diff --git a/tests/core/download/test_cli.py b/tests/core/download/test_cli.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a712bfa9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/core/download/test_cli.py
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+from cellfinder.core.download.cli import get_parser, main
+
+
+def test_parser_defaults():
+    parser = get_parser()
+    args = parser.parse_args([])
+
+    assert args.model == "resnet50_tv"
+    assert args.no_amend_config is False
+    assert args.install_path is not None
+
+
+def test_main_calls_download_and_config():
+    with patch("sys.argv", ["prog"]):
+        with patch(
+            "cellfinder.core.download.cli.download_models"
+        ) as mock_download:
+            with patch(
+                "cellfinder.core.download.cli.amend_user_configuration"
+            ) as mock_amend:
+
+                mock_download.return_value = "fake_model_path"
+
+                main()
+
+                mock_download.assert_called_once()
+                mock_amend.assert_called_once()
+
+
+def test_main_no_config_update():
+    with patch("sys.argv", ["prog", "--no-amend-config"]):
+        with patch(
+            "cellfinder.core.download.cli.download_models"
+        ) as mock_download:
+            with patch(
+                "cellfinder.core.download.cli.amend_user_configuration"
+            ) as mock_amend:
+
+                mock_download.return_value = "fake_model_path"
+
+                main()
+
+                mock_download.assert_called_once()
+                mock_amend.assert_not_called()