diff --git a/virtcontainers/types/container_test.go b/virtcontainers/types/container_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..aa91a51fdf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/virtcontainers/types/container_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2020 Intel Corporation
+//
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+//
+
+package types
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+func testContainerStateTransition(t *testing.T, state StateString, newState StateString) error {
+	s := ContainerState{
+		State: state,
+	}
+
+	return s.ValidTransition(state, newState)
+}
+
+func TestContainerStateReadyRunning(t *testing.T) {
+	err := testContainerStateTransition(t, StateReady, StateRunning)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+}
+
+func TestContainerStateRunningPaused(t *testing.T) {
+	err := testContainerStateTransition(t, StateRunning, StatePaused)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+}
+
+func TestContainerStatePausedRunning(t *testing.T) {
+	err := testContainerStateTransition(t, StatePaused, StateRunning)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+}
+
+func TestContainerStatePausedStopped(t *testing.T) {
+	err := testContainerStateTransition(t, StatePaused, StateStopped)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+}
+
+func TestContainerStateRunningStopped(t *testing.T) {
+	err := testContainerStateTransition(t, StateRunning, StateStopped)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+}
+
+func TestContainerStateReadyStopped(t *testing.T) {
+	err := testContainerStateTransition(t, StateReady, StateStopped)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+}
+
+func TestContainerStateStoppedRunning(t *testing.T) {
+	err := testContainerStateTransition(t, StateStopped, StateRunning)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+}
+
+func TestContainerStateStoppedReady(t *testing.T) {
+	err := testContainerStateTransition(t, StateStopped, StateReady)
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+}
+
+func TestContainerStatePausedPaused(t *testing.T) {
+	err := testContainerStateTransition(t, StatePaused, StatePaused)
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+}
+
+func testContainerStateValid(t *testing.T, stateStr StateString, expected bool) {
+	state := &ContainerState{
+		State: stateStr,
+	}
+
+	ok := state.Valid()
+	msg := fmt.Sprintf("state: %+v, expected: %v", stateStr, expected)
+	assert.Equal(t, ok, expected, msg)
+}
+
+func TestContainerStateValidSuccessful(t *testing.T) {
+	testContainerStateValid(t, StateReady, true)
+	testContainerStateValid(t, StateRunning, true)
+	testContainerStateValid(t, StatePaused, true)
+	testContainerStateValid(t, StateStopped, true)
+}
+
+func TestContainerStateValidFailing(t *testing.T) {
+	testContainerStateValid(t, "", false)
+}