diff --git a/tests/core/core/reader/test__reader.py b/tests/core/core/reader/test__reader.py
index e4250012a2..53fe876543 100644
--- a/tests/core/core/reader/test__reader.py
+++ b/tests/core/core/reader/test__reader.py
@@ -1,14 +1,43 @@
+import pytest
+import numpy
+import skimage.io as io
 from cellprofiler_core.reader import fill_readers, filter_active_readers
 from cellprofiler_core.constants.reader import ALL_READERS, AVAILABLE_READERS
+from cellprofiler_core.image import MonochromeImage
+from cellprofiler_core.utilities.pathname import pathname2url
 
 
-def init_readers():
+@pytest.fixture(scope="module")
+def readers():
+    # init readers
     fill_readers()
-    print(ALL_READERS)
-    print("---")
-    filter_active_readers([x for x in ALL_READERS.keys() if "Google Cloud Storage" not in x], by_module_name=False)
-    print(AVAILABLE_READERS)
+    # do not test GCS Reader
+    filter_active_readers(
+        [x for x in ALL_READERS.keys() if "Google Cloud Storage" not in x],
+        by_module_name=False)
+    # post-filtered readers
+    return AVAILABLE_READERS
+
+def create_provider(img_data, path, rescale=True):
+    io.imsave(path, img_data)
+
+    provider = MonochromeImage(
+        path.stem, # name
+        pathname2url(str(path)), # url
+        0, # series
+        None, # index
+        None, # channel
+        rescale=rescale,
+        volume=False,
+        spacing=None,
+        z=None,
+        t=None
+    )
+    return provider
 
 class TestReaders:
-    def test_readers(self):
-        init_readers()
+    def test_simple(self, readers, tmp_path):
+        img_data = numpy.array([0,0,0,0], dtype=numpy.dtype("uint8")).reshape(2,2)
+        provider = create_provider(img_data, tmp_path / "uint8_all_zero.tiff", rescale=True)
+        img = provider.provide_image(None) # img.pixel_data for array
+        print("Did the thing")
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