diff --git a/tests/performance/test_boottime.py b/tests/performance/test_boottime.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a971e54a756
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/performance/test_boottime.py
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+"""
+Tests that ensure the boot time to init process is within spec.
+
+# TODO
+
+- Get the minimum acceptable boot time from the `spec.firecracker` s3 bucket.
+  Also set the current boot time if we're running as part of a continuous
+  integration merge operation.
+"""
+
+import os
+import re
+from subprocess import run
+import time
+
+import pytest
+
+
+@pytest.mark.timeout(240)
+def test_microvm_boottime(test_microvm_with_boottime):
+    """
+    Asserts that we meet the minimum boot time. Microvms with the boottimer
+    capability should use a kernel config customized for quick booting within
+    Firecracker.
+    """
+
+    MIN_BOOT_TIME = 0.35
+    """ The minimum acceptable boot time. """
+    # TODO: This needs to be 0.15, is currently ~0.3 (investigation ongoing).
+    # TODO: Get the minimum acceptable boot time from the `spec.firecracker` s3
+    #       bucket. Also set the current boot time if we're running as part of
+    #       continuous integration merge operation.
+
+    BOOTTIME_INIT_PROGRAM = 'test_boottime_init.c'
+    """
+    This program saves an accurate timestamp to disk and exists. It will be
+    compiled statically and copied into the guest root file system as the init
+    program.
+    """
+
+    TIMESTAMP_LOG_FILE = 'timestamp.log'
+    """ The timestamp log file within the microvm root file system. """
+
+    TIMESTAMP_LOG_REGEX = r'^\[(\d+\.\d+)\]\ init\ executed'
+    """ Regex for extracting timestamp data from a the boot time log. """
+
+    test_microvm = test_microvm_with_boottime
+    test_microvm.basic_config()
+
+    response = test_microvm.api_session.put(
+        test_microvm.blk_cfg_url + '/timer_rootfs',
+        json={
+            'drive_id': 'timer_rootfs',
+            'path_on_host': test_microvm.slot.make_fsfile(name='timer_rootfs'),
+            'is_root_device': True,
+            'permissions': 'rw',
+            'state': 'Attached'
+        }
+    )
+    """ Create a new empty root file system and attach it. """
+    assert(test_microvm.api_session.is_good_response(response.status_code))
+
+    init_binary = test_microvm.slot.path + 'init'
+    run(
+        'gcc -static -O3 {boottime_init_program} -o {binary_path}'.format(
+            binary_path=init_binary,
+            boottime_init_program=(
+                os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)) + '/' +
+                BOOTTIME_INIT_PROGRAM
+            )
+        ),
+        shell=True,
+        check=True
+    )
+    """ Compile the timer program as a binary named `init`. """
+
+    test_microvm.slot.fsfiles['timer_rootfs'].copy_to(init_binary, 'sbin/')
+    """ Copy the init program to the root file system. """
+
+    response = test_microvm.api_session.put(
+        test_microvm.actions_url + '/1',
+        json={'action_id': '1', 'action_type': 'InstanceStart'}
+    )
+    """ Issues a power-on command to the microvm. """
+
+    boot_start_time_realtime = time.clock_gettime(time.CLOCK_REALTIME)
+
+    assert(test_microvm.api_session.is_good_response(response.status_code))
+
+    """ Starts the boot timer. """
+
+    time.sleep(1)
+    response = test_microvm.api_session.get(
+        test_microvm.actions_url + '/1'
+    )
+    assert(test_microvm.api_session.is_good_response(response.status_code))
+
+    try:
+        test_microvm.slot.fsfiles['timer_rootfs'].copy_from(
+            TIMESTAMP_LOG_FILE,
+            test_microvm.slot.path
+        )
+        """ Retrieves the guest OS boot timestamp. """
+    except:
+        print("Could not get timestamp log (after 1 second).")
+        raise
+    """
+    If the microvm doesn't boot and print a timestamp within 1 second, it's
+    all in vain anyway ...
+    """
+
+    with open(test_microvm.slot.path + TIMESTAMP_LOG_FILE) as timestamp_log:
+        timestamps = re.findall(TIMESTAMP_LOG_REGEX, timestamp_log.read())
+        boot_end_time_realtime = float(timestamps[0])
+
+    boot_time_realtime = boot_end_time_realtime - boot_start_time_realtime
+
+    print("Boot time: " + str(round(boot_time_realtime * 1000)) + "ms")
+    # Print this to the test session output until we have s3 upload.
+
+    assert(boot_time_realtime < MIN_BOOT_TIME)
diff --git a/tests/performance/test_boottime_init.c b/tests/performance/test_boottime_init.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..45dea81060c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/performance/test_boottime_init.c
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/* This program is meant to be compiled statically, and run as the init process
+ * in a Guest OS as part of a boottime timing. The boottime test will records
+ * a timestamp before issuing the microvm power-on command, and this program
+ * records another timestamp as the 1st user-space instruction, then writes it
+ * to a log for the boottime test to retrieve.
+ */
+
+#include <sys/io.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <time.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+#define TIMESTAMP_LOG_FILE "/timestamp.log"
+// Should match the one in `test_boottime.py`
+
+#define TIMESTAMP_LOG_LINE "[%ld.%ld] init executed.\n"
+// Will be parsed by the TIMESTAMP_LOG_REGEX regex in `test_boottime.py`
+
+int main(int argc, char **argv) {
+    struct timespec moment_realtime;
+    clock_gettime(CLOCK_REALTIME, &moment_realtime);
+    // Records this moment in time.
+
+    FILE *timestamp_log;
+    timestamp_log = fopen(TIMESTAMP_LOG_FILE, "w");
+    fprintf(
+        timestamp_log,
+        TIMESTAMP_LOG_LINE,
+        moment_realtime.tv_sec,
+        moment_realtime.tv_nsec
+    );
+    fclose(timestamp_log);
+    sync();
+    // Saves timestamp to file, which can then be read by the host test.
+
+    return 0;
+    // Used in a Linux init process, this triggers system shutdown.
+}