diff --git a/pkgs/racket-test-core/tests/racket/print.rktl b/pkgs/racket-test-core/tests/racket/print.rktl
index 51c793d3ea..e79d1ec001 100644
--- a/pkgs/racket-test-core/tests/racket/print.rktl
+++ b/pkgs/racket-test-core/tests/racket/print.rktl
@@ -304,6 +304,14 @@
             (test #f 'path-in-code?4 (regexp-match? (regexp-quote (path->bytes super)) (get-output-string o)))))
         (loop super)))))
 
+;; ----------------------------------------
+;; make sure the minimum value (3) is ok for `error-print-width':
+(parameterize ([error-print-width 3])
+  (test "..." format "~.a" "abcd")
+  (test "abc" format "~.a" "abc")
+  (test "ab" format "~.a" "ab")
+  (test 3 error-print-width))
+
 ;; ----------------------------------------
 ;; make sure +inf.0 is ok for `print-syntax-width':
 (parameterize ([print-syntax-width +inf.0])