diff --git a/board/main_comms.h b/board/main_comms.h
index cf58cd0a..3b7e65f1 100644
--- a/board/main_comms.h
+++ b/board/main_comms.h
@@ -197,6 +197,11 @@ int comms_control_handler(ControlPacket_t *req, uint8_t *resp) {
     case 0xc5:
       set_intercept_relay((req->param1 & 0x1U), (req->param1 & 0x2U));
       break;
+    // **** 0xc6: DEBUG: read SOM GPIO
+    case 0xc6:
+      resp[0] = current_board->read_som_gpio();
+      resp_len = 1;
+      break;
     // **** 0xd0: fetch serial (aka the provisioned dongle ID)
     case 0xd0:
       // addresses are OTP
diff --git a/python/__init__.py b/python/__init__.py
index c073c78a..6f99f4fa 100644
--- a/python/__init__.py
+++ b/python/__init__.py
@@ -991,3 +991,7 @@ class Panda:
 
   def force_relay_drive(self, intercept_relay_drive, ignition_relay_drive):
     self._handle.controlWrite(Panda.REQUEST_OUT, 0xc5, (int(intercept_relay_drive) | int(ignition_relay_drive) << 1), 0, b'')
+
+  def read_som_gpio(self) -> bool:
+    r = self._handle.controlRead(Panda.REQUEST_IN, 0xc6, 0, 0, 1)
+    return r[0] == 1
diff --git a/tests/som/on-device.py b/tests/som/on-device.py
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..c630e4e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/som/on-device.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+import os
+import time
+
+from panda import Panda
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+  flag_set = False
+  while True:
+    try:
+      with Panda(disable_checks=False) as p:
+        if not flag_set:
+          p.set_heartbeat_disabled()
+          p.set_safety_mode(Panda.SAFETY_ELM327, 30)
+          flag_set = True
+
+        # shutdown when told
+        if p.health()['safety_mode'] == Panda.SAFETY_SILENT:
+          os.system("sudo poweroff")
+    except Exception:
+      pass
+    time.sleep(0.5)
diff --git a/tests/som/test_booting.py b/tests/som/test_booting.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cec02ba0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/som/test_booting.py
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+import time
+import pytest
+
+from panda import Panda, PandaJungle
+
+PANDA_SERIAL = "28002d000451323431333839"
+JUNGLE_SERIAL = "26001c001451313236343430"
+
+AUX_PORT = 6
+OBDC_PORT = 1
+
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True, scope="function")
+def pj():
+  jungle = PandaJungle(JUNGLE_SERIAL)
+  jungle.flash()
+
+  jungle.set_ignition(False)
+
+  yield jungle
+
+  jungle.set_panda_power(False)
+  jungle.close()
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope="function")
+def p(pj):
+  pj.set_panda_power(True)
+  assert Panda.wait_for_panda(PANDA_SERIAL, 10)
+  p = Panda(PANDA_SERIAL)
+  p.flash()
+  p.reset()
+  yield p
+  p.close()
+
+def setup_state(panda, jungle, state):
+  jungle.set_panda_power(0)
+
+  if state == "off":
+    wait_for_full_poweroff(jungle)
+  elif state == "normal boot":
+    jungle.set_panda_individual_power(OBDC_PORT, 1)
+  elif state == "QDL":
+    jungle.set_panda_individual_power(AUX_PORT, 1)
+    time.sleep(0.5)
+    jungle.set_panda_individual_power(OBDC_PORT, 1)
+  elif state == "ready to bootkick":
+    wait_for_full_poweroff(jungle)
+    jungle.set_panda_individual_power(OBDC_PORT, 1)
+    wait_for_boot(panda, jungle)
+    panda.set_safety_mode(Panda.SAFETY_SILENT)
+    panda.send_heartbeat()
+    wait_for_som_shutdown(panda, jungle)
+  else:
+    raise ValueError(f"unkown state: {state}")
+
+
+def wait_for_som_shutdown(panda, jungle):
+  st = time.monotonic()
+  while panda.read_som_gpio():
+    # can take a while for the SOM to fully shutdown
+    if time.monotonic() - st > 120:
+      raise Exception("SOM didn't shutdown in time")
+    time.sleep(0.5)
+  dt = time.monotonic() - st
+  print(f"took {dt:.2f}s for SOM to shutdown")
+
+def wait_for_full_poweroff(jungle, timeout=30):
+  st = time.monotonic()
+
+  time.sleep(5)
+  while PANDA_SERIAL in Panda.list():
+    if time.monotonic() - st > timeout:
+      raise Exception("took too long for device to turn off")
+
+  health = jungle.health()
+  assert all(health[f"ch{i}_power"] < 0.1 for i in range(1, 7))
+
+def check_som_boot_flag(panda):
+  h = panda.health()
+  return h['safety_mode'] == Panda.SAFETY_ELM327 and h['safety_param'] == 30
+
+def wait_for_boot(panda, jungle, bootkick=False, timeout=60):
+  st = time.monotonic()
+
+  Panda.wait_for_panda(PANDA_SERIAL, timeout)
+  panda.reconnect()
+  if bootkick:
+    assert panda.health()['uptime'] > 20
+  else:
+    assert panda.health()['uptime'] < 3
+
+  for i in range(3):
+    assert not check_som_boot_flag(panda)
+    time.sleep(1)
+
+  # wait for SOM to bootup
+  while not check_som_boot_flag(panda):
+    if time.monotonic() - st > timeout:
+      raise Exception("SOM didn't boot in time")
+    time.sleep(1.0)
+
+
+def test_cold_boot(p, pj):
+  setup_state(p, pj, "off")
+  setup_state(p, pj, "normal boot")
+  wait_for_boot(p, pj)
+
+def test_bootkick_ignition_line(p, pj):
+  setup_state(p, pj, "ready to bootkick")
+  pj.set_ignition(True)
+  wait_for_boot(p, pj, bootkick=True)
+
+def test_bootkick_can_ignition(p, pj):
+  setup_state(p, pj, "ready to bootkick")
+  for _ in range(10):
+    # Mazda ignition signal
+    pj.can_send(0x9E, b'\xc0\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00', 0)
+    time.sleep(0.5)
+  wait_for_boot(p, pj, bootkick=True)