diff --git a/tests/test_containers/test_leverage.py b/tests/test_containers/test_leverage.py
index 8eca98d..5ccf74f 100644
--- a/tests/test_containers/test_leverage.py
+++ b/tests/test_containers/test_leverage.py
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
+from unittest import mock
+
 import pytest
 
+from leverage._utils import ExitError
 from leverage.container import LeverageContainer
 from tests.test_containers import container_fixture_factory
 
@@ -26,3 +29,51 @@ def test_env_vars(muted_click_context):
 
     container_args = container.client.api.create_container.call_args_list[0][1]
     assert container_args["environment"] == {"foo": "bar", "testing": 123}
+
+
+def test_ensure_image_already_available(leverage_container: LeverageContainer, fake_os_user, propagate_logs, caplog):
+    """
+    Test that the local image is not re-built when is already available locally.
+    """
+    # already available
+    with mock.patch.object(leverage_container.client.api, "images", return_value=True) as mocked_images:
+        leverage_container.ensure_image()
+
+    assert mocked_images.call_args_list[0][0][0] == "binbash/leverage-toolbox:test-5678-1234"
+    assert caplog.messages[0] == "Checking for local docker image, tag: test-5678-1234..."
+    assert "OK" in caplog.messages[1]
+
+
+def test_ensure_image_failed(leverage_container: LeverageContainer, fake_os_user, propagate_logs, caplog):
+    """
+    Test that we get a friendly error if re-building the image fails.
+    """
+    build_response = [{"errorDetail": "Something went wrong"}]
+    # not available
+    with mock.patch.object(leverage_container.client.api, "images", return_value=False):
+        with mock.patch.object(leverage_container.client.api, "build", return_value=build_response) as mocked_build:
+            with pytest.raises(ExitError, match="Failed"):
+                leverage_container.ensure_image()
+
+    assert caplog.messages[1] == "Image not found, building it..."
+    assert caplog.messages[2] == "Failed building local image: Something went wrong"
+
+
+def test_ensure_image(leverage_container: LeverageContainer, fake_os_user, propagate_logs, caplog):
+    """
+    Test that the local image is not available locally, thus it has to be re-built.
+    """
+    build_response = [{"stream": "Successfully built"}]
+    # not available
+    with mock.patch.object(leverage_container.client.api, "images", return_value=False):
+        with mock.patch.object(leverage_container.client.api, "build", return_value=build_response) as mocked_build:
+            leverage_container.ensure_image()
+
+    assert mocked_build.call_args_list[0][1]["buildargs"] == {
+        "GID": "5678",
+        "UID": "1234",
+        "UNAME": "leverage",
+        "IMAGE_TAG": "test",
+    }
+    assert caplog.messages[1] == "Image not found, building it..."
+    assert "OK" in caplog.messages[2]