diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 4ea682d3cd0f236349f771d5b3d5279c93188f71..0562ac5ae5b2f9c06a7aacf15b8ebb960a58860d 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -81,6 +81,24 @@ test:
   script:
     - cargo test --verbose --workspace --all-features
 
+test-new-project-template:
+  stage:                           test
+  <<:                              *docker-env
+  script:
+    - cargo run -- contract new new_project
+
+    # needed because otherwise:
+    # `error: current package believes it's in a workspace when it's not`
+    - echo "[workspace]" >> new_project/Cargo.toml
+
+    - cargo run --all-features -- contract build --manifest-path new_project/Cargo.toml
+    - cargo run --all-features -- contract check --manifest-path new_project/Cargo.toml
+    - cd new_project
+
+    - cargo check --verbose
+    - cargo test --verbose --all
+    - cargo fmt --verbose --all -- --check
+
 #### stage:                        build (default features)
 
 build: