diff --git a/DEVELOPERS b/DEVELOPERS
index 1f04dd2a1e..25cb5dc764 100644
--- a/DEVELOPERS
+++ b/DEVELOPERS
@@ -1110,6 +1110,7 @@ F:	package/python-poetry-dynamic-versioning/
 F:	package/python-pyasynchat/
 F:	package/python-pyasyncore/
 F:	support/testing/tests/package/sample_python_networkmanager_goi.py
+F:	support/testing/tests/package/test_nftables.py
 F:	support/testing/tests/package/test_python_networkmanager_goi.py
 
 N:	Flávio Tapajós <flavio.tapajos@newtesc.com.br>
diff --git a/support/testing/tests/package/test_nftables.py b/support/testing/tests/package/test_nftables.py
index 142e7d0352..2622c7e822 100644
--- a/support/testing/tests/package/test_nftables.py
+++ b/support/testing/tests/package/test_nftables.py
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ class TestNftables(infra.basetest.BRTest):
         # supposed to fail earlier is now supposed to succeed.
         self.assertRunOk(ping_test_cmd)
 
-    def test_run(self):
+    def boot_vm(self):
         img = os.path.join(self.builddir, "images", "rootfs.cpio.gz")
         kern = os.path.join(self.builddir, "images", "Image")
         self.emulator.boot(arch="aarch64",
@@ -97,6 +97,9 @@ class TestNftables(infra.basetest.BRTest):
                                     "-initrd", img])
         self.emulator.login()
 
+    def test_run(self):
+        self.boot_vm()
+
         # We check the program can execute.
         self.assertRunOk("nft --version")
 
@@ -107,3 +110,35 @@ class TestNftables(infra.basetest.BRTest):
         # We run again the same test sequence using our simple nft
         # python implementation, to check the language bindings.
         self.nftables_test(prog="/root/nft.py")
+
+
+class TestNftablesInit(TestNftables):
+    config = TestNftables.config + \
+        """
+        BR2_INIT_BUSYBOX=y
+        """
+
+    def test_run(self):
+        self.boot_vm()
+
+        # start with known state (rules from /etc/nftables.conf)
+        self.assertRunOk("/etc/init.d/S35nftables reload")
+
+        # Same concept as in TestNftables.nftables_test: The rules
+        # should allow ping to 127.0.0.1, but not 127.0.0.2.
+        ping_cmd_prefix = "ping -c 3 -i 0.5 -W 2 "
+        self.assertRunOk(ping_cmd_prefix + "127.0.0.1")
+        _, exit_code = self.emulator.run(ping_cmd_prefix + "127.0.0.2")
+        self.assertNotEqual(exit_code, 0)
+
+        # Stop should flush the rules, ping to both addresses should
+        # work now.
+        self.assertRunOk("/etc/init.d/S35nftables stop")
+        self.assertRunOk(ping_cmd_prefix + "127.0.0.1")
+        self.assertRunOk(ping_cmd_prefix + "127.0.0.2")
+
+        # Start is essentially the same as reload, check that
+        # 127.0.0.2 gets blocked again.
+        self.assertRunOk("/etc/init.d/S35nftables start")
+        _, exit_code = self.emulator.run(ping_cmd_prefix + "127.0.0.2")
+        self.assertNotEqual(exit_code, 0)
diff --git a/support/testing/tests/package/test_nftables/rootfs-overlay/etc/nftables.conf b/support/testing/tests/package/test_nftables/rootfs-overlay/etc/nftables.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a04af1d634
--- /dev/null
+++ b/support/testing/tests/package/test_nftables/rootfs-overlay/etc/nftables.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+flush ruleset
+
+table inet filter {
+	chain input {
+		type filter hook input priority filter; policy accept;
+		ip daddr 127.0.0.2 icmp type echo-request drop
+	}
+}