diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 9700ab5e..5bc89e59 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 from dotenv import dotenv_values
 import psycopg2
 import pytest
+import stomp
 
 # standard imports
 import requests
@@ -76,3 +77,14 @@ def db_connection():
     time.sleep(1)
     yield conn
     conn.close()
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope="session")
+def amq_connection():
+    """activemq connection with config from env files"""
+    config = dotenv_values(".env")
+    assert config
+    conn = stomp.Connection(host_and_ports=[("localhost", 61613)])
+    conn.connect(config["ICAT_USER"], config["ICAT_PASS"], wait=True)
+    yield conn
+    conn.disconnect()
diff --git a/tests/test_SMS_messages.py b/tests/test_SMS_messages.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c87cdcb9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_SMS_messages.py
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+"""Test the status acquiring appears when a SMS message is received and before the data is ready"""
+
+import time
+import json
+import tests.utils.db as db_utils
+
+
+class TestSMSQueues:
+    instrument = "arcs"
+    IPTS = "IPTS-11111"
+    user = "InstrumentScientist"
+    pwd = "InstrumentScientist"
+
+    def create_and_send_msg(self, conn, run_number):
+        conn.send(
+            f"/topic/SNS.{self.instrument.upper()}.APP.SMS",
+            json.dumps(
+                {
+                    "instrument": self.instrument,
+                    "facility": "SNS",
+                    "ipts": self.IPTS,
+                    "run_number": run_number,
+                    "data_file": "",
+                    "reason": "SMS run started",
+                    "msg_type": "0",
+                }
+            ),
+        )
+
+    def clear_run(self, conn, run_number):
+        # remove everything for this run
+        cursor = conn.cursor()
+        cursor.execute("SELECT id FROM report_instrument where name = %s;", (self.instrument,))
+        inst_id = cursor.fetchone()
+        if inst_id is None:
+            return
+
+        cursor.execute(
+            "SELECT id FROM report_datarun WHERE instrument_id_id = %s AND run_number = %s;", (inst_id, run_number)
+        )
+        run_id = cursor.fetchone()
+        if run_id is None:
+            return
+
+        db_utils.clear_previous_runstatus(conn, run_id)
+        cursor.execute("DELETE FROM report_workflowsummary WHERE run_id_id = %s;", run_id)
+        cursor.execute("DELETE FROM report_instrumentstatus WHERE last_run_id_id = %s;", run_id)
+        cursor.execute("DELETE FROM report_datarun WHERE id = %s;", (run_id))
+        conn.commit()
+        cursor.close()
+
+    def test_acquiring(self, amq_connection, db_connection, request_page):
+        # remove data run so the tests always starts fresh
+        self.clear_run(db_connection, 100)
+        self.clear_run(db_connection, 101)
+        # send SMS message for 2 runs
+        self.create_and_send_msg(amq_connection, 100)
+        self.create_and_send_msg(amq_connection, 101)
+
+        # wait a second while things run
+        time.sleep(1)
+
+        # check IPTS page /report/arcs/experiment/IPTS-11111/ for acquiring
+        response = request_page("/report/arcs/experiment/IPTS-11111/", self.user, self.pwd)
+        assert response.status_code == 200
+        assert response.text.count("acquiring") == 2
+
+        # now send data_ready for run 100 only and check that it is no longer acquiring
+        self.create_and_send_msg(amq_connection, 100)
+
+        amq_connection.send(
+            "/queue/POSTPROCESS.DATA_READY",
+            json.dumps(
+                {
+                    "instrument": self.instrument,
+                    "facility": "SNS",
+                    "ipts": self.IPTS,
+                    "run_number": 100,
+                    "data_file": "",
+                }
+            ),
+        )
+        time.sleep(1)
+
+        # check IPTS page /report/arcs/experiment/IPTS-11111/ for acquiring
+        response = request_page("/report/arcs/experiment/IPTS-11111/", self.user, self.pwd)
+        assert response.status_code == 200
+        assert response.text.count("acquiring") == 1  # 101 is still acquiring but not 100