diff --git a/tests/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
index 7d5c1cac1..05985611a 100644
--- a/tests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -460,6 +460,9 @@ add_custom_command(
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/sosize-$<TARGET_FILE_NAME:pybind11_tests>.txt)
 
 if(NOT PYBIND11_CUDA_TESTS)
+  # Test pure C++ code (not depending on Python). Provides the `test_pure_cpp` target.
+  add_subdirectory(pure_cpp)
+
   # Test embedding the interpreter. Provides the `cpptest` target.
   add_subdirectory(test_embed)
 
diff --git a/tests/pure_cpp/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/pure_cpp/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..17be74b7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/pure_cpp/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+find_package(Catch 2.13.2)
+
+if(CATCH_FOUND)
+  message(STATUS "Building pure C++ tests (not depending on Python) using Catch v${CATCH_VERSION}")
+else()
+  message(STATUS "Catch not detected. Interpreter tests will be skipped. Install Catch headers"
+                 " manually or use `cmake -DDOWNLOAD_CATCH=ON` to fetch them automatically.")
+  return()
+endif()
+
+add_executable(smart_holder_poc_test smart_holder_poc_test.cpp)
+pybind11_enable_warnings(smart_holder_poc_test)
+target_link_libraries(smart_holder_poc_test PRIVATE pybind11::headers Catch2::Catch2)
+
+add_custom_target(
+  test_pure_cpp
+  COMMAND "$<TARGET_FILE:smart_holder_poc_test>"
+  WORKING_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}")
+
+add_dependencies(check test_pure_cpp)