diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 8b59eae..6ca7f15 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -1,10 +1,16 @@
 noinst_LIBRARIES = libstb-hal.a
 libstb_hal_a_SOURCES =
 SUBDIRS = common
+bin_PROGRAMS = libstb-hal-test
 
 libstb_hal_a_LIBADD = \
 	common/lt_debug.o
 
+libstb_hal_test_SOURCES = libtest.cpp
+libstb_hal_test_LDADD = \
+	libstb-hal.a \
+	@DIRECTFB_LIBS@
+
 # there has to be a better way to do this...
 if BOXTYPE_TRIPLE
 SUBDIRS += libtriple
diff --git a/libtest.cpp b/libtest.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8540326
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libtest.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+/* minimal test program for libstb-hal
+ * (C) 2012 Stefan Seyfried
+ * License: GPL v2 or later
+ *
+ * this does just test the input converter thread for now...
+ */
+
+#include <config.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include <include/init_td.h>
+
+int main(int argc, char ** argv)
+{
+	init_td_api();
+	while (1) {
+		sleep(1);
+		if (! access("/tmp/endtest", R_OK))
+		{
+			unlink("/tmp/endtest");
+			break;
+		}
+	};
+	shutdown_td_api();
+	return 0;
+}