diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/writers/test.nix b/pkgs/build-support/writers/test.nix
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..68b7b27e613
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/writers/test.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+{ stdenv, lib, runCommand, haskellPackages, nodePackages, perlPackages, python2Packages, python3Packages, writers}:
+with writers;
+let
+
+  bin = {
+    bash = writeBashBin "test_writers" ''
+     if [[ "test" == "test" ]]; then echo "success"; fi
+    '';
+
+    c = writeCBin "test_writers" { libraries = [ ]; } ''
+      #include <stdio.h>
+      int main() {
+        printf("success\n");
+        return 0;
+      }
+    '';
+
+    dash = writeDashBin "test_writers" ''
+     test '~' = '~' && echo 'success'
+    '';
+
+    haskell = writeHaskellBin "test_writers" { libraries = [ haskellPackages.acme-default ]; } ''
+      import Data.Default
+
+      int :: Int
+      int = def
+
+      main :: IO ()
+      main = case int of
+        18871 -> putStrLn $ id "success"
+        _ -> print "fail"
+    '';
+
+    js = writeJSBin "test_writers" { libraries = [ nodePackages.semver ]; } ''
+      var semver = require('semver');
+
+      if (semver.valid('1.2.3')) {
+        console.log('success')
+      } else {
+        console.log('fail')
+      }
+    '';
+
+    perl = writePerlBin "test_writers" { libraries = [ perlPackages.boolean ]; } ''
+      use boolean;
+      print "success\n" if true;
+    '';
+
+    python2 = writePython2Bin "test_writers" { libraries = [ python2Packages.enum ]; } ''
+      from enum import Enum
+
+      class Test(Enum):
+          a = "success"
+
+      print Test.a
+    '';
+
+    python3 = writePython3Bin "test_writers" { libraries = [ python3Packages.pyyaml ]; } ''
+      import yaml
+
+      y = yaml.load("""
+        - test: success
+      """)
+      print(y[0]['test'])
+    '';
+  };
+
+  simple = {
+    bash = writeBash "test_bash" ''
+     if [[ "test" == "test" ]]; then echo "success"; fi
+    '';
+
+    c = writeC "test_c" { libraries = [ ]; } ''
+      #include <stdio.h>
+      int main() {
+        printf("success\n");
+        return 0;
+      }
+    '';
+
+    dash = writeDash "test_dash" ''
+     test '~' = '~' && echo 'success'
+    '';
+
+    haskell = writeHaskell "test_haskell" { libraries = [ haskellPackages.acme-default ]; } ''
+      import Data.Default
+
+      int :: Int
+      int = def
+
+      main :: IO ()
+      main = case int of
+        18871 -> putStrLn $ id "success"
+        _ -> print "fail"
+    '';
+
+    js = writeJS "test_js" { libraries = [ nodePackages.semver ]; } ''
+      var semver = require('semver');
+
+      if (semver.valid('1.2.3')) {
+        console.log('success')
+      } else {
+        console.log('fail')
+      }
+    '';
+
+    perl = writePerl "test_perl" { libraries = [ perlPackages.boolean ]; } ''
+      use boolean;
+      print "success\n" if true;
+    '';
+
+    python2 = writePython2 "test_python2" { libraries = [ python2Packages.enum ]; } ''
+      from enum import Enum
+
+      class Test(Enum):
+          a = "success"
+
+      print Test.a
+    '';
+
+    python3 = writePython3 "test_python3" { libraries = [ python3Packages.pyyaml ]; } ''
+      import yaml
+
+      y = yaml.load("""
+        - test: success
+      """)
+      print(y[0]['test'])
+    '';
+  };
+
+  writeTest = expectedValue: test:
+    writeDash "test-writers" ''
+      if test "$(${test})" != "${expectedValue}"; then
+        echo 'test ${test} failed'
+        exit 1
+      fi
+    '';
+
+in runCommand "test-writers" {
+  passthru = { inherit writeTest bin simple; };
+  meta.platforms = stdenv.lib.platforms.all;
+} ''
+  ${lib.concatMapStringsSep "\n" (test: writeTest "success" "${test}/bin/test_writers") (lib.attrValues bin)}
+  ${lib.concatMapStringsSep "\n" (test: writeTest "success" "${test}") (lib.attrValues simple)}
+
+  echo 'nix-writers successfully tested' >&2
+  touch $out
+''
+
diff --git a/pkgs/test/default.nix b/pkgs/test/default.nix
index 24948ce9aa4..d95b2cc5522 100644
--- a/pkgs/test/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/test/default.nix
@@ -31,4 +31,6 @@ with pkgs;
   cross = callPackage ./cross {};
 
   patch-shebangs = callPackage ./patch-shebangs {};
+
+  writers = callPackage ../build-support/writers/test.nix {};
 }