diff --git a/recipe/meta.yaml b/recipe/meta.yaml
index f1c24491..afb64f77 100644
--- a/recipe/meta.yaml
+++ b/recipe/meta.yaml
@@ -87,10 +87,15 @@ requirements:
     - aws-sdk-cpp
 
 test:
+  files:
+    - test_netcdf.py
+  requires:
+    - xarray
   commands:
     - test ! -f ${PREFIX}/lib/libnetcdf.a          # [not win]
     - test -f ${PREFIX}/lib/libnetcdf${SHLIB_EXT}  # [not win]
     - nc-config --all  # [not win]
+    - python -c "import test_netcdf; test_netcdf.test_netcdf"
 
 about:
   home: http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/
diff --git a/recipe/test_netcdf.py b/recipe/test_netcdf.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..721b80a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/recipe/test_netcdf.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+import xarray as xr
+
+
+def test_netcdf():
+    fk = "test.nc"
+    ds = xr.Dataset(
+        coords={"nx": [0], "ny": [0]},
+        attrs={
+            "source": "satpy unit test",
+            "time_coverage_start": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
+            "time_coverage_end": "0001-01-01T01:00:00Z",
+        }
+    )
+    ds.to_netcdf(fk)