diff --git a/test/test/Makefile b/test/test/Makefile
index dcea4410d..5d8b1dcb0 100644
--- a/test/test/Makefile
+++ b/test/test/Makefile
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ SRCS-y += test_bitmap.c
 SRCS-y += test_reciprocal_division.c
 SRCS-y += test_reciprocal_division_perf.c
 SRCS-y += test_fbarray.c
+SRCS-y += test_external_mem.c
 
 SRCS-y += test_ring.c
 SRCS-y += test_ring_perf.c
diff --git a/test/test/autotest_data.py b/test/test/autotest_data.py
index f68d9b111..51f8e1689 100644
--- a/test/test/autotest_data.py
+++ b/test/test/autotest_data.py
@@ -477,10 +477,16 @@
         "Report":  None,
     },
     {
-        "Name":    "Fbarray autotest",
-        "Command": "fbarray_autotest",
-        "Func":    default_autotest,
-        "Report":  None,
+	"Name":    "Fbarray autotest",
+	"Command": "fbarray_autotest",
+	"Func":    default_autotest,
+	"Report":  None,
+    },
+    {
+	"Name":    "External memory autotest",
+	"Command": "external_mem_autotest",
+	"Func":    default_autotest,
+	"Report":  None,
     },
     #
     #Please always keep all dump tests at the end and together!
diff --git a/test/test/meson.build b/test/test/meson.build
index bacb5b144..6a71ee0d3 100644
--- a/test/test/meson.build
+++ b/test/test/meson.build
@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ test_names = [
 	'eventdev_common_autotest',
 	'eventdev_octeontx_autotest',
 	'eventdev_sw_autotest',
+	'external_mem_autotest',
 	'func_reentrancy_autotest',
 	'flow_classify_autotest',
 	'hash_scaling_autotest',
diff --git a/test/test/test_external_mem.c b/test/test/test_external_mem.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d0837aa35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test/test_external_mem.c
@@ -0,0 +1,389 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+ * Copyright(c) 2018 Intel Corporation
+ */
+
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <fcntl.h>
+#include <sys/mman.h>
+#include <sys/wait.h>
+
+#include <rte_common.h>
+#include <rte_debug.h>
+#include <rte_eal.h>
+#include <rte_errno.h>
+#include <rte_malloc.h>
+#include <rte_ring.h>
+#include <rte_string_fns.h>
+
+#include "test.h"
+
+#define EXTERNAL_MEM_SZ (RTE_PGSIZE_4K << 10) /* 4M of data */
+
+static int
+test_invalid_param(void *addr, size_t len, size_t pgsz, rte_iova_t *iova,
+		int n_pages)
+{
+	static const char * const names[] = {
+		NULL, /* NULL name */
+		"",   /* empty name */
+		"this heap name is definitely way too long to be valid"
+	};
+	const char *valid_name = "valid heap name";
+	unsigned int i;
+
+	/* check invalid name handling */
+	for (i = 0; i < RTE_DIM(names); i++) {
+		const char *name = names[i];
+
+		/* these calls may fail for other reasons, so check errno */
+		if (rte_malloc_heap_create(name) >= 0 || rte_errno != EINVAL) {
+			printf("%s():%i: Created heap with invalid name\n",
+					__func__, __LINE__);
+			goto fail;
+		}
+
+		if (rte_malloc_heap_destroy(name) >= 0 || rte_errno != EINVAL) {
+			printf("%s():%i: Destroyed heap with invalid name\n",
+					__func__, __LINE__);
+			goto fail;
+		}
+
+		if (rte_malloc_heap_get_socket(name) >= 0 ||
+				rte_errno != EINVAL) {
+			printf("%s():%i: Found socket for heap with invalid name\n",
+					__func__, __LINE__);
+			goto fail;
+		}
+
+		if (rte_malloc_heap_memory_add(name, addr, len,
+				NULL, 0, pgsz) >= 0 || rte_errno != EINVAL) {
+			printf("%s():%i: Added memory to heap with invalid name\n",
+					__func__, __LINE__);
+			goto fail;
+		}
+		if (rte_malloc_heap_memory_remove(name, addr, len) >= 0 ||
+				rte_errno != EINVAL) {
+			printf("%s():%i: Removed memory from heap with invalid name\n",
+					__func__, __LINE__);
+			goto fail;
+		}
+
+		if (rte_malloc_heap_memory_attach(name, addr, len) >= 0 ||
+				rte_errno != EINVAL) {
+			printf("%s():%i: Attached memory to heap with invalid name\n",
+				__func__, __LINE__);
+			goto fail;
+		}
+		if (rte_malloc_heap_memory_detach(name, addr, len) >= 0 ||
+				rte_errno != EINVAL) {
+			printf("%s():%i: Detached memory from heap with invalid name\n",
+				__func__, __LINE__);
+			goto fail;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/* do same as above, but with a valid heap name */
+
+	/* skip create call */
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_destroy(valid_name) >= 0 || rte_errno != ENOENT) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Destroyed heap with invalid name\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_get_socket(valid_name) >= 0 ||
+			rte_errno != ENOENT) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Found socket for heap with invalid name\n",
+				__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+
