diff --git a/implementations/python/tests/test_schema.py b/implementations/python/tests/test_schema.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..14a28aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/implementations/python/tests/test_schema.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+import unittest
+
+from preserves import *
+from preserves.schema import meta, Compiler
+
+def literal_schema(modname, s):
+    c = Compiler()
+    c.load_schema((Symbol(modname),), preserve(s))
+    return c.root
+
+class BasicSchemaTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_dictionary_literal(self):
+        m = literal_schema(
+            's',
+            meta.Schema(
+                version = meta.Version(),
+                embeddedType = meta.EmbeddedTypeName.false(),
+                definitions = meta.Definitions({
+                    Symbol('C'): meta.Definition.Pattern(
+                        meta.Pattern.CompoundPattern(
+                            meta.CompoundPattern.dict(
+                                meta.DictionaryEntries({
+                                    "core": meta.NamedSimplePattern.anonymous(
+                                        meta.SimplePattern.lit(Symbol('true')))
+                                }))))
+                })))
+        self.assertEqual(m.s.C.decode({'core': Symbol('true')}), m.s.C())
+        self.assertEqual(preserve(m.s.C()), {'core': Symbol('true')})