diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/watching/alias.t b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/watching/alias.t
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..45d40e76e57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/watching/alias.t
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+Test what happens when trying to build aliases over rpc
+
+  $ . ./helpers.sh
+
+  $ echo '(lang dune 3.16)' > dune-project
+  $ cat > dune <<EOF
+  > (rule
+  >  (targets y)
+  >  (deps x)
+  >  (action (system "cat x > y")))
+  > (alias
+  >  (name foo)
+  >  (deps y))
+  > EOF
+
+  $ echo 1 > x
+
+When called normally, it can build the alias ok
+
+  $ dune build @foo
+
+Trying to build the alias through rpc fails
+
+  $ start_dune
+
+  $ build @foo
+  Failure
+
+  $ stop_dune
+  Error: Don't know how to build @foo
+  Had 1 error, waiting for filesystem changes...