diff --git a/tools/binman/ftest.py b/tools/binman/ftest.py
index a553ca9..8cf867f 100644
--- a/tools/binman/ftest.py
+++ b/tools/binman/ftest.py
@@ -762,6 +762,16 @@
             return False
         return True
 
+    def _CheckPreload(self, image, key, algo="sha256,rsa2048",
+                      padding="pkcs-1.5"):
+        try:
+            tools.run('preload_check_sign', '-k', key, '-a', algo, '-p',
+                      padding, '-f', image)
+        except:
+            self.fail('Expected image signed with a pre-load')
+            return False
+        return True
+
     def testRun(self):
         """Test a basic run with valid args"""
         result = self._RunBinman('-h')
@@ -5781,9 +5791,14 @@
         data = self._DoReadFileDtb(
             '230_pre_load.dts', entry_args=entry_args,
             extra_indirs=[os.path.join(self._binman_dir, 'test')])[0]
+
+        image_fname = tools.get_output_filename('image.bin')
+        is_signed = self._CheckPreload(image_fname, self.TestFile("dev.key"))
+
         self.assertEqual(PRE_LOAD_MAGIC, data[:len(PRE_LOAD_MAGIC)])
         self.assertEqual(PRE_LOAD_VERSION, data[4:4 + len(PRE_LOAD_VERSION)])
         self.assertEqual(PRE_LOAD_HDR_SIZE, data[8:8 + len(PRE_LOAD_HDR_SIZE)])
+        self.assertEqual(is_signed, True)
 
     def testPreLoadNoKey(self):
         """Test an image with a pre-load heade0r with missing key"""