diff --git a/ci/test_master.sh b/ci/test_master.sh
index 39aa5d07..2b5c14cf 100644
--- a/ci/test_master.sh
+++ b/ci/test_master.sh
@@ -31,5 +31,12 @@ cd ground-core/scripts/cassandra && python2.7 cassandra_setup.py test && cd ../.
 # run tests
 mvn clean test
 
+# build the server and make sure it is still running after 10 seconds
+mvn clean package
+java -jar ground-core/target/ground-core-0.1-SNAPSHOT.jar server ground-core/conf/config.yml &
+SERVER_PID=$!
+sleep 10
+kill -0 $SERVER_PID
+
 # generate the test coverage report and send it to Coveralls 
 mvn clean test jacoco:report coveralls:report -DrepoToken=$COVERALLS_TOKEN
diff --git a/ci/test_pr.sh b/ci/test_pr.sh
index 89d13357..83dd4e6a 100644
--- a/ci/test_pr.sh
+++ b/ci/test_pr.sh
@@ -23,5 +23,12 @@ cd /tmp/ground/
 cd ground-core/scripts/postgres && python2.7 postgres_setup.py test test && cd ../../..
 cd ground-core/scripts/cassandra && python2.7 cassandra_setup.py test && cd ../../..
 
+# build the server and make sure it is still running after 10 seconds
+mvn clean package
+java -jar ground-core/target/ground-core-0.1-SNAPSHOT.jar server ground-core/conf/config.yml &
+SERVER_PID=$!
+sleep 10
+kill -0 $SERVER_PID
+
 # run tests
 mvn clean test