diff --git a/src/calibre/test_build.py b/src/calibre/test_build.py
index 1780f01659..3f2e193401 100644
--- a/src/calibre/test_build.py
+++ b/src/calibre/test_build.py
@@ -127,7 +127,21 @@ def test_apsw():
     conn.close()
     fprint('apsw OK!')
 
+def test_image_formats():
+    # Must be run before QApplication is constructed
+    # Test that the image formats are available without a QApplication being
+    # constructed
+    from calibre.utils.img import image_from_data, image_to_data
+    data = I('blank.png', allow_user_override=False, data=True)
+    img = image_from_data(data)
+    image_from_data(P('catalog/mastheadImage.gif', allow_user_override=False, data=True))
+    for fmt in 'png bmp jpeg'.split():
+        d = image_to_data(img, fmt=fmt)
+        image_from_data(d)
+
+
 def test_qt():
+    test_image_formats()
     from calibre.gui2 import Application
     from PyQt5.Qt import (QImageReader, QNetworkAccessManager, QFontDatabase)
     from PyQt5.QtWebKitWidgets import QWebView