diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index fe680ec..56c52d0 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -13,5 +13,6 @@ if(BUILD_TESTING)
           tests/tests.cc)
   add_test(NAME validator COMMAND partridge_tests validator)
   add_test(NAME construction COMMAND partridge_tests construction)
+  add_test(NAME rendering COMMAND partridge_tests rendering)
   add_test(NAME solver-small COMMAND partridge_tests solver-small)
 endif()
diff --git a/TESTING.md b/TESTING.md
index 7a1ccef..997bd28 100644
--- a/TESTING.md
+++ b/TESTING.md
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ ctest --test-dir build --output-on-failure
 The tests independently check board dimensions, square multiplicities, bounds,
 overlap, and complete coverage.  They cover small unsatisfiable solver inputs, a
 known order-8 solution, invalid placement diagnostics, and construction of an
-order-9 solution from the order-8 fixture.
+order-9 solution from the order-8 fixture.  The rendering test also formats the
+known order-8 solution and checks the resulting grid dimensions and coverage.
 
 ## Debug and sanitizers
 
diff --git a/tests/tests.cc b/tests/tests.cc
index e683d3b..e022ecc 100644
--- a/tests/tests.cc
+++ b/tests/tests.cc
@@ -138,6 +138,16 @@ namespace {
     };
   }
 
+  auto renderable_result(std::uint64_t side,
+                         std::vector<Placement> const &placements) -> Results {
+    std::vector<Square> squares;
+    squares.reserve(placements.size());
+    for (auto const &placement: placements) {
+      squares.emplace_back(placement.x + placement.y * side, placement.side);
+    }
+    return Results(side, std::move(squares));
+  }
+
   auto construct_next_odd(std::uint64_t even_order,
                           std::vector<Placement> placements)
       -> std::vector<Placement> {
@@ -221,6 +231,29 @@ namespace {
                   "even-to-odd construction was rejected:\n" + validation.text());
   }
 
+  auto test_rendering() -> int {
+    auto const result = renderable_result(36, known_order_8());
+    std::ostringstream rendered;
+    auto *const original_buffer = std::cout.rdbuf(rendered.rdbuf());
+    result.output();
+    std::cout.rdbuf(original_buffer);
+
+    int failures = 0;
+    std::istringstream lines(rendered.str());
+    std::string line;
+    std::uint64_t line_count = 0;
+    while (std::getline(lines, line)) {
+      ++line_count;
+      failures += expect(line.size() == result.length(),
+                         "rendered row has incorrect width");
+      failures += expect(line.find('.') == std::string::npos,
+                         "valid solution left an unrendered cell");
+    }
+    failures += expect(line_count == result.length(),
+                       "rendered output has incorrect height");
+    return failures;
+  }
+
   auto test_small_solver() -> int {
     int failures = 0;
     for (auto const order: std::array<std::uint64_t, 2>{2, 3}) {
@@ -262,6 +295,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
   if (test == "construction") {
     return test_construction();
   }
+  if (test == "rendering") {
+    return test_rendering();
+  }
   if (test == "solver-small") {
     return test_small_solver();
   }