diff --git a/test/T030-config.sh b/test/T030-config.sh
index 2d3017da..636b5a53 100755
--- a/test/T030-config.sh
+++ b/test/T030-config.sh
@@ -200,4 +200,13 @@ cp initial-config bad-config
 printf '[query]\nq3=from:\xff\n' >>bad-config
 test_expect_code 1 "notmuch --config=./bad-config config list"
 
+test_begin_subtest "Specific error message about bad utf8"
+test_subtest_known_broken
+notmuch --config=./bad-config config list 2>ERRORS
+cat <<EOF > EXPECTED
+GLib: Key file contains key “q3” with value “from:�” which is not UTF-8
+Error: unable to load config file.
+EOF
+test_expect_equal_file EXPECTED ERRORS
+
 test_done