diff --git a/datalad_next/runners/tests/test_data_processors.py b/datalad_next/runners/tests/test_data_processors.py
index 89b81b44e..9b03c16f0 100644
--- a/datalad_next/runners/tests/test_data_processors.py
+++ b/datalad_next/runners/tests/test_data_processors.py
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 import json
 from itertools import chain
 
+import pytest
+
 from ..data_processors import (
     ProcessorPipeline,
     SplitLinesProcessor,
@@ -184,3 +186,29 @@ def test_processor_removal():
 
     source = chain([chunk], stream) if chunk else stream
     assert b''.join(source) == b'content'
+
+
+def test_split_decoding():
+    encoded = 'ö'.encode('utf-8')
+    part_1, part_2 = encoded[:1], encoded[1:]
+
+    # check that incomplete encodings are caught
+    decoded, remaining = decode_utf8_processor([part_1])
+    assert decoded == []
+    assert remaining == [part_1]
+
+    # vreify that the omplete encoding decodes correctly
+    decoded, remaining = decode_utf8_processor([part_1, part_2])
+    assert decoded == ['ö']
+    assert remaining == []
+
+
+def test_pipeline_finishing():
+    encoded = 'ö'.encode('utf-8')
+    part_1, part_2 = encoded[:1], encoded[1:]
+
+    pipeline = ProcessorPipeline([decode_utf8_processor])
+    res = pipeline.process(part_1)
+    assert res == []
+    with pytest.raises(UnicodeDecodeError):
+        pipeline.finalize()