diff --git a/test/columns.t b/test/columns.t
index e6409610b..58d436e8e 100755
--- a/test/columns.t
+++ b/test/columns.t
@@ -381,6 +381,12 @@ class TestDateFormats(TestCase):
         self.assertRegexpMatches(out, r'1')
         self.assertRegexpMatches(out, r'2\s+\d+\S+')
 
+    def test_date_format_relative(self):
+        """Verify due.relative formatting"""
+        code, out, err = self.t("xxx rc.report.xxx.columns:id,due.relative")
+        self.assertRegexpMatches(out, r'1\s+-[0-9.]+d')
+        self.assertRegexpMatches(out, r'2\s+[0-9.]+h')
+
     def test_date_format_countdown(self):
         """Verify due.countdown formatting"""
         code, out, err = self.t("xxx rc.report.xxx.columns:id,due.countdown")