diff --git a/test/functional/interface_bitcoin_cli.py b/test/functional/interface_bitcoin_cli.py
index a349e2379..f48874274 100755
--- a/test/functional/interface_bitcoin_cli.py
+++ b/test/functional/interface_bitcoin_cli.py
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ class TestBitcoinCli(BitcoinTestFramework):
         assert_equal(["foo", "bar"], self.nodes[0].cli('-rpcuser=%s' % user, '-stdin', '-stdinrpcpass', input=password + "\nfoo\nbar").echo())
         assert_raises_process_error(1, "Incorrect rpcuser or rpcpassword", self.nodes[0].cli('-rpcuser=%s' % user, '-stdin', '-stdinrpcpass', input="foo").echo)
 
+        self.log.info("Test connecting to a non-existing server")
+        assert_raises_process_error(1, "Could not connect to the server", self.nodes[0].cli('-rpcport=1').echo)
+
         self.log.info("Make sure that -getinfo with arguments fails")
         assert_raises_process_error(1, "-getinfo takes no arguments", self.nodes[0].cli('-getinfo').help)