+	/* these calls may fail for other reasons, so check errno */
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_memory_add(valid_name, addr, len,
+			NULL, 0, pgsz) >= 0 || rte_errno != ENOENT) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Added memory to non-existent heap\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_memory_remove(valid_name, addr, len) >= 0 ||
+			rte_errno != ENOENT) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Removed memory from non-existent heap\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_memory_attach(valid_name, addr, len) >= 0 ||
+			rte_errno != ENOENT) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Attached memory to non-existent heap\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_memory_detach(valid_name, addr, len) >= 0 ||
+			rte_errno != ENOENT) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Detached memory from non-existent heap\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+
+	/* create a valid heap but test other invalid parameters */
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_create(valid_name) != 0) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Failed to create valid heap\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+
+	/* zero length */
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_memory_add(valid_name, addr, 0,
+			NULL, 0, pgsz) >= 0 || rte_errno != EINVAL) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Added memory with invalid parameters\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_memory_remove(valid_name, addr, 0) >= 0 ||
+			rte_errno != EINVAL) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Removed memory with invalid parameters\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_memory_attach(valid_name, addr, 0) >= 0 ||
+			rte_errno != EINVAL) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Attached memory with invalid parameters\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_memory_detach(valid_name, addr, 0) >= 0 ||
+			rte_errno != EINVAL) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Detached memory with invalid parameters\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+
+	/* zero address */
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_memory_add(valid_name, NULL, len,
+			NULL, 0, pgsz) >= 0 || rte_errno != EINVAL) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Added memory with invalid parameters\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_memory_remove(valid_name, NULL, len) >= 0 ||
+			rte_errno != EINVAL) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Removed memory with invalid parameters\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_memory_attach(valid_name, NULL, len) >= 0 ||
+			rte_errno != EINVAL) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Attached memory with invalid parameters\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_memory_detach(valid_name, NULL, len) >= 0 ||
+			rte_errno != EINVAL) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Detached memory with invalid parameters\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+
+	/* wrong page count */
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_memory_add(valid_name, addr, len,
+			iova, 0, pgsz) >= 0 || rte_errno != EINVAL) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Added memory with invalid parameters\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_memory_add(valid_name, addr, len,
+			iova, n_pages - 1, pgsz) >= 0 || rte_errno != EINVAL) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Added memory with invalid parameters\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_memory_add(valid_name, addr, len,
+			iova, n_pages + 1, pgsz) >= 0 || rte_errno != EINVAL) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Added memory with invalid parameters\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+
+	/* tests passed, destroy heap */
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_destroy(valid_name) != 0) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Failed to destroy valid heap\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+	return 0;
+fail:
+	rte_malloc_heap_destroy(valid_name);
+	return -1;
+}
+
+static int
+test_basic(void *addr, size_t len, size_t pgsz, rte_iova_t *iova, int n_pages)
+{
+	const char *heap_name = "heap";
+	void *ptr = NULL;
+	int socket_id, i;
+	const struct rte_memzone *mz = NULL;
+
+	/* create heap */
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_create(heap_name) != 0) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Failed to create malloc heap\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+
