diff --git a/t/t0028-content-backing-none.t b/t/t0028-content-backing-none.t
index a30f172ff5bd..8bd824baf93c 100755
--- a/t/t0028-content-backing-none.t
+++ b/t/t0028-content-backing-none.t
@@ -31,6 +31,18 @@ test_expect_success 'content.backing-module input of none works' '
         flux start -Scontent.backing-module=none true
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'checkpoint-get fails, backing store is none' '
+        test_must_fail checkpoint_get foo
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkpoint-put fails, backing store is none' '
+        test_must_fail checkpoint_put foo bar
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'flux-dump --checkpoint with backing store is none' '
+        test_must_fail flux dump --checkpoint foo.tar
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'remove content module' '
 	flux exec flux module remove content
 '