diff --git a/test/python/api/test_timeout.py b/test/python/api/test_timeout.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..034d4899
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/python/api/test_timeout.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+#
+# This file is part of Nominatim. (https://nominatim.org)
+#
+# Copyright (C) 2025 by the Nominatim developer community.
+# For a full list of authors see the git log.
+"""
+Tests for timeout helper
+"""
+import asyncio
+
+import pytest
+
+from nominatim_api.timeout import Timeout
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_timeout_none():
+    timeout = Timeout(None)
+
+    assert timeout.abs is None
+    assert not timeout.is_elapsed()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_timeout_should_not_be_elapsed_after_creation():
+    assert not Timeout(2).is_elapsed()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_timeout_elapse():
+    timeout = Timeout(0.5)
+
+    assert timeout.abs is not None
+    await asyncio.sleep(0.5)
+    assert timeout.is_elapsed()