diff --git a/strobe/python/Makefile b/strobe/python/Makefile
index 31985a5..06fcf99 100644
--- a/strobe/python/Makefile
+++ b/strobe/python/Makefile
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ shakat: $(SHAKAT)
 shavs: shakat shamont
 	@echo "All known-answer tests passed"
 
+test-python:
+	python -m unittest Strobe.Test.copy
+
 test: shavs
 
 clean:
diff --git a/strobe/python/Strobe/Strobe.py b/strobe/python/Strobe/Strobe.py
index 7e2f169..85671e4 100644
--- a/strobe/python/Strobe/Strobe.py
+++ b/strobe/python/Strobe/Strobe.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ class Strobe(object):
                 (copy_of.R,copy_of.pos,copy_of.posbegin,copy_of.I0,
                  copy_of.F.copy())
             self.st = bytearray(copy_of.st)
+            self.initialized = True
     
     def copy(self): return Strobe(None,copy_of=self)
     def deepcopy(self): return self.copy()
diff --git a/strobe/python/Strobe/Test/copy.py b/strobe/python/Strobe/Test/copy.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..92b388a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/strobe/python/Strobe/Test/copy.py
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+# Test to make sure copy works.
+
+import unittest
+
+from Strobe.Strobe import Strobe
+
+class TestCopy(unittest.TestCase):
+	def test_copy(self):
+		a = Strobe(b'foo')
+		b = Strobe(b'foo')
+
+		msg = a.send_enc(b'atest')
+		self.assertEqual(b'atest', b.recv_enc(msg))
+
+		c = b.copy()
+
+		msg = a.send_enc(b'anothertest')
+
+		# that both the original and copy work
+		self.assertEqual(b'anothertest', b.recv_enc(msg))
+		self.assertEqual(b'anothertest', c.recv_enc(msg))