diff --git a/core/api/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/IntentExceptionTest.java b/core/api/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/IntentExceptionTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..02564e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/api/src/test/java/org/onlab/onos/net/intent/IntentExceptionTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.net.intent;
+
+import org.junit.Test;
+
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+
+/**
+ * Test of the intent exception.
+ */
+public class IntentExceptionTest {
+
+    @Test
+    public void basics() {
+        validate(new IntentException(), null, null);
+        validate(new IntentException("foo"), "foo", null);
+
+        Throwable cause = new NullPointerException("bar");
+        validate(new IntentException("foo", cause), "foo", cause);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Validates that the specified exception has the correct message and cause.
+     *
+     * @param e       exception to test
+     * @param message expected message
+     * @param cause   expected cause
+     */
+    protected void validate(RuntimeException e, String message, Throwable cause) {
+        assertEquals("incorrect message", message, e.getMessage());
+        assertEquals("incorrect cause", cause, e.getCause());
+    }
+
+}