diff --git a/tests/test_2way.py b/tests/test_2way.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fdcec1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_2way.py
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+"""
+Bidirectional streaming and context API.
+"""
+
+import trio
+import tractor
+
+# from conftest import tractor_test
+
+# TODO: test endofchannel semantics / cancellation / error cases:
+# 3 possible outcomes:
+# - normal termination: far end relays a stop message with
+# final value as in async gen from ``return <val>``.
+
+# possible outcomes:
+# - normal termination: far end returns
+# - premature close: far end relays a stop message to tear down stream
+# - cancel: far end raises `ContextCancelled`
+
+# future possible outcomes
+# - restart request: far end raises `ContextRestart`
+
+
+_state: bool = False
+
+
+@tractor.context
+async def simple_setup_teardown(
+
+    ctx: tractor.Context,
+    data: int,
+
+) -> None:
+
+    # startup phase
+    global _state
+    _state = True
+
+    # signal to parent that we're up
+    await ctx.started(data + 1)
+
+    try:
+        # block until cancelled
+        await trio.sleep_forever()
+    finally:
+        _state = False
+
+
+async def assert_state(value: bool):
+    global _state
+    assert _state == value
+
+
+def test_simple_contex():
+
+    async def main():
+        async with tractor.open_nursery() as n:
+
+            portal = await n.start_actor(
+                'simple_context',
+                enable_modules=[__name__],
+            )
+
+            async with portal.open_context(
+                simple_setup_teardown,
+                data=10,
+            ) as (ctx, sent):
+
+                assert sent == 11
+
+                await portal.run(assert_state, value=True)
+
+            # after cancellation
+            await portal.run(assert_state, value=False)
+
+            # shut down daemon
+            await portal.cancel_actor()
+
+    trio.run(main)
+
+
+@tractor.context
+async def simple_rpc(
+
+    ctx: tractor.Context,
+    data: int,
+
+) -> None:
+
+    # signal to parent that we're up
+    await ctx.started(data + 1)
+
+    print('opening stream in callee')
+    async with ctx.open_stream() as stream:
+
+        count = 0
+        while True:
+            try:
+                await stream.receive() == 'ping'
+            except trio.EndOfChannel:
+                assert count == 10
+                break
+            else:
+                print('pong')
+                await stream.send('pong')
+                count += 1
+
+
+def test_simple_rpc():
+    """The simplest request response pattern.
+
+    """
+    async def main():
+        async with tractor.open_nursery() as n:
+
+            portal = await n.start_actor(
+                'rpc_server',
+                enable_modules=[__name__],
+            )
+
+            async with portal.open_context(
+                simple_rpc,
+                data=10,
+            ) as (ctx, sent):
+
+                assert sent == 11
+
+                async with ctx.open_stream() as stream:
+
+                    for _ in range(10):
+
+                        print('ping')
+                        await stream.send('ping')
+                        assert await stream.receive() == 'pong'
+
+                # stream should terminate here
+
+            await portal.cancel_actor()
+
+    trio.run(main)