diff --git a/tests/test3.in b/tests/test3.in
index 92cc1c86c..f370c97b3 100644
--- a/tests/test3.in
+++ b/tests/test3.in
@@ -217,4 +217,20 @@ end
 
 # clear foo for other shells
 set -eU foo
+
+# Test behavior of universals on startup (#1526)
+echo Testing Universal Startup
+set -U testu 0
+../fish -c 'set -U testu 1'
+echo $testu
+../fish -c 'echo $testu'
+
+../fish -c 'set -U testu 2'
+echo $testu
+../fish -c 'echo $testu'
+
+../fish -c 'set -e testu';
+echo Missing: $testu
+../fish -c 'echo Missing: $testu'
+
 true
diff --git a/tests/test3.out b/tests/test3.out
index 5b4e3d112..d6cbdb9c8 100644
--- a/tests/test3.out
+++ b/tests/test3.out
@@ -14,3 +14,10 @@ Test 13 pass
 Test 14 pass
 Test 15 pass
 Test 16 pass
+Testing Universal Startup
+1
+1
+2
+2
+Missing:
+Missing: