diff --git a/tests/test_dummy.py b/tests/test_dummy.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c241c78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_dummy.py
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# this is here because pytest throws an error if no tests are run.
+# this is a problem on remote machine without pyrosetta or rif.
+def test_dummyr():
+    assert True