diff --git a/core/src/test/java/com/google/zxing/pdf417/encoder/PDF417EncoderTestCase.java b/core/src/test/java/com/google/zxing/pdf417/encoder/PDF417EncoderTestCase.java
index 05d15fc96..9948ae611 100644
--- a/core/src/test/java/com/google/zxing/pdf417/encoder/PDF417EncoderTestCase.java
+++ b/core/src/test/java/com/google/zxing/pdf417/encoder/PDF417EncoderTestCase.java
@@ -30,6 +30,13 @@ public final class PDF417EncoderTestCase extends Assert {
     assertEquals("\u039f\u001A\u0385ABCD", encoded);
   }
 
+  @Test
+  public void testEncodeAutoWithSpecialChars() throws Exception {
+	//Just check if this does not throw an exception
+    PDF417HighLevelEncoder.encodeHighLevel(
+        "1%§s ?aG$", Compaction.AUTO, StandardCharsets.UTF_8);
+  }
+
   @Test
   public void testEncodeText() throws Exception {
     String encoded = PDF417HighLevelEncoder.encodeHighLevel(