diff --git a/app/test/meson.build b/app/test/meson.build
index 6389ae83ee..93412cce51 100644
--- a/app/test/meson.build
+++ b/app/test/meson.build
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ source_file_deps = {
     'test_ipsec_sad.c': ['ipsec'],
     'test_kvargs.c': ['kvargs'],
     'test_latencystats.c': ['ethdev', 'latencystats', 'metrics'] + sample_packet_forward_deps,
+    'test_lcore_var.c': [],
     'test_lcores.c': [],
     'test_link_bonding.c': ['ethdev', 'net_bond',
         'net'] + packet_burst_generator_deps + virtual_pmd_deps,
diff --git a/app/test/test_lcore_var.c b/app/test/test_lcore_var.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..27084e91e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/test/test_lcore_var.c
@@ -0,0 +1,407 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+ * Copyright(c) 2024 Ericsson AB
+ */
+
+#include <inttypes.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+#include <rte_launch.h>
+#include <rte_lcore_var.h>
+#include <rte_random.h>
+
+#include "test.h"
+
+#define MIN_LCORES 2
+
+RTE_LCORE_VAR_HANDLE(int, test_int);
+RTE_LCORE_VAR_HANDLE(char, test_char);
+RTE_LCORE_VAR_HANDLE(long, test_long_sized);
+RTE_LCORE_VAR_HANDLE(short, test_short);
+RTE_LCORE_VAR_HANDLE(long, test_long_sized_aligned);
+
+struct int_checker_state {
+	int old_value;
+	int new_value;
+	bool success;
+};
+
+static bool
+rand_bool(void)
+{
+	return rte_rand() & 1;
+}
+
+static void
+rand_blk(void *blk, size_t size)
+{
+	size_t i;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < size; i++)
+		((unsigned char *)blk)[i] = (unsigned char)rte_rand();
+}
+
+static bool
+is_ptr_aligned(const void *ptr, size_t align)
+{
+	return ptr != NULL ? (uintptr_t)ptr % align == 0 : false;
+}
+
+static int
+check_int(void *arg)
+{
+	struct int_checker_state *state = arg;
+
+	int *ptr = RTE_LCORE_VAR_PTR(test_int);
+
+	bool naturally_aligned = is_ptr_aligned(ptr, sizeof(int));
+
+	bool equal;
+
+	if (rand_bool())
+		equal = RTE_LCORE_VAR_GET(test_int) == state->old_value;
+	else
+		equal = *(RTE_LCORE_VAR_PTR(test_int)) == state->old_value;
+
+	state->success = equal && naturally_aligned;
+
+	if (rand_bool())
+		RTE_LCORE_VAR_SET(test_int, state->new_value);
+	else
+		*ptr = state->new_value;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+RTE_LCORE_VAR_INIT(test_int);
+RTE_LCORE_VAR_INIT(test_char);
+RTE_LCORE_VAR_INIT_SIZE(test_long_sized, 32);
+RTE_LCORE_VAR_INIT(test_short);
+RTE_LCORE_VAR_INIT_SIZE_ALIGN(test_long_sized_aligned, sizeof(long),
+			      RTE_CACHE_LINE_SIZE);
+
+static int
+test_int_lvar(void)
+{
+	unsigned int lcore_id;
+
+	struct int_checker_state states[RTE_MAX_LCORE] = {};
+
+	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(lcore_id) {
+		struct int_checker_state *state = &states[lcore_id];
+
+		state->old_value = (int)rte_rand();
+		state->new_value = (int)rte_rand();
+
+		RTE_LCORE_VAR_LCORE_SET(lcore_id, test_int, state->old_value);
+	}
+
+	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(lcore_id)
+		rte_eal_remote_launch(check_int, &states[lcore_id], lcore_id);
+
+	rte_eal_mp_wait_lcore();
+
+	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(lcore_id) {
+		struct int_checker_state *state = &states[lcore_id];
+
+		TEST_ASSERT(state->success, "Unexpected value "
+			    "encountered on lcore %d", lcore_id);
+
+		TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL(state->new_value,
+				  RTE_LCORE_VAR_LCORE_GET(lcore_id, test_int),
+				  "Lcore %d failed to update int", lcore_id);
+	}
+
+	/* take the opportunity to test the foreach macro */
+	int *v;
+	lcore_id = 0;
+	RTE_LCORE_VAR_FOREACH_VALUE(v, test_int) {
+		TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL(states[lcore_id].new_value, *v,
+				  "Unexpected value on lcore %d during "
+				  "iteration", lcore_id);
+		lcore_id++;
+	}
+
