diff --git a/nf_core/lint.py b/nf_core/lint.py
index 97b7f1f335..9f5d7ebacc 100644
--- a/nf_core/lint.py
+++ b/nf_core/lint.py
@@ -60,7 +60,6 @@ def check_files_exist (self):
         files_fail = [
             'LICENSE',
             'README.md',
-            'nextflow.config',
             'Dockerfile',
             'docs/README.md',
             'nextflow.config'
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index e69de29bb2..dca9a90964 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+click
diff --git a/tests/lint_examples/critical_example/LICENSE b/tests/lint_examples/critical_example/LICENSE
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/tests/lint_examples/failing_example/main.nf b/tests/lint_examples/failing_example/main.nf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/tests/lint_examples/failing_example/nextflow.config b/tests/lint_examples/failing_example/nextflow.config
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/tests/test_lint.py b/tests/test_lint.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e822dbeb28
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_lint.py
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+"""Some tests covering the linting code.
+Provide example wokflow directory contents like:
+
+    --tests 
+        |--lint_examples
+        |     |--missing_license
+        |     |     |...<files here>
+        |     |--missing_config
+        |     |     |....<files here>
+        |     |...  
+        |--test_lint.py
+"""
+import os
+import unittest
+import nf_core.lint
+from nose.tools import raises
+
+def pf(wd, path):
+    return os.path.join(wd, path)
+
+WD = os.path.dirname(__file__)
+PATH_CRITICAL_EXAMPLE =  pf(WD, 'lint_examples/critical_example')
+PATH_FAILING_EXAMPLE = pf(WD, 'lint_examples/failing_example')
+
+class TestLint(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Class for lint tests"""
+
+    @raises(AssertionError)
+    def test_critical_example(self):
+        """Tests for missing nextflow config and main.nf files"""
+        lint_obj = nf_core.lint.PipelineLint(PATH_CRITICAL_EXAMPLE)
+        lint_obj.lint_pipeline()
+
+    def test_failing_example(self):
+        """Tests for missing files like Dockerfile or LICENSE"""
+        lint_obj = nf_core.lint.PipelineLint(PATH_FAILING_EXAMPLE)
+        lint_obj.lint_pipeline()
+        assert len(lint_obj.failed) == 4, "Expected 6 files missing, but found %r" % len(lint_obj.failed)
+        assert len(lint_obj.passed) == 2, "Expected 6 files missing, but found %r" % len(lint_obj.passed)
\ No newline at end of file