+	/* get socket ID corresponding to this heap */
+	socket_id = rte_malloc_heap_get_socket(heap_name);
+	if (socket_id < 0) {
+		printf("%s():%i: cannot find socket for external heap\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+
+	/* heap is empty, so any allocation should fail */
+	ptr = rte_malloc_socket("EXTMEM", 64, 0, socket_id);
+	if (ptr != NULL) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Allocated from empty heap\n", __func__,
+			__LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+
+	/* add memory to heap */
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_memory_add(heap_name, addr, len,
+			iova, n_pages, pgsz) != 0) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Failed to add memory to heap\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+
+	/* check that we can get this memory from EAL now */
+	for (i = 0; i < n_pages; i++) {
+		const struct rte_memseg *ms;
+		void *cur = RTE_PTR_ADD(addr, pgsz * i);
+
+		ms = rte_mem_virt2memseg(cur, NULL);
+		if (ms == NULL) {
+			printf("%s():%i: Failed to retrieve memseg for external mem\n",
+				__func__, __LINE__);
+			goto fail;
+		}
+		if (ms->addr != cur) {
+			printf("%s():%i: VA mismatch\n", __func__, __LINE__);
+			goto fail;
+		}
+		if (ms->iova != iova[i]) {
+			printf("%s():%i: IOVA mismatch\n", __func__, __LINE__);
+			goto fail;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/* allocate - this now should succeed */
+	ptr = rte_malloc_socket("EXTMEM", 64, 0, socket_id);
+	if (ptr == NULL) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Failed to allocate from external heap\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+
+	/* check if address is in expected range */
+	if (ptr < addr || ptr >= RTE_PTR_ADD(addr, len)) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Allocated from unexpected address space\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+
+	/* we've allocated something - removing memory should fail */
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_memory_remove(heap_name, addr, len) >= 0 ||
+			rte_errno != EBUSY) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Removing memory succeeded when memory is not free\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_destroy(heap_name) >= 0 || rte_errno != EBUSY) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Destroying heap succeeded when memory is not free\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+
+	/* try allocating an IOVA-contiguous memzone - this should succeed
+	 * because we've set up a contiguous IOVA table.
+	 */
+	mz = rte_memzone_reserve("heap_test", pgsz * 2, socket_id,
+			RTE_MEMZONE_IOVA_CONTIG);
+	if (mz == NULL) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Failed to reserve memzone\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+
+	rte_malloc_dump_stats(stdout, NULL);
+	rte_malloc_dump_heaps(stdout);
+
+	/* free memory - removing it should now succeed */
+	rte_free(ptr);
+	ptr = NULL;
+
+	rte_memzone_free(mz);
+	mz = NULL;
+
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_memory_remove(heap_name, addr, len) != 0) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Removing memory from heap failed\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+	if (rte_malloc_heap_destroy(heap_name) != 0) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Destroying heap failed\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		goto fail;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+fail:
+	rte_memzone_free(mz);
+	rte_free(ptr);
+	/* even if something failed, attempt to clean up */
+	rte_malloc_heap_memory_remove(heap_name, addr, len);
+	rte_malloc_heap_destroy(heap_name);
+
+	return -1;
+}
+
+/* we need to test attach/detach in secondary processes. */
+static int
+test_external_mem(void)
+{
+	size_t len = EXTERNAL_MEM_SZ;
+	size_t pgsz = RTE_PGSIZE_4K;
+	rte_iova_t iova[len / pgsz];
+	void *addr;
+	int ret, n_pages;
+
+	/* create external memory area */
+	n_pages = RTE_DIM(iova);
+	addr = mmap(NULL, len, PROT_WRITE | PROT_READ,
+			MAP_ANONYMOUS | MAP_PRIVATE, -1, 0);
+	if (addr == MAP_FAILED) {
+		printf("%s():%i: Failed to create dummy memory area\n",
+			__func__, __LINE__);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	for (int i = 0; i < n_pages; i++) {
+		/* arbitrary IOVA */
+		rte_iova_t tmp = 0x100000000 + i * pgsz;
+		iova[i] = tmp;
+	}
+
+	ret = test_invalid_param(addr, len, pgsz, iova, n_pages);
+	ret |= test_basic(addr, len, pgsz, iova, n_pages);
+
+	munmap(addr, len);
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
+REGISTER_TEST_COMMAND(external_mem_autotest, test_external_mem);
