diff --git a/test/init.inc b/test/init.inc
index 441c101177..75063d83d1 100644
--- a/test/init.inc
+++ b/test/init.inc
@@ -245,4 +245,16 @@ function clean_api() {
     PassThru("rm -f counter app_to_core.xml core_to_app.xml foobar");
 }
 
+function compare_time() {
+    $db_time=mysql_query("select cpu_time from result where name = ucs_wu_0");
+    $time_file = fopen("time.xml", "r");
+    fscanf($time_file, "%f", $app_time);
+    if($db_time != $app_time) {
+        printf("Time mismatch: app %d server %d\n", $app_time, $db_time);
+    }
+    else printf("Times match\n");
+    fclose($time_file);
+    PassThru("rm -f time.xml");
+}
+
 ?>
diff --git a/test/test_time.php b/test/test_time.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..337b09d57a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_time.php
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+#! /usr/local/bin/php
+<?php
+    // test the time reporting mechanism in the client
+    //
+    // You must have done "make" in all source directories
+
+    include_once("init.inc");
+
+    check_env_vars();
+    clear_db();
+    create_keys();
+    init_client_dirs("prefs1.xml");
+    copy_to_download_dir("small_input");
+    add_platform(null);
+    add_core_client(null);
+    add_user("prefs.xml");
+    add_app("uc_slow", null, null);
+    create_work("-appname uc_slow -wu_name ucs_wu -wu_template ucs_wu -result_template ucs_result -nresults 1 small_input");
+    start_feeder();
+    run_client("-exit_when_idle");
+    compare_file("ucs_wu_0_0", "uc_small_correct_output");
+    compare_time();
+?>