diff --git a/tests/python_netconfaccess.py b/tests/python_netconfaccess.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a4f6c94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/python_netconfaccess.py
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+import netconf_cli_py as nc
+
+c = nc.NetconfAccess(socketPath = "@NETOPEER_SOCKET_PATH@")
+data = c.getItems("/ietf-netconf-server:netconf-server")
+for (k, v) in data.items():
+    print(f"{k}: {type(v)} {v}", flush=True)
+
+if len(data) == 0:
+    print("ERROR: No data returned from NETCONF")
+    exit(1)
+
+hello_timeout_xp = "/ietf-netconf-server:netconf-server/session-options/hello-timeout"
+for EXPECTED in (599, 59, "61"):
+    c.setLeaf(hello_timeout_xp, EXPECTED)
+    c.commitChanges()
+    data = c.getItems(hello_timeout_xp)
+    if (data[hello_timeout_xp] != EXPECTED):
+        if isinstance(EXPECTED, str):
+            if str(data[hello_timeout_xp]) != EXPECTED:
+                print(f"ERROR: hello-timeout not updated (via string) to {EXPECTED}")
+                exit(1)
+        else:
+            print(f"ERROR: hello-timeout not updated to {EXPECTED}")
+            exit(1)
+try:
+    c.setLeaf(hello_timeout_xp, "blesmrt")
+    c.commitChanges()
+    print("ERROR: setting integer to a string did not error out")
+    exit(1)
+except RuntimeError:
+    pass
+
+exit(0)