diff --git a/core/tests/state_machine.rs b/core/tests/state_machine.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bd0cb0a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/tests/state_machine.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+use glues_core::state::GetInner;
+use glues_core::{
+    EntryEvent, Glues, KeyEvent, NotebookEvent, Transition,
+    state::NotebookState,
+    transition::{NormalModeTransition, NoteTreeTransition, NotebookTransition},
+};
+
+macro_rules! dispatch {
+    ($glues:expr => $event:expr) => {
+        $glues.dispatch($event.into()).await.unwrap()
+    };
+    ($glues:expr => $event:expr => $pattern:pat $(if $guard:expr)? $(,)?) => {{
+        let t = $glues.dispatch($event.into()).await.unwrap();
+        assert!(matches!(t, $pattern $(if $guard)?));
+        t
+    }};
+}
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn memory_state_machine_basic() {
+    let mut glues = Glues::new().await;
+
+    dispatch!(glues => EntryEvent::OpenMemory =>
+        Transition::Entry(glues_core::EntryTransition::OpenNotebook));
+
+    // Verify sample note exists
+    let state: &NotebookState = glues.state.get_inner().unwrap();
+    let root_children = state.root.children.as_ref().unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(root_children.notes.len(), 1);
+    let sample_note = root_children.notes[0].clone();
+    assert_eq!(sample_note.name, "Sample Note");
+
+    // Select the note
+    dispatch!(glues => NotebookEvent::SelectNote(sample_note.clone()) =>
+        Transition::Notebook(NotebookTransition::None));
+
+    // Open the note
+    let Transition::Notebook(NotebookTransition::NoteTree(NoteTreeTransition::OpenNote {
+        note,
+        content,
+    })) = dispatch!(glues => NotebookEvent::OpenNote)
+    else {
+        panic!("unexpected transition")
+    };
+    assert_eq!(note.id, sample_note.id);
+    assert_eq!(content, "Hi :D");
+
+    // Update note content
+    let new_content = "Hello world".to_owned();
+    dispatch!(glues => NotebookEvent::UpdateNoteContent {
+        note_id: sample_note.id.clone(),
+        content: new_content.clone(),
+    } => Transition::Notebook(NotebookTransition::UpdateNoteContent(ref id)) if *id == sample_note.id);
+    let db = glues.db.as_mut().unwrap();
+    let fetched = db.fetch_note_content(sample_note.id.clone()).await.unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(fetched, new_content);
+
+    // Enter insert mode and then view note
+    dispatch!(glues => KeyEvent::I => Transition::Notebook(NotebookTransition::EditingNormalMode(
+        NormalModeTransition::InsertAtCursor
+    )));
+
+    let Transition::Notebook(NotebookTransition::ViewMode(note)) =
+        dispatch!(glues => NotebookEvent::ViewNote)
+    else {
+        panic!("unexpected transition")
+    };
+    assert_eq!(note.id, sample_note.id);
+}