diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/hotkey.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/hotkey.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4daeeb542b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/hotkey.js
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+set_global('activity', {
+});
+
+set_global('$', function () {
+    return {
+        keydown: function () {},
+        keypress: function () {},
+    };
+});
+set_global('document', {
+});
+var hotkey = require('js/hotkey.js');
+
+set_global('current_msg_list', {
+    selected_id: function () { return 42; },
+});
+
+function return_true() { return true; }
+function return_false() { return false; }
+
+function stubbing(func_name_to_stub, test_function) {
+    global.with_overrides(function (override) {
+        global.with_stub(function (stub) {
+            override(func_name_to_stub, stub.f);
+            test_function(stub);
+        });
+    });
+}
+
+(function test_basic_chars() {
+    function process(s) {
+        // Simulating keyboard events is a huge pain.
+        var shifted_keys = '~!@#$%^*()_+{}:"<>?';
+        var e = {
+            which: s.charCodeAt(0),
+            shiftKey: (shifted_keys.indexOf(s) >= 0),
+        };
+        return hotkey.process_hotkey(e);
+    }
+
+    function assert_mapping(c, func_name, shiftKey) {
+        stubbing(func_name, function () {
+            assert(process(c, shiftKey));
+        });
+    }
+
+    function assert_unmapped(s) {
+        _.each(s, function (c) {
+            assert.equal(process(c), false);
+        });
+    }
+
+    // Unmapped keys should immediately return false, without
+    // calling any functions outside of hotkey.js.
+    assert_unmapped('abdefghlmnoptuxyz');
+    assert_unmapped('BEFGHILMNOPQTUVWXYZ');
+
+    // We have to skip some checks due to the way the code is
+    // currently organized for mapped keys.
+    hotkey.is_editing_stream_name = return_false;
+    hotkey.is_settings_page = return_false;
+
+    set_global('popovers', {
+        actions_popped: return_false,
+    });
+
+    // All letters should return false if we are composing text.
+    hotkey.processing_text = return_true;
+
+    function test_normal_typing() {
+        assert_unmapped('abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz');
+        assert_unmapped(' ');
+        assert_unmapped('[]\\.,;');
+        assert_unmapped('ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ');
+        assert_unmapped('~!@#$%^*()_+{}:"<>?');
+    }
+
+    _.each([return_true, return_false], function (is_settings_page) {
+        _.each([return_true, return_false], function (home_tab_obscured) {
+            hotkey.is_settings_page = is_settings_page;
+            set_global('ui', {home_tab_obscured: home_tab_obscured});
+
+            test_normal_typing();
+        });
+    });
+
+    // Ok, now test keys that work when we're viewing messages.
+    hotkey.processing_text = return_false;
+    hotkey.is_settings_page = return_false;
+
+    assert_mapping('?', 'ui.show_info_overlay');
+    assert_mapping('/', 'search.initiate_search');
+    assert_mapping('q', 'activity.initiate_search');
+    assert_mapping('w', 'stream_list.initiate_search');
+
+    assert_mapping('A', 'navigate.cycle_stream');
+    assert_mapping('D', 'navigate.cycle_stream');
+
+    assert_mapping('c', 'compose.start');
+    assert_mapping('C', 'compose.start');
+    assert_mapping('v', 'narrow.by');
+
+    // Next, test keys that only work on a selected message.
+    global.current_msg_list.empty = return_true;
+    assert_unmapped('@rRjJkKsSi');
+
+    global.current_msg_list.empty = return_false;
+
+    assert_mapping('@', 'compose.reply_with_mention');
+    assert_mapping('r', 'compose.respond_to_message');
+    assert_mapping('R', 'compose.respond_to_message', true);
+    assert_mapping('j', 'navigate.down');
+    assert_mapping('J', 'navigate.page_down');
+    assert_mapping('k', 'navigate.up');
+    assert_mapping('K', 'navigate.page_up');
+    assert_mapping('s', 'narrow.by_recipient');
+    assert_mapping('S', 'narrow.by_subject');
+    assert_mapping('i', 'popovers.open_message_menu');
+}());