diff --git a/msl/loadlib/activex.py b/msl/loadlib/activex.py
index d4aeaea..065570e 100644
--- a/msl/loadlib/activex.py
+++ b/msl/loadlib/activex.py
@@ -351,7 +351,10 @@ def __init__(self, **kwargs) -> None:
         """User data associated with the menu item."""
 
     def __eq__(self, other: MenuItem) -> bool:
-        return self.id == other.id
+        try:
+            return self.id == other.id
+        except AttributeError:
+            return False
 
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
         return f'<{self.__class__.__name__} id={self._id} text={self._text!r}>'
@@ -440,7 +443,7 @@ def checked(self) -> MenuItem | None:
                 return item
 
     @checked.setter
-    def checked(self, item: MenuItem) -> None:
+    def checked(self, item: MenuItem | None) -> None:
         """Sets the menu item that is currently checked in the group."""
         for i in self:
             i.checked = i == item
diff --git a/tests/test_application.py b/tests/test_application.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f38bae4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_application.py
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+from msl.loadlib import activex
+from msl.loadlib.constants import IS_WINDOWS
+
+import pytest
+
+from conftest import skipif_not_windows
+
+
+def test_menu_item():
+    mi = activex.MenuItem(hmenu=123, id=7, text='hello world', callback=None, flags=1, data=[-1, 0, 1])
+    assert mi.hmenu == 123
+    assert mi.id == 7
+    assert mi.checked is False
+    assert mi.text == 'hello world'
+    assert mi.callback is None
+    assert mi.flags == 1
+    assert mi == mi
+    assert mi is mi
+    assert str(mi) == "<MenuItem id=7 text='hello world'>"
+    assert mi.data == [-1, 0, 1]
+
+    mi2 = activex.MenuItem(hmenu=123, id=8, text='hello world', callback=None, flags=1, data=[-1, 0, 1])
+    assert mi != mi2  # IDs do not match
+
+
+def test_menu_group():
+    mg = activex.MenuGroup()
+    assert mg.name == ''
+    assert mg.checked is None
+    assert str(mg) == "<MenuGroup name='' size=0>"
+
+    mg = activex.MenuGroup('click')
+    a = mg.append('a')
+    assert isinstance(a, activex.MenuItem)
+    mg.append('b', data=8, flags=activex.MenuFlag.POPUP)
+    mg.append('c', callback=None)
+    assert mg.name == 'click'
+    assert mg.checked is None
+    assert str(mg) == "<MenuGroup name='click' size=3>"
+
+    for item in mg:
+        assert isinstance(item, activex.MenuItem)
+        assert item.checked is False
+
+
+@skipif_not_windows
+def test_menu():
+    m = activex.Menu()
+    assert m.hmenu > 0
+
+    h_file = m.create('File')
+    assert h_file > 0
+
+    new = m.append(h_file, 'New', data=-1)
+    assert isinstance(new, activex.MenuItem)
+    assert m[new.id] is new
+    assert new.id == 1
+    assert new.text == 'New'
+    assert new.flags == activex.MenuFlag.STRING
+    assert new.callback is None
+    assert new.data == -1
+    assert new.checked is False
+
+    m.append_separator(h_file)
+
+    h_settings = m.create('Settings')
+
+    group = activex.MenuGroup('Alphabet')
+    a = group.append('A', data='a')
+    assert isinstance(a, activex.MenuItem)
+    b = group.append('B')
+    c = group.append('C')
+
+    m.append_group(h_settings, group)
+
+    assert m[a.id] is a
+    assert a.id == 3  # adding a separator increments the ID counter
+    assert a.text == 'A'
+    assert a.flags == activex.MenuFlag.STRING
+    assert a.callback is None
+    assert a.data == 'a'
+    assert a.checked is False
+
+    assert m[b.id] is b
+    assert b.id == 4
+    assert b.text == 'B'
+    assert b.data is None
+
+    assert m[c.id] is c
+    assert c.id == 5
+    assert c.text == 'C'
+
+    with pytest.raises(KeyError):
+        _ = m[c.id+1]
+
+    assert group.checked is None
+    assert a.checked is False
+    assert b.checked is False
+    assert c.checked is False
+
+    group.checked = a
+    assert group.checked is a
+    assert a.checked is True
+    assert b.checked is False
+    assert c.checked is False
+
+    group.checked = b
+    assert group.checked is b
+    assert a.checked is False
+    assert b.checked is True
+    assert c.checked is False
+
+    group.checked = c
+    assert group.checked is c
+    assert a.checked is False
+    assert b.checked is False
+    assert c.checked is True
+
+    group.checked = None
+    assert group.checked is None
+    assert a.checked is False
+    assert b.checked is False
+    assert c.checked is False
+
+
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings(pytest.PytestUnhandledThreadExceptionWarning)
+@skipif_not_windows
+def test_application():
+    app = activex.Application()
+    assert app.hwnd > 0
+    assert app.thread_id > 0
+    assert isinstance(app.menu, activex.Menu)
+    app.set_window_position(10, 0, 100, 250)
+    app.set_window_size(100, 100)
+    app.set_window_title('new title')
+
+    # ok to call close() multiple times
+    app.close()
+    app.close()
+    app.close()
+    app.close()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(IS_WINDOWS, reason='do not test on Windows')
+def test_application_raises():
+    with pytest.raises(OSError, match='not supported on this platform'):
+        activex.Application()
diff --git a/tests/test_loadlib.py b/tests/test_loadlib.py
index e667048..b28a8b9 100644
--- a/tests/test_loadlib.py
+++ b/tests/test_loadlib.py
@@ -482,6 +482,7 @@ def test_comtypes():
     assert found_it, f'did not find {progid!r} in utils.get_com_info() dict'
 
 
+@pytest.mark.filterwarnings(pytest.PytestUnhandledThreadExceptionWarning)
 @skipif_no_comtypes
 def test_activex_raises():
     with pytest.raises(OSError, match=r"Cannot find an ActiveX library with ID 'ABC'"):