diff --git a/tests/test_pagination.py b/tests/test_pagination.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0d5bd82
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_pagination.py
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+"""Tests for Link header pagination handling."""
+
+import json
+from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
+
+import pytest
+
+from github_backup import github_backup
+
+
+class MockHTTPResponse:
+    """Mock HTTP response for paginated API calls."""
+
+    def __init__(self, data, link_header=None):
+        self._content = json.dumps(data).encode("utf-8")
+        self._link_header = link_header
+        self._read = False
+        self.reason = "OK"
+
+    def getcode(self):
+        return 200
+
+    def read(self):
+        if self._read:
+            return b""
+        self._read = True
+        return self._content
+
+    def get_header(self, name, default=None):
+        """Mock method for headers.get()."""
+        return self.headers.get(name, default)
+
+    @property
+    def headers(self):
+        headers = {"x-ratelimit-remaining": "5000"}
+        if self._link_header:
+            headers["Link"] = self._link_header
+        return headers
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def mock_args():
+    """Mock args for retrieve_data_gen."""
+    args = Mock()
+    args.as_app = False
+    args.token_fine = None
+    args.token_classic = "fake_token"
+    args.username = None
+    args.password = None
+    args.osx_keychain_item_name = None
+    args.osx_keychain_item_account = None
+    args.throttle_limit = None
+    args.throttle_pause = 0
+    return args
+
+
+def test_cursor_based_pagination(mock_args):
+    """Link header with 'after' cursor parameter works correctly."""
+
+    # Simulate issues endpoint behavior: returns cursor in Link header
+    responses = [
+        # Issues endpoint returns 'after' cursor parameter (not 'page')
+        MockHTTPResponse(
+            data=[{"issue": i} for i in range(1, 101)],  # Page 1 contents
+            link_header='<https://api.github.com/repos/owner/repo/issues?per_page=100&after=ABC123&page=2>; rel="next"',
+        ),
+        MockHTTPResponse(
+            data=[{"issue": i} for i in range(101, 151)],  # Page 2 contents
+            link_header=None,  # No Link header - signals end of pagination
+        ),
+    ]
+    requests_made = []
+
+    def mock_urlopen(request, *args, **kwargs):
+        url = request.get_full_url()
+        requests_made.append(url)
+        return responses[len(requests_made) - 1]
+
+    with patch("github_backup.github_backup.urlopen", side_effect=mock_urlopen):
+        results = list(
+            github_backup.retrieve_data_gen(
+                mock_args, "https://api.github.com/repos/owner/repo/issues"
+            )
+        )
+
+    # Verify all items retrieved and cursor was used in second request
+    assert len(results) == 150
+    assert len(requests_made) == 2
+    assert "after=ABC123" in requests_made[1]
+
+
+def test_page_based_pagination(mock_args):
+    """Link header with 'page' parameter works correctly."""
+
+    # Simulate pulls/repos endpoint behavior: returns page numbers in Link header
+    responses = [
+        # Pulls endpoint uses traditional 'page' parameter (not cursor)
+        MockHTTPResponse(
+            data=[{"pull": i} for i in range(1, 101)],  # Page 1 contents
+            link_header='<https://api.github.com/repos/owner/repo/pulls?per_page=100&page=2>; rel="next"',
+        ),
+        MockHTTPResponse(
+            data=[{"pull": i} for i in range(101, 181)],  # Page 2 contents
+            link_header=None,  # No Link header - signals end of pagination
+        ),
+    ]
+    requests_made = []
+
+    def mock_urlopen(request, *args, **kwargs):
+        url = request.get_full_url()
+        requests_made.append(url)
+        return responses[len(requests_made) - 1]
+
+    with patch("github_backup.github_backup.urlopen", side_effect=mock_urlopen):
+        results = list(
+            github_backup.retrieve_data_gen(
+                mock_args, "https://api.github.com/repos/owner/repo/pulls"
+            )
+        )
+
+    # Verify all items retrieved and page parameter was used (not cursor)
+    assert len(results) == 180
+    assert len(requests_made) == 2
+    assert "page=2" in requests_made[1]
+    assert "after" not in requests_made[1]
+
+
+def test_no_link_header_stops_pagination(mock_args):
+    """Pagination stops when Link header is absent."""
+
+    # Simulate endpoint with results that fit in a single page
+    responses = [
+        MockHTTPResponse(
+            data=[{"label": i} for i in range(1, 51)],  # Page contents
+            link_header=None,  # No Link header - signals end of pagination
+        )
+    ]
+    requests_made = []
+
+    def mock_urlopen(request, *args, **kwargs):
+        requests_made.append(request.get_full_url())
+        return responses[len(requests_made) - 1]
+
+    with patch("github_backup.github_backup.urlopen", side_effect=mock_urlopen):
+        results = list(
+            github_backup.retrieve_data_gen(
+                mock_args, "https://api.github.com/repos/owner/repo/labels"
+            )
+        )
+
+    # Verify pagination stopped after first request
+    assert len(results) == 50
+    assert len(requests_made) == 1