diff --git a/tests/test_accounting.py b/tests/test_accounting.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f5a3bd8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_accounting.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+'''
+`piker.accounting` mgmt calculations for
+- positioning
+- ledger updates
+- config file IO
+
+'''
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from piker import config
+
+
+def test_root_conf_networking_section(
+    root_conf: dict,
+):
+    conf, path = config.load(
+        'conf',
+        touch_if_dne=True,
+    )
+    assert conf['network']['tsdb']
+
+
+def test_account_file_default_empty(
+    tmpconfdir: Path,
+):
+    conf, path = config.load_account(
+        'kraken',
+        'paper',
+    )
+
+    # ensure the account file empty but created
+    # and in the correct place in the filesystem!
+    assert not conf
+    assert path.parent.is_dir()
+    assert path.parent.name == 'accounting'