unpack()
 
+        # The unpacked tree *should* be shallow
+        self.assertRevCount(1)
+        assert os.path.exists(os.path.join(self.gitdir, '.git', 'shallow'))
 
 class GitLfsTest(FetcherTest):
     def skipIfNoGitLFS():