diff --git a/9unit.c b/9unit.c
index cac0617..cd10683 100644
--- a/9unit.c
+++ b/9unit.c
@@ -37,8 +37,16 @@ static void reindex(TestState *);
 void
 run_test(TestState *s, TestResult (*t)(TestState *))
 {
-	if (!(s && t)) return;
+	if (!s) return;
 	s->run++;
+
+	// a null test function is a pending test
+	if (!t)
+	{
+		s->pending++;
+		return;
+	}
+
 	switch ((*t)(s))
 	{
 	case test_success:
diff --git a/test/run-test.c b/test/run-test.c
index d582f1f..0663e0b 100644
--- a/test/run-test.c
+++ b/test/run-test.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ static void test_pass(TestState *);
 static void test_fail(TestState *);
 static void test_pend(TestState *);
 static void null_state(TestState *);
+static void null_test(TestState *);
 decl_test(always_passes);
 decl_test(always_fails);
 decl_test(always_pends);
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ test_run_test(TestState *s)
 	test_fail(s);
 	test_pend(s);
 	null_state(s);
+	null_test(s);
 }
 
 // Internal Functions
@@ -129,13 +131,40 @@ test_pend(TestState *s)
 }
 
 static void
-null_state(TestState *s)
+null_state(TestState *)
 {
 	print("\tnull state\n");
+
 	// make sure it doesn't crash
 	run_test(0, always_passes);
 }
 
+static void
+null_test(TestState *s)
+{
+	TestState actual, expected;
+	print("\tnull test\n");
+
+	// expected value
+	memset(&expected, 0, sizeof(TestState));
+	expected.passed = 1;
+	expected.failed = 2;
+	expected.pending = 4;
+	expected.run = 7;
+
+	// actual value
+	mk_sample_state(&actual);
+	run_test(&actual, 0);
+
+	chk_TestState_eq(
+		s,
+		"\t\t",
+		"ERROR: run_test(): null_test:",
+		&actual,
+		&expected
+	);
+}
+
 decl_test(always_passes)
 {
 	return test_success;