diff --git a/repertory/repertory_test/src/meta_db_test.cpp b/repertory/repertory_test/src/meta_db_test.cpp
index 7397fd21..14d0bee3 100644
--- a/repertory/repertory_test/src/meta_db_test.cpp
+++ b/repertory/repertory_test/src/meta_db_test.cpp
@@ -82,4 +82,15 @@ TYPED_TEST(meta_db_test,
             this->meta_db->get_api_path(create_test_file(), api_path));
   EXPECT_TRUE(api_path.empty());
 }
+
+TYPED_TEST(meta_db_test, set_item_meta_fails_with_missing_directory_meta) {
+  auto test_file = create_test_file();
+  auto test_source = create_test_file();
+  EXPECT_EQ(api_error::error, this->meta_db->set_item_meta(
+                                  test_file, {
+                                                 {META_SOURCE, test_source},
+                                             }));
+  EXPECT_EQ(api_error::error,
+            this->meta_db->set_item_meta(test_file, META_SOURCE, test_source));
+}
 } // namespace repertory