diff --git a/test_runner/snapshot/test_pageserver.py b/test_runner/snapshot/test_pageserver.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3b5a651b29
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test_runner/snapshot/test_pageserver.py
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+from fixtures.neon_fixtures import NeonEnvBuilder
+import time
+from pathlib import Path
+import os
+import shutil
+
+
+# TODO this function just generates timeline.zip. Make a function that checks
+# whether the timeline can be loaded, and separate this "generate timeline.zip"
+# functionality elsewhere.
+def test_snapshot_pageserver(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder, test_output_dir):
+    # 81920 is the minimum compaction_target size. I choose a larger one to get some images.
+    neon_env_builder.pageserver_config_override = """
+tenant_config={checkpoint_distance = 3, compaction_target_size = 81920, compaction_period = "1 s"}"""
+
+    env = neon_env_builder.init_start()
+
+    env.neon_cli.create_branch("test_snapshot_pageserver", "main")
+    pg = env.postgres.create_start("test_snapshot_pageserver")
+
+    tenant = env.initial_tenant.hex
+    timeline = pg.safe_psql("SHOW neon.timeline_id")[0][0]
+
+    pg.safe_psql("CREATE TABLE foo(i int);")
+    for i in range(100):
+        pg.safe_psql(f"INSERT INTO foo VALUES ({i});")
+        # Sleep so compaction kicks in (every second)
+        # TODO trigger manual compaction instead?
+        time.sleep(0.1)
+
+    # make some hot pages so we get image layers
+    for k in range(6):
+        pg.safe_psql(f"UPDATE foo SET i = i + 1")
+        # Sleep so compaction kicks in (every second)
+        time.sleep(0.3)
+
+    # One more checkpoint
+    psconn = env.pageserver.safe_psql(f"checkpoint {tenant} {timeline}")
+
+    # Zip the timeline
+    # TODO check it contains L0, L1, at least one image
+    path = Path(test_output_dir) / "repo" / "tenants" / tenant / "timelines" / timeline
+    shutil.make_archive("timeline", "zip", path)