diff --git a/test/test_config.py b/test/test_config.py
index 5c1c3ec..19bad80 100644
--- a/test/test_config.py
+++ b/test/test_config.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ def log():
     return LoggerStub()
 
 
-PY_FILE = """Node('foonode', 'fodesc', 'fooface')
+PY_FILE = """Node('foonode', 'fodesc', 'fooface', _secnode_prop='secnode_prop')
 Mod('foo', 'frappy.modules.Readable', 'description', value=5)
 Mod('bar', 'frappy.modules.Readable', 'about me', export=False)
 Mod('baz', 'frappy.modules.Readable', 'things', value=Param(3, unit='BAR'))
diff --git a/test/test_server.py b/test/test_server.py
index e670d6f..903b8dd 100644
--- a/test/test_server.py
+++ b/test/test_server.py
@@ -37,11 +37,9 @@ class LoggerStub:
     def getChild(self, *args):
         return self
 
-
     def addHandler(self, *args):
         pass
 
-
     info = warning = exception = error = debug
     handlers = []
 
@@ -61,3 +59,14 @@ def test_file(direc, log):
     """only see that this does not throw. get config from cfgfiles."""
     s = Server('foo', log, cfgfiles='pyfile_cfg.py')
     s._processCfg()
+
+
+def test_basic_description(direc, log):
+    """only see that this does not throw. get config from cfgfiles."""
+    s = Server('foo', log, cfgfiles='pyfile_cfg.py')
+    s._processCfg()
+    desc = s.secnode.get_descriptive_data('')
+    # secnode properties correctly exported
+    assert set(desc.keys()) == set(['modules', 'description', 'equipment_id', 'firmware', '_secnode_prop'])
+    assert desc['_secnode_prop'] == 'secnode_prop'
+    assert set(desc['modules'].keys()) == set(['foo', 'baz'])