diff --git a/repository/repository_test.go b/repository/repository_test.go
index 1874cfd91..16d3b7175 100644
--- a/repository/repository_test.go
+++ b/repository/repository_test.go
@@ -6,11 +6,13 @@ import (
 	"crypto/sha256"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"io"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/restic/restic"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/backend"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/pack"
+	"github.com/restic/restic/repository"
 	. "github.com/restic/restic/test"
 )
 
@@ -194,3 +196,24 @@ func TestLoadJSONUnpacked(t *testing.T) {
 	Equals(t, sn.Hostname, sn2.Hostname)
 	Equals(t, sn.Username, sn2.Username)
 }
+
+var repoFixture = filepath.Join("testdata", "test-repo.tar.gz")
+
+func TestLoadIndex(t *testing.T) {
+	WithTestEnvironment(t, repoFixture, func(repodir string) {
+		repo := OpenLocalRepo(t, repodir)
+		OK(t, repo.LoadIndex())
+	})
+}
+
+func BenchmarkLoadIndex(b *testing.B) {
+	WithTestEnvironment(b, repoFixture, func(repodir string) {
+		repo := OpenLocalRepo(b, repodir)
+		b.ResetTimer()
+
+		for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+			repo.SetIndex(repository.NewIndex())
+			OK(b, repo.LoadIndex())
+		}
+	})
+}
diff --git a/repository/testdata/test-repo.tar.gz b/repository/testdata/test-repo.tar.gz
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9cfc38573
Binary files /dev/null and b/repository/testdata/test-repo.tar.gz differ