diff --git a/python/test/test_protos.py b/python/test/test_protos.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..552d5b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/test/test_protos.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+# Copyright 2019-present Open Networking Foundation
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+# http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+from __future__ import absolute_import, print_function
+import unittest
+
+from google.api import annotations_pb2
+from voltha_protos import voltha_pb2
+
+print("imported api annotations properly")
+
+
+class TestProtos(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(self):
+        print("in setup")
+
+    def test_proto_call(self):
+        """ initialization """
+
+        image_downloader = voltha_pb2.ImageDownload()
+
+        self.assertIsNotNone(image_downloader)
+