diff --git a/changelog.d/1544.change.rst b/changelog.d/1544.change.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..748b64e1c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/1544.change.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Added tests for PackageIndex.download (for git URLs).
diff --git a/setuptools/tests/test_packageindex.py b/setuptools/tests/test_packageindex.py
index 63b9294610..1f6bc7979a 100644
--- a/setuptools/tests/test_packageindex.py
+++ b/setuptools/tests/test_packageindex.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 from setuptools.extern import six
 from setuptools.extern.six.moves import urllib, http_client
+import mock
 
 import pkg_resources
 import setuptools.package_index
@@ -223,6 +224,44 @@ def test_egg_fragment(self):
             assert dists[0].version == ''
             assert dists[1].version == vc
 
+    def test_download_git_with_rev(self, tmpdir):
+        url = 'git+https://github.example/group/project@master#egg=foo'
+        index = setuptools.package_index.PackageIndex()
+
+        with mock.patch("os.system") as os_system_mock:
+            result = index.download(url, str(tmpdir))
+
+        os_system_mock.assert_called()
+
+        expected_dir = str(tmpdir / 'project@master')
+        expected = (
+            'git clone --quiet '
+            'https://github.example/group/project {expected_dir}'
+        ).format(**locals())
+        first_call_args = os_system_mock.call_args_list[0][0]
+        assert first_call_args == (expected,)
+
+        tmpl = '(cd {expected_dir} && git checkout --quiet master)'
+        expected = tmpl.format(**locals())
+        assert os_system_mock.call_args_list[1][0] == (expected,)
+        assert result == expected_dir
+
+    def test_download_git_no_rev(self, tmpdir):
+        url = 'git+https://github.example/group/project#egg=foo'
+        index = setuptools.package_index.PackageIndex()
+
+        with mock.patch("os.system") as os_system_mock:
+            result = index.download(url, str(tmpdir))
+
+        os_system_mock.assert_called()
+
+        expected_dir = str(tmpdir / 'project')
+        expected = (
+            'git clone --quiet '
+            'https://github.example/group/project {expected_dir}'
+        ).format(**locals())
+        os_system_mock.assert_called_once_with(expected)
+
 
 class TestContentCheckers:
     def test_md5(self):