+	return TEST_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+static int
+test_sized_alignment(void)
+{
+	long *v;
+
+	RTE_LCORE_VAR_FOREACH_VALUE(v, test_long_sized) {
+		TEST_ASSERT(is_ptr_aligned(v, alignof(long)),
+			    "Type-derived alignment failed");
+	}
+
+	RTE_LCORE_VAR_FOREACH_VALUE(v, test_long_sized_aligned) {
+		TEST_ASSERT(is_ptr_aligned(v, RTE_CACHE_LINE_SIZE),
+			    "Explicit alignment failed");
+	}
+
+	return TEST_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+/* private, larger, struct */
+#define TEST_STRUCT_DATA_SIZE 1234
+
+struct test_struct {
+	uint8_t data[TEST_STRUCT_DATA_SIZE];
+};
+
+static RTE_LCORE_VAR_HANDLE(char, before_struct);
+static RTE_LCORE_VAR_HANDLE(struct test_struct, test_struct);
+static RTE_LCORE_VAR_HANDLE(char, after_struct);
+
+struct struct_checker_state {
+	struct test_struct old_value;
+	struct test_struct new_value;
+	bool success;
+};
+
+static int check_struct(void *arg)
+{
+	struct struct_checker_state *state = arg;
+
+	struct test_struct *lcore_struct = RTE_LCORE_VAR_PTR(test_struct);
+
+	bool properly_aligned =
+		is_ptr_aligned(test_struct, alignof(struct test_struct));
+
+	bool equal = memcmp(lcore_struct->data, state->old_value.data,
+			    TEST_STRUCT_DATA_SIZE) == 0;
+
+	state->success = equal && properly_aligned;
+
+	memcpy(lcore_struct->data, state->new_value.data,
+	       TEST_STRUCT_DATA_SIZE);
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int
+test_struct_lvar(void)
+{
+	unsigned int lcore_id;
+
+	RTE_LCORE_VAR_ALLOC(before_struct);
+	RTE_LCORE_VAR_ALLOC(test_struct);
+	RTE_LCORE_VAR_ALLOC(after_struct);
+
+	struct struct_checker_state states[RTE_MAX_LCORE];
+
+	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(lcore_id) {
+		struct struct_checker_state *state = &states[lcore_id];
+
+		rand_blk(state->old_value.data, TEST_STRUCT_DATA_SIZE);
+		rand_blk(state->new_value.data, TEST_STRUCT_DATA_SIZE);
+
+		memcpy(RTE_LCORE_VAR_LCORE_PTR(lcore_id, test_struct)->data,
+		       state->old_value.data, TEST_STRUCT_DATA_SIZE);
+	}
+
+	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(lcore_id)
+		rte_eal_remote_launch(check_struct, &states[lcore_id],
+				      lcore_id);
+
+	rte_eal_mp_wait_lcore();
+
+	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(lcore_id) {
+		struct struct_checker_state *state = &states[lcore_id];
+		struct test_struct *lstruct =
+			RTE_LCORE_VAR_LCORE_PTR(lcore_id, test_struct);
+
+		TEST_ASSERT(state->success, "Unexpected value encountered on "
+			    "lcore %d", lcore_id);
+
+		bool equal = memcmp(lstruct->data, state->new_value.data,
+				    TEST_STRUCT_DATA_SIZE) == 0;
+
+		TEST_ASSERT(equal, "Lcore %d failed to update struct",
+			    lcore_id);
+	}
+
+	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(lcore_id) {
+		char before = RTE_LCORE_VAR_LCORE_GET(lcore_id, before_struct);
+		char after = RTE_LCORE_VAR_LCORE_GET(lcore_id, after_struct);
+
+		TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL(before, 0, "Lcore variable before test "
+				  "struct was modified on lcore %d", lcore_id);
+		TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL(after, 0, "Lcore variable after test "
+				  "struct was modified on lcore %d", lcore_id);
+	}
+
+	return TEST_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+#define TEST_ARRAY_SIZE 99
+
+typedef uint16_t test_array_t[TEST_ARRAY_SIZE];
+
+static void test_array_init_rand(test_array_t a)
+{
+	size_t i;
+	for (i = 0; i < TEST_ARRAY_SIZE; i++)
+		a[i] = (uint16_t)rte_rand();
+}
+
+static bool test_array_equal(test_array_t a, test_array_t b)
+{
+	size_t i;
+	for (i = 0; i < TEST_ARRAY_SIZE; i++) {
+		if (a[i] != b[i])
+			return false;
+	}
+	return true;
+}
+
+static void test_array_copy(test_array_t dst, const test_array_t src)
+{
+	size_t i;
+	for (i = 0; i < TEST_ARRAY_SIZE; i++)
+		dst[i] = src[i];
+}
+
