diff --git a/cscs-checks/apps/espresso/espresso_check.py b/cscs-checks/apps/espresso/espresso_check.py
index fb2a35611c..2d31b7218d 100644
--- a/cscs-checks/apps/espresso/espresso_check.py
+++ b/cscs-checks/apps/espresso/espresso_check.py
@@ -15,9 +15,11 @@ def __init__(self, variant, **kwargs):
                                        'Espresso')
         self.executable = 'pw.x'
         self.executable_opts = '-in ausurf.in'.split()
-
-        self.sanity_patterns = sn.assert_found(
-            r'convergence has been achieved', self.stdout)
+        energy = sn.extractsingle(r'!\s+total energy\s+=\s+(?P<energy>\S+) Ry',
+                                  self.stdout, 'energy', float)
+        self.sanity_patterns = sn.all([
+            sn.assert_found(r'convergence has been achieved', self.stdout),
+            sn.assert_reference(energy, -11427.08612278, -1e-10, 1e-10)])
         self.perf_patterns = {
             'sec': sn.extractsingle(r'electrons    :\s+(?P<sec>\S+)s CPU ',
                                     self.stdout, 'sec', float)