diff --git a/tests/test_rate_limit.py b/tests/test_rate_limit.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..21e1352
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_rate_limit.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+from fastapi import FastAPI
+from fastapi.testclient import TestClient
+
+
+def test_rate_limit_rejects_after_limit():
+    from axon.middleware.rate_limit import RateLimitMiddleware
+
+    app = FastAPI()
+
+    @app.get("/data")
+    async def data():
+        return {"ok": True}
+
+    app.add_middleware(RateLimitMiddleware, limit_per_minute=1)
+    client = TestClient(app)
+
+    assert client.get("/data").status_code == 200
+    assert client.get("/data").status_code == 429
+
+
+def test_rate_limit_exempts_health():
+    from axon.middleware.rate_limit import RateLimitMiddleware
+
+    app = FastAPI()
+
+    @app.get("/health")
+    async def health():
+        return {"ok": True}
+
+    app.add_middleware(RateLimitMiddleware, limit_per_minute=1)
+    client = TestClient(app)
+
+    assert client.get("/health").status_code == 200
+    assert client.get("/health").status_code == 200