diff --git a/test/dump-restore b/test/dump-restore
index 6a989b61..c2ddb921 100755
--- a/test/dump-restore
+++ b/test/dump-restore
@@ -136,6 +136,48 @@ notmuch dump --format=batch-tag > BACKUP
 
 notmuch tag +"$tag1" +"$tag2" +"$tag3" -inbox -unread "*"
 
+# initial segment of file used for several tests below.
+cat <<EOF > comments-and-blanks
+# this is a comment
+
+# next line has leading whitespace
+  	
+
+EOF
+
+test_begin_subtest 'restoring empty file is not an error'
+test_subtest_known_broken
+notmuch restore < /dev/null 2>OUTPUT.$test_count
+cp /dev/null EXPECTED
+test_expect_equal_file EXPECTED OUTPUT.$test_count
+
+test_begin_subtest 'file of comments and blank lines is not an error'
+test_subtest_known_broken
+notmuch restore --input=comments-and-blanks
+ret_val=$?
+test_expect_equal "$ret_val" "0"
+
+cp comments-and-blanks leading-comments-blanks-batch-tag
+echo "+some_tag -- id:yun1vjwegii.fsf@aiko.keithp.com" \
+    >> leading-comments-blanks-batch-tag
+
+test_begin_subtest 'detect format=batch-tag with leading comments and blanks'
+notmuch restore --input=leading-comments-blanks-batch-tag
+notmuch search --output=tags id:yun1vjwegii.fsf@aiko.keithp.com > OUTPUT.$test_count
+echo "some_tag" > EXPECTED
+test_expect_equal_file EXPECTED OUTPUT.$test_count
+
+cp comments-and-blanks leading-comments-blanks-sup
+echo "yun1vjwegii.fsf@aiko.keithp.com (another_tag)" \
+    >> leading-comments-blanks-sup
+
+test_begin_subtest 'detect format=sup with leading comments and blanks'
+test_subtest_known_broken
+notmuch restore --input=leading-comments-blanks-sup
+notmuch search --output=tags id:yun1vjwegii.fsf@aiko.keithp.com > OUTPUT.$test_count
+echo "another_tag" > EXPECTED
+test_expect_equal_file EXPECTED OUTPUT.$test_count
+
 test_begin_subtest 'format=batch-tag, round trip with strange tags'
 notmuch dump --format=batch-tag > EXPECTED.$test_count
 notmuch dump --format=batch-tag | notmuch restore --format=batch-tag