diff --git a/tests/execution/contexts/test_node.py b/tests/execution/contexts/test_node.py
index 34a8ae1..648743b 100644
--- a/tests/execution/contexts/test_node.py
+++ b/tests/execution/contexts/test_node.py
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+
+import pytest
+
 from bonobo import Bag, Graph
+from bonobo.execution.contexts.node import NodeExecutionContext
 from bonobo.execution.strategies import NaiveStrategy
 from bonobo.util.testing import BufferingNodeExecutionContext, BufferingGraphExecutionContext
 
@@ -179,3 +184,46 @@ def test_node_tuple_dict():
         assert len(output) == 2
         assert output[0] == ('foo', 'bar', {'id': 1})
         assert output[1] == ('foo', 'baz', {'id': 2})
+
+def test_node_lifecycle_natural():
+    func = MagicMock()
+
+    ctx = NodeExecutionContext(func)
+    assert not any((ctx.started, ctx.stopped, ctx.killed, ctx.alive))
+
+    # cannot stop before start
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
+        ctx.stop()
+    assert not any((ctx.started, ctx.stopped, ctx.killed, ctx.alive))
+
+    # turn the key
+    ctx.start()
+    assert all((ctx.started, ctx.alive)) and not any((ctx.stopped, ctx.killed))
+
+    ctx.stop()
+    assert all((ctx.started, ctx.stopped)) and not any((ctx.alive, ctx.killed))
+
+def test_node_lifecycle_with_kill():
+    func = MagicMock()
+
+    ctx = NodeExecutionContext(func)
+    assert not any((ctx.started, ctx.stopped, ctx.killed, ctx.alive))
+
+    # cannot kill before start
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
+        ctx.kill()
+    assert not any((ctx.started, ctx.stopped, ctx.killed, ctx.alive))
+
+    # turn the key
+    ctx.start()
+    assert all((ctx.started, ctx.alive)) and not any((ctx.stopped, ctx.killed))
+
+    ctx.kill()
+    assert all((ctx.started, ctx.killed, ctx.alive)) and not ctx.stopped
+
+    ctx.stop()
+    assert all((ctx.started, ctx.killed, ctx.stopped)) and not ctx.alive
+
+
+
+