diff --git a/test/cql-pytest/test_use.py b/test/cql-pytest/test_use.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0c2b3c444f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/cql-pytest/test_use.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# Copyright 2022-present ScyllaDB
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#############################################################################
+# Tests for the "USE" statement, which modifies the default keyspace used
+# by subsequent statements.
+#
+# Note that because the "USE" statement modifies the state of the current
+# connection, and there is no way to undo its effects (there is no "UNUSE"
+# or way to do an empty "USE"), the following tests should all use a new_cql
+# wrapper over the cql fixture, instead of the cql fixture directly. This
+# wrapper creates a new connection, with its own default USE.
+#############################################################################
+
+import pytest
+from cassandra.protocol import InvalidRequest
+from util import unique_name, new_cql
+
+# Check that CREATE TABLE and DROP TABLE work without an explict keyspace
+# name if a default keyspace name is specified with "USE".
+def test_create_table_use_keyspace(cql, test_keyspace):
+    with new_cql(cql) as ncql:
+        ncql.execute(f'USE {test_keyspace}')
+        table = unique_name()
+        ncql.execute(f'CREATE TABLE {table} (k int PRIMARY KEY)')
+        ncql.execute(f'DROP TABLE {table}')
+
+# Check that without a USE, one cannot CREATE TABLE if the keyspace is not
+# explicitly specified.
+def test_create_table_no_keyspace(cql, test_keyspace):
+    with new_cql(cql) as ncql:
+        with pytest.raises(InvalidRequest, match='No keyspace'):
+            ncql.execute(f'CREATE TABLE {unique_name()} (k int PRIMARY KEY)')
diff --git a/test/cql-pytest/util.py b/test/cql-pytest/util.py
index 69937f264a..557f27ce55 100644
--- a/test/cql-pytest/util.py
+++ b/test/cql-pytest/util.py
@@ -200,6 +200,19 @@ def new_session(cql, username):
         yield session
         session.shutdown()
 
+# new_cql() returns a new object similar to the given cql fixture,
+# connected to the same endpoint but with a separate connection.
+# This can be useful for tests which require a separate connection -
+# for example for testing the "USE" statement (which, after used once
+# on a connection, cannot be undone).
+@contextmanager
+def new_cql(cql):
+    session = cql.cluster.connect()
+    try:
+        yield session
+    finally:
+        session.shutdown()
+
 def project(column_name_string, rows):
     """Returns a list of column values from each of the rows."""
     return [getattr(r, column_name_string) for r in rows]