diff --git a/tests/utils/test_spec.py b/tests/utils/test_spec.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..69f4068d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/utils/test_spec.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# pylint: disable=missing-module-docstring,missing-function-docstring
+import binstar_client.utils.spec
+
+
+def test_parse_specs():
+    # Reproducing for https://github.com/anaconda/anaconda-client/issues/642
+    spec = binstar_client.utils.spec.parse_specs("someuser/foo/1.2.3/blah-1.2.3.tar.bz2?x=1")
+    assert spec.user == "someuser"
+    assert spec.name == "foo"
+    assert spec.version == "1.2.3"
+    assert spec.basename == "blah-1.2.3.tar.bz2"
+    assert spec.attrs == {"x": "1"}