diff --git a/test/Jamfile.v2 b/test/Jamfile.v2
index a601332..29003c1 100644
--- a/test/Jamfile.v2
+++ b/test/Jamfile.v2
@@ -299,6 +299,9 @@ run bit_popcount_test.cpp
 run bit_endian_test.cpp
   : : : $(pedantic-errors) ;
 
+compile-fail bit_width_fail.cpp
+  : <warnings>off ;
+
 run type_name_test.cpp ;
 
 run sv_types_test.cpp ;
diff --git a/test/bit_width_fail.cpp b/test/bit_width_fail.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9e76000
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/bit_width_fail.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+// Negative test for boost/core/bit.hpp (bit_width)
+//
+// Copyright 2022 Peter Dimov
+// Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0.
+// https://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt
+
+#include <boost/core/bit.hpp>
+
+int main()
+{
+    // should fail, because 0 is a signed integral type
+    return boost::core::bit_width( 0 );
+}