diff --git a/tests/face/face.cpp b/tests/face/face.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..93a78ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/face/face.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+/* -*- Mode:C++; c-file-style:"gnu"; indent-tabs-mode:nil; -*- */
+/**
+ * Copyright (C) 2014 Named Data Networking Project
+ * See COPYING for copyright and distribution information.
+ */
+
+#include "face/face.hpp"
+
+#include <boost/test/unit_test.hpp>
+
+namespace ndn {
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_SUITE(FaceFace)
+
+// no unit test here: this ensures face.hpp can compile on its own
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_SUITE_END()
+
+} // namespace ndn