+static RTE_LCORE_VAR_HANDLE(char, before_array);
+static RTE_LCORE_VAR_HANDLE(test_array_t, test_array);
+static RTE_LCORE_VAR_HANDLE(char, after_array);
+
+struct array_checker_state {
+	test_array_t old_value;
+	test_array_t new_value;
+	bool success;
+};
+
+static int check_array(void *arg)
+{
+	struct array_checker_state *state = arg;
+
+	test_array_t *lcore_array = RTE_LCORE_VAR_PTR(test_array);
+
+	bool properly_aligned =
+		is_ptr_aligned(lcore_array, alignof(test_array_t));
+
+	bool equal = test_array_equal(*lcore_array, state->old_value);
+
+	state->success = equal && properly_aligned;
+
+	test_array_copy(*lcore_array, state->new_value);
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int
+test_array_lvar(void)
+{
+	unsigned int lcore_id;
+
+	RTE_LCORE_VAR_ALLOC(before_array);
+	RTE_LCORE_VAR_ALLOC(test_array);
+	RTE_LCORE_VAR_ALLOC(after_array);
+
+	struct array_checker_state states[RTE_MAX_LCORE];
+
+	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(lcore_id) {
+		struct array_checker_state *state = &states[lcore_id];
+
+		test_array_init_rand(state->new_value);
+		test_array_init_rand(state->old_value);
+
+		test_array_copy(RTE_LCORE_VAR_LCORE_GET(lcore_id, test_array),
+				state->old_value);
+	}
+
+	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(lcore_id)
+		rte_eal_remote_launch(check_array, &states[lcore_id],
+				      lcore_id);
+
+	rte_eal_mp_wait_lcore();
+
+	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(lcore_id) {
+		struct array_checker_state *state = &states[lcore_id];
+		test_array_t *larray =
+			RTE_LCORE_VAR_LCORE_PTR(lcore_id, test_array);
+
+		TEST_ASSERT(state->success, "Unexpected value encountered on "
+			    "lcore %d", lcore_id);
+
+		bool equal = test_array_equal(*larray, state->new_value);
+
+		TEST_ASSERT(equal, "Lcore %d failed to update array",
+			    lcore_id);
+	}
+
+	RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(lcore_id) {
+		char before = RTE_LCORE_VAR_LCORE_GET(lcore_id, before_array);
+		char after = RTE_LCORE_VAR_LCORE_GET(lcore_id, after_array);
+
+		TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL(before, 0, "Lcore variable before test "
+				  "array was modified on lcore %d", lcore_id);
+		TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL(after, 0, "Lcore variable after test "
+				  "array was modified on lcore %d", lcore_id);
+	}
+
+	return TEST_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+#define MANY_LVARS (RTE_MAX_LCORE_VAR / 2)
+
+static int
+test_many_lvars(void)
+{
+	void **handlers = malloc(sizeof(void *) * MANY_LVARS);
+	int i;
+
+	TEST_ASSERT(handlers != NULL, "Unable to allocate memory");
+
+	for (i = 0; i < MANY_LVARS; i++) {
+		void *handle = rte_lcore_var_alloc(1, 1);
+
+		uint8_t *b = __RTE_LCORE_VAR_LCORE_PTR(rte_lcore_id(), handle);
+
+		*b = (uint8_t)i;
+
+		handlers[i] = handle;
+	}
+
+	for (i = 0; i < MANY_LVARS; i++) {
+		unsigned int lcore_id;
+
+		RTE_LCORE_FOREACH_WORKER(lcore_id) {
+			uint8_t *b = __RTE_LCORE_VAR_LCORE_PTR(rte_lcore_id(),
+							       handlers[i]);
+			TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL((uint8_t)i, *b,
+					  "Unexpected lcore variable value.");
+		}
+	}
+
+	free(handlers);
+
+	return TEST_SUCCESS;
+}
+
+static struct unit_test_suite lcore_var_testsuite = {
+	.suite_name = "lcore variable autotest",
+	.unit_test_cases = {
+		TEST_CASE(test_int_lvar),
+		TEST_CASE(test_sized_alignment),
+		TEST_CASE(test_struct_lvar),
+		TEST_CASE(test_array_lvar),
+		TEST_CASE(test_many_lvars),
+		TEST_CASES_END()
+	},
+};
+
+static int test_lcore_var(void)
+{
+	if (rte_lcore_count() < MIN_LCORES) {
+		printf("Not enough cores for lcore_var_autotest; expecting at "
+		       "least %d.\n", MIN_LCORES);
+		return TEST_SKIPPED;
+	}
+
+	return unit_test_suite_runner(&lcore_var_testsuite);
+}
+
+REGISTER_FAST_TEST(lcore_var_autotest, true, false, test_lcore_var);
