diff --git a/common/throttle_timer_test.go b/common/throttle_timer_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bd03a7a68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/throttle_timer_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+package common
+
+import (
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	// make govet noshadow happy...
+	asrt "github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+type counter struct {
+	input chan struct{}
+	mtx   sync.Mutex
+	count int
+}
+
+func (c *counter) Increment() {
+	c.mtx.Lock()
+	c.count++
+	c.mtx.Unlock()
+}
+
+func (c *counter) Count() int {
+	c.mtx.Lock()
+	val := c.count
+	c.mtx.Unlock()
+	return val
+}
+
+// Read should run in a go-routine and
+// updates count by one every time a packet comes in
+func (c *counter) Read() {
+	for range c.input {
+		c.Increment()
+	}
+}
+
+func TestThrottle(test *testing.T) {
+	assert := asrt.New(test)
+
+	ms := 50
+	delay := time.Duration(ms) * time.Millisecond
+	longwait := time.Duration(2) * delay
+	t := NewThrottleTimer("foo", delay)
+
+	// start at 0
+	c := &counter{input: t.Ch}
+	assert.Equal(0, c.Count())
+	go c.Read()
+
+	// waiting does nothing
+	time.Sleep(longwait)
+	assert.Equal(0, c.Count())
+
+	// send one event adds one
+	t.Set()
+	time.Sleep(longwait)
+	assert.Equal(1, c.Count())
+
+	// send a burst adds one
+	for i := 0; i < 5; i++ {
+		t.Set()
+	}
+	time.Sleep(longwait)
+	assert.Equal(2, c.Count())
+
+	// send 12, over 2 delay sections, adds 3
+	short := time.Duration(ms/5) * time.Millisecond
+	for i := 0; i < 13; i++ {
+		t.Set()
+		time.Sleep(short)
+	}
+	time.Sleep(longwait)
+	assert.Equal(5, c.Count())
+
+	close(t.Ch)
+}