diff --git a/notebook/services/contents/tests/test_contents_api.py b/notebook/services/contents/tests/test_contents_api.py
index 60eadcae7..46402323c 100644
--- a/notebook/services/contents/tests/test_contents_api.py
+++ b/notebook/services/contents/tests/test_contents_api.py
@@ -522,6 +522,12 @@ class APITest(NotebookTestBase):
         listing = self.api.list('/').json()['content']
         self.assertEqual(listing, [])
 
+    def test_delete_non_empty_dir(self):
+        # Test that non empty directory can be deleted
+        self.api.delete(u'å b')
+        # Assertion will pass only if self.api.delete does not throw and error
+        assert True
+
     def test_rename(self):
         resp = self.api.rename('foo/a.ipynb', 'foo/z.ipynb')
         self.assertEqual(resp.headers['Location'].split('/')[-1], 'z.ipynb')