diff --git a/lite/src/main/resources/kustvakt-lite.conf b/lite/src/main/resources/kustvakt-lite.conf
index e78f993..9dc83b5 100644
--- a/lite/src/main/resources/kustvakt-lite.conf
+++ b/lite/src/main/resources/kustvakt-lite.conf
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 
 # Kustvakt settings
 
+api.welcome.message = Welcome to KorAP API!
 current.api.version = v1.0
 # multiple versions separated by space
 supported.api.version = v1.0
diff --git a/lite/src/test/java/de/ids_mannheim/korap/web/service/LiteSearchControllerTest.java b/lite/src/test/java/de/ids_mannheim/korap/web/service/LiteSearchControllerTest.java
index 6463ce9..54367ab 100644
--- a/lite/src/test/java/de/ids_mannheim/korap/web/service/LiteSearchControllerTest.java
+++ b/lite/src/test/java/de/ids_mannheim/korap/web/service/LiteSearchControllerTest.java
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 
 import de.ids_mannheim.korap.authentication.http.HttpAuthorizationHandler;
 import de.ids_mannheim.korap.config.Attributes;
+import de.ids_mannheim.korap.config.KustvaktConfiguration;
 import de.ids_mannheim.korap.config.LiteJerseyTest;
 import de.ids_mannheim.korap.exceptions.KustvaktException;
 import de.ids_mannheim.korap.exceptions.StatusCodes;
@@ -36,7 +37,9 @@
 
     @Autowired
     private SearchKrill searchKrill;
-    
+    @Autowired
+    private KustvaktConfiguration config;
+
 //  EM: The API is disabled
     @Ignore   
     @Test
@@ -82,6 +85,16 @@
     }
 
     @Test
+    public void testApiWelcomeMessage () {
+        ClientResponse response = resource().path(API_VERSION).path("")
+                .get(ClientResponse.class);
+        assertEquals(ClientResponse.Status.OK.getStatusCode(),
+                response.getStatus());
+        String message = response.getEntity(String.class);
+        assertEquals(message, config.getApiWelcomeMessage());
+    }
+
+    @Test
     public void testQueryGet () throws KustvaktException {
         ClientResponse response = resource().path(API_VERSION).path("search")
                 .queryParam("q", "[orth=das]").queryParam("ql", "poliqarp")