diff --git a/tests/init-template-starter.sh b/tests/init-template-starter.sh
index 72dc2d7..b5e1fde 100755
--- a/tests/init-template-starter.sh
+++ b/tests/init-template-starter.sh
@@ -10,16 +10,21 @@ if [ ! -v ISLANDORA_TAG ] || [ "$ISLANDORA_TAG" = "" ]; then
   ISLANDORA_TAG=main
 fi
 
+# save the site template default settings.php
+# so we can overwrite it for the starter site
 mv drupal/rootfs/var/www/drupal/assets/patches/default_settings.txt .
-
 curl -L "https://github.com/Islandora-Devops/islandora-starter-site/archive/refs/${ISLANDORA_STARTER_REF}.tar.gz" \
   | tar --strip-components=1 -C drupal/rootfs/var/www/drupal -xz
-
 mv default_settings.txt drupal/rootfs/var/www/drupal/assets/patches/default_settings.txt
 
+# copy any drush scripts into the rootfs so we can run them
+cp ./tests/solr.php drupal/rootfs/var/www/drupal/
+
 ./generate-certs.sh
 ./generate-secrets.sh
 
 docker compose --profile dev up -d
 
 ./tests/ping.sh
+
+docker compose --profile dev exec drupal-dev drush scr solr.php
diff --git a/tests/solr.php b/tests/solr.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..611b708
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/solr.php
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+<?php
+
+use Drupal\search_api\Entity\Server;
+
+$server_id = 'default_solr_server';
+$server = Server::load($server_id);
+
+if ($server) {
+  try {
+    $server->getBackend()->getSolrConnector()->pingServer();
+    echo "Solr server connection test passed.\n";
+  }
+  catch (Exception $e) {
+    echo "Solr server connection test failed: " . $e->getMessage() . "\n";
+    exit(1);
+  }
+} else {
+  echo "Solr server not found.\n";
+  exit(1);
+}