diff --git a/test/start_NEW.t b/test/start_NEW.t
index 564e5a149..2aa66870c 100755
--- a/test/start_NEW.t
+++ b/test/start_NEW.t
@@ -54,6 +54,16 @@ class TestStart(TestCase):
         tl = self.t.export()
         self.assertEqual(tl[0]["status"], "pending")
 
+    def test_start_nothing(self):
+        """Verify error message when no tasks are specified"""
+        code, out, err = self.t.runError ("999 start")
+        self.assertIn("No tasks specified.", err)
+
+    def test_start_started(self):
+        """Verify error when starting a started task"""
+        self.t("1 start")
+        code, out, err = self.t.runError("1 start")
+        self.assertIn("Task 1 'one' already started.", out)
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     from simpletap import TAPTestRunner