diff --git a/src/tests/test_protocol.py b/src/tests/test_protocol.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..84d87a0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tests/test_protocol.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+"""
+Tests for common protocol functions
+"""
+
+import unittest
+
+
+class TestProtocol(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Main protocol test case"""
+
+    def test_check_local(self):
+        """Check the logic of TCPConnection.local"""
+        from pybitmessage import protocol, state
+
+        self.assertTrue(
+            protocol.checkIPAddress(protocol.encodeHost('127.0.0.1'), True))
+        self.assertTrue(
+            protocol.checkIPAddress(protocol.encodeHost('192.168.0.1'), True))
+
+        self.assertTrue(
+            not protocol.checkSocksIP('127.0.0.1')
+            or state.socksIP)