diff --git a/unittest/python/CMakeLists.txt b/unittest/python/CMakeLists.txt
index 6e365efe68..a01f3cdb0a 100644
--- a/unittest/python/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/unittest/python/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ if (Python_EXECUTABLE)
   # prepare to augment the environment so that the LAMMPS python module and the shared library is found.
   set(PYTHON_TEST_ENVIRONMENT PYTHONPATH=${LAMMPS_PYTHON_DIR}:$ENV{PYTHONPATH})
   if(APPLE)
-    list(APPEND PYTHON_TEST_ENVIRONMENT DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH=${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}:$ENV{DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH})
+    list(APPEND PYTHON_TEST_ENVIRONMENT "DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH=${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}:$ENV{DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH};LAMMPS_CMAKE_CACHE=${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/CMakeCache.txt")
   else()
-    list(APPEND PYTHON_TEST_ENVIRONMENT LD_LIBRARY_PATH=${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}:$ENV{LD_LIBRARY_PATH})
+    list(APPEND PYTHON_TEST_ENVIRONMENT "LD_LIBRARY_PATH=${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}:$ENV{LD_LIBRARY_PATH};LAMMPS_CMAKE_CACHE=${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/CMakeCache.txt")
   endif()
   if(LAMMPS_MACHINE)
     # convert from '_machine' to 'machine'
@@ -54,6 +54,11 @@ if (Python_EXECUTABLE)
            COMMAND ${PYTHON_TEST_RUNNER} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/python-numpy.py -v
            WORKING_DIRECTORY ${EXECUTABLE_OUTPUT_PATH})
   set_tests_properties(PythonNumpy PROPERTIES ENVIRONMENT "${PYTHON_TEST_ENVIRONMENT}")
+
+  add_test(NAME PythonCapabilities
+           COMMAND ${PYTHON_TEST_RUNNER} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/python-capabilities.py -v
+           WORKING_DIRECTORY ${EXECUTABLE_OUTPUT_PATH})
+  set_tests_properties(PythonCapabilities PROPERTIES ENVIRONMENT "${PYTHON_TEST_ENVIRONMENT}")
 else()
   message(STATUS "Skipping Tests for the LAMMPS Python Module: no suitable Python interpreter")
 endif()
diff --git a/unittest/python/python-capabilities.py b/unittest/python/python-capabilities.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b7c828a8ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/unittest/python/python-capabilities.py
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+import sys,os,unittest
+from lammps import lammps
+
+class PythonCapabilities(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        machine = None
+        if 'LAMMPS_MACHINE_NAME' in os.environ:
+            machine=os.environ['LAMMPS_MACHINE_NAME']
+        self.lmp = lammps(name=machine,  cmdargs=['-nocite', '-log','none', '-echo','screen'])
+
+        if 'LAMMPS_CMAKE_CACHE' in os.environ:
+            self.cmake_cache = {}
+
+            with open(os.environ['LAMMPS_CMAKE_CACHE'], 'r') as f:
+                for line in f:
+                    line = line.strip()
+                    if not line or line.startswith('#') or line.startswith('//'): continue
+                    parts = line.split('=')
+                    key, value_type = parts[0].split(':')
+                    if len(parts) > 1:
+                        value = parts[1]
+                        if value_type == "BOOL":
+                            value = (value == "ON")
+                    else:
+                        value = None
+                    self.cmake_cache[key] = value
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        del self.lmp
+
+    def test_has_gzip_support(self):
+        self.assertEqual(self.lmp.has_gzip_support, self.cmake_cache['WITH_GZIP'])
+
+    def test_has_png_support(self):
+        self.assertEqual(self.lmp.has_png_support, self.cmake_cache['WITH_PNG'])
+
+    def test_has_jpeg_support(self):
+        self.assertEqual(self.lmp.has_jpeg_support, self.cmake_cache['WITH_JPEG'])
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()