diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 24be2bce..20abc4b9 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -65,6 +65,12 @@ AC_PROG_RANLIB
 AC_PROG_LN_S
 AC_PROG_MAKE_SET
 
+AC_PATH_PROG(SQLITE3_CMD, [sqlite3])
+
+if test x"$SQLITE3_CMD" = x""; then
+    AC_MSG_ERROR([The sqlite3 command is required])
+fi
+
 AC_PATH_PROG(BZIP2_CMD, [bzip2])
 
 AC_CHECK_SIZEOF(off_t)
diff --git a/test/Makefile.am b/test/Makefile.am
index cffa1a65..1774468a 100644
--- a/test/Makefile.am
+++ b/test/Makefile.am
@@ -2,10 +2,18 @@
 TESTS_ENVIRONMENT = $(SHELL) $(top_builddir)/TESTS_ENVIRONMENT
 LOG_COMPILER = $(SHELL) $(top_builddir)/TESTS_ENVIRONMENT
 
+DBGEN_V = $(DBGEN_V_@AM_V@)
+DBGEN_V_ = $(DBGEN_V_@AM_DEFAULT_V@)
+DBGEN_V_0 = @echo "  DBGEN   " $@;
+
 RM_V = $(RM_V_@AM_V@)
 RM_V_ = $(RM_V_@AM_DEFAULT_V@)
 RM_V_0 = @echo "  RM      " $@;
 
+simple-db.db: simple-db.sql
+	$(RM_V)rm -f $@
+	$(DBGEN_V)$(SQLITE3_CMD) $@ < $(srcdir)/simple-db.sql
+
 AM_CPPFLAGS = \
 	-Wall \
 	-I$(top_srcdir)/src \
@@ -237,6 +245,7 @@ dist_noinst_DATA = \
 	logfile_with_a_really_long_name_to_test_a_bug_with_long_names.0 \
 	multiline.lnav \
 	mvwattrline_output.0 \
+	simple-db.sql \
 	view_colors_output.0 \
 	vt52_curses_input.0 \
 	vt52_curses_input.1 \
@@ -249,6 +258,9 @@ dist_noinst_DATA = \
 	log-samples/sample-70c906b3c1a1cf03f15bde92ee78edfa6f9b7960.txt \
 	log-samples/sample-ad31f12d2adabd07e3ddda3ad5b0dbf6b49c4c99.txt
 
+nodist_noinst_DATA = \
+	simple-db.db
+
 TESTS = \
 	test_ansi_scrubber \
 	test_auto_fd \
diff --git a/test/simple-db.sql b/test/simple-db.sql
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a5c30c7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/simple-db.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS  person (
+    id integer PRIMARY KEY,
+    first_name text,
+    last_name text,
+    age integer
+);
+
+INSERT INTO person (id, first_name, last_name, age)
+    VALUES (0, "Phil", "Myman", 30);
+INSERT INTO person (id, first_name, last_name, age)
+    VALUES (1, "Lem", "Hewitt", 35);