diff --git a/tests/test_form_pages.py b/tests/test_form_pages.py
index 64208a3cd..7ff2ddd91 100644
--- a/tests/test_form_pages.py
+++ b/tests/test_form_pages.py
@@ -8692,3 +8692,74 @@ def test_block_digest(pub, blocks_feature):
     assert formdef.data_class().select()[0].data['1']['data'] == [
             {'123': 'foo', '234': 'bar'}, {'123': 'foo2', '234': 'bar2'}]
     assert formdef.data_class().select()[0].data['1_display'] == 'XfooY, Xfoo2Y'
+
+
+def test_block_digest_item(pub, blocks_feature):
+    create_user(pub)
+    FormDef.wipe()
+    BlockDef.wipe()
+    NamedDataSource.wipe()
+
+    # add a named data source
+    data_source = NamedDataSource(name='foobar')
+    data_source.data_source = {
+            'type': 'formula',
+            'value': repr([{'id': '1', 'text': 'un'},
+                           {'id': '2', 'text': 'deux'}])}
+    data_source.store()
+
+    block = BlockDef()
+    block.name = 'foobar'
+    block.fields = [
+        fields.StringField(id='123', required=True, label='Test',
+            type='string', varname='foo'),
+        fields.ItemField(id='234', required=True, label='Test2',
+            type='item', varname='bar', data_source={'type': 'foobar'}),
+    ]
+    block.store()
+
+    formdef = FormDef()
+    formdef.name = 'form title'
+    formdef.fields = [
+        fields.BlockField(id='1', label='test', type='block:foobar', max_items=3),
+    ]
+    formdef.store()
+
+    app = get_app(pub)
+    resp = app.get(formdef.get_url())
+    resp.form['f1$element0$f123'] = 'foo'
+    resp.form['f1$element0$f234'] = '1'
+    resp = resp.form.submit('f1$add_element')
+    resp.form['f1$element1$f123'] = 'foo2'
+    resp.form['f1$element1$f234'] = '2'
+
+    resp = resp.form.submit('submit')  # -> validation page
+    resp = resp.form.submit('submit')  # -> submit
+
+    assert formdef.data_class().select()[0].data['1']['data'] == [
+            {'123': 'foo', '234': '1', '234_display': 'un'},
+            {'123': 'foo2', '234': '2', '234_display': 'deux'},
+    ]
+    # by default it gets the type of object
+    assert formdef.data_class().select()[0].data['1_display'] == 'foobar, foobar'
+
+    # set a digest template
+    formdef.data_class().wipe()
+
+    block.digest_template = 'X{{foobar_var_bar}}Y'
+    block.store()
+
+    resp = app.get(formdef.get_url())
+    resp.form['f1$element0$f123'] = 'foo'
+    resp.form['f1$element0$f234'] = '1'
+    resp = resp.form.submit('f1$add_element')
+    resp.form['f1$element1$f123'] = 'foo2'
+    resp.form['f1$element1$f234'] = '2'
+
+    resp = resp.form.submit('submit')  # -> validation page
+    resp = resp.form.submit('submit')  # -> submit
+    assert formdef.data_class().select()[0].data['1']['data'] == [
+            {'123': 'foo', '234': '1', '234_display': 'un'},
+            {'123': 'foo2', '234': '2', '234_display': 'deux'},
+    ]
+    assert formdef.data_class().select()[0].data['1_display'] == 'XunY, XdeuxY'