diff --git a/tests/functional/meson.build b/tests/functional/meson.build
index 0ea0e4df5..37278167f 100644
--- a/tests/functional/meson.build
+++ b/tests/functional/meson.build
@@ -181,3 +181,5 @@ foreach script : functional_tests_scripts
     timeout : 300,
   )
 endforeach
+
+subdir('repl_characterization')
diff --git a/tests/functional/repl_characterization/meson.build b/tests/functional/repl_characterization/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..56410cfd2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functional/repl_characterization/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+repl_characterization_tester_sources = files(
+  'repl_characterization.cc',
+  'test-session.cc',
+)
+
+repl_characterization_tester = executable(
+  'test-repl-characterization',
+  repl_characterization_tester_sources,
+  dependencies : [
+    liblixutil,
+    liblixutil_test_support,
+    sodium,
+    editline,
+    boost,
+    lowdown,
+    gtest,
+  ],
+  cpp_args : [
+    f'-DNIX_BIN_DIR="@bindir@"',
+  ],
+  build_by_default : false,
+)
+
+# TODO(Qyriad): better understand the repl characterization tests' preconditions
+# so we can run this with the gtest protocol, without run-test.py.
+test(
+  # test-repl-characterization.sh expects the tester executable to have this name,
+  # so this name it shall have.
+  'repl-characterization-tests',
+  python,
+  args : [
+    meson.project_source_root() / 'meson/run-test.py',
+    'test-repl-characterization.sh',
+  ],
+  depends : [repl_characterization_tester],
+  env : {
+    '_NIX_TEST_UNIT_DATA': meson.current_build_dir() / 'data',
+    'MESON_BUILD_ROOT': meson.project_build_root(),
+  },
+  suite : 'installcheck',
+)