diff --git a/tests/test_tools/main.c b/tests/test_tools/main.c
index c7fdbcd61f..1051930c1b 100644
--- a/tests/test_tools/main.c
+++ b/tests/test_tools/main.c
@@ -66,7 +66,6 @@ static int cmd_shellping(int argc, char **argv)
     return 0;
 }
 
-
 /**
  * @brief Uppercase the first word
  *
@@ -98,11 +97,31 @@ static int cmd_toupper(int argc, char **argv)
     return 0;
 }
 
+/**
+ * @brief getchar, read one character
+ *
+ * Read one character and print its hex value
+ *
+ * @param[in] argc  Number of arguments
+ * @param[in] argv  Array of arguments
+ *
+ * @return  0
+ *
+ */
+static int cmd_getchar(int argc, char **argv)
+{
+    (void)argc;
+    (void)argv;
+    printf("%s 0x%02x\n", argv[0], getchar());
+    return 0;
+}
+
 
 static const shell_command_t shell_commands[] = {
     { "shellping", "Just print 'shellpong'", cmd_shellping },
     { "true", "do nothing, successfully", cmd_true },
     { "toupper", "uppercase first argument", cmd_toupper },
+    { "getchar", "Get one character and print the hex value", cmd_getchar },
     { NULL, NULL, NULL }
 };
 
diff --git a/tests/test_tools/tests/01-run.py b/tests/test_tools/tests/01-run.py
index 1b2dbec982..ca278074a8 100755
--- a/tests/test_tools/tests/01-run.py
+++ b/tests/test_tools/tests/01-run.py
@@ -38,6 +38,16 @@ def _test_no_local_echo(child):
     assert res == 0, "There should have been a timeout and not match stdin"
 
 
+def _test_sending_newline(child):
+    """Verify that a empty line can be send to the node.
+
+    The local terminal must NOT repeat the previous command.
+    """
+    child.sendline('getchar')
+    child.sendline('')  # send only one newline character
+    child.expect_exact('getchar 0x0a\r\n')
+
+
 def _test_clean_output(child):
     """Verify that only what the node sends is received."""
     child.sendline('toupper lowercase')
@@ -52,6 +62,7 @@ def testfunc(child):
 
     * local echo
     * getting some test output without other messages
+    * sending empty lines
     """
     child.expect_exact("Running 'tests_tools' application")
 
@@ -66,6 +77,9 @@ def testfunc(child):
     # Check that the output is clean without extra terminal output
     _test_clean_output(child)
 
+    # It is possible to send an empty newline
+    _test_sending_newline(child)
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     sys.exit(run(testfunc))