diff --git a/cmd/restic/integration_test.go b/cmd/restic/integration_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f18de86d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/restic/integration_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+// +build integration
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"flag"
+	"io/ioutil"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	. "github.com/restic/restic/test"
+)
+
+var TestDataFile = flag.String("test.datafile", "", `specify tar.gz file with test data to backup and restore (required for integration test)`)
+
+func setupTempdir(t testing.TB) (tempdir string) {
+	tempdir, err := ioutil.TempDir(*TestTempDir, "restic-test-")
+	OK(t, err)
+
+	return tempdir
+}
+
+func configureRestic(t testing.TB, tempdir string) {
+	// use cache dir within tempdir
+	OK(t, os.Setenv("RESTIC_CACHE", filepath.Join(tempdir, "cache")))
+
+	// configure environment
+	opts.Repo = filepath.Join(tempdir, "repo")
+	OK(t, os.Setenv("RESTIC_PASSWORD", *TestPassword))
+}
+
+func cleanupTempdir(t testing.TB, tempdir string) {
+	if !*TestCleanup {
+		t.Logf("leaving temporary directory %v used for test", tempdir)
+		return
+	}
+
+	OK(t, os.RemoveAll(tempdir))
+}
+
+func setupTarTestFixture(t testing.TB, outputDir, tarFile string) {
+	err := system("sh", "-c", `mkdir "$1" && (cd "$1" && tar xz) < "$2"`,
+		"sh", outputDir, tarFile)
+	OK(t, err)
+}
+
+func system(command string, args ...string) error {
+	cmd := exec.Command(command, args...)
+	cmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
+	cmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
+
+	return cmd.Run()
+}
+
+func cmdInit(t testing.TB) {
+	cmd := &CmdInit{}
+	OK(t, cmd.Execute(nil))
+
+	t.Logf("repository initialized at %v", opts.Repo)
+}
+
+func cmdBackup(t testing.TB, target []string) {
+	cmd := &CmdBackup{}
+	t.Logf("backing up %v", target)
+
+	OK(t, cmd.Execute(target))
+}
+
+func TestBackup(t *testing.T) {
+	if *TestDataFile == "" {
+		t.Fatal("no data tar file specified, use flag '-test.datafile'")
+	}
+
+	tempdir := setupTempdir(t)
+	defer cleanupTempdir(t, tempdir)
+
+	configureRestic(t, tempdir)
+
+	cmdInit(t)
+
+	datadir := filepath.Join(tempdir, "testdata")
+
+	setupTarTestFixture(t, datadir, *TestDataFile)
+
+	cmdBackup(t, []string{datadir})
+}