diff --git a/test/variable/dispose-test.js b/test/variable/dispose-test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d2addd3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/variable/dispose-test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+import {Runtime} from "@observablehq/runtime";
+import assert from "assert";
+import {delay, sleep} from "./valueof.js";
+
+describe("variable.dispose", () => {
+  it("prevents a subsequent delete from notifying the observer", async () => {
+    // https://github.com/observablehq/notebook-kit/issues/174
+    const runtime = new Runtime();
+    const main = runtime.module();
+    const log = [];
+    const foo = main
+      .variable({fulfilled: (value) => log.push(`a-${value}`)})
+      .define([], () => 1);
+    await sleep();
+    foo.dispose();
+    foo.delete();
+    main
+      .variable({fulfilled: (value) => log.push(`b-${value}`)})
+      .define([], () => 2);
+    await sleep();
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(log, ["a-1", "b-2"]); // not followed by "a-undefined"
+  });
+  it("prevents future computation", async () => {
+    const runtime = new Runtime();
+    const main = runtime.module();
+    const log = [];
+    const foo = main
+      .variable({fulfilled: (value) => log.push(value)})
+      .define([], () => 1);
+    await sleep();
+    foo.dispose();
+    foo.define([], () => 2);
+    await sleep();
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(log, [1]);
+  });
+  it("cancels an in-flight computation", async () => {
+    const runtime = new Runtime();
+    const main = runtime.module();
+    const log = [];
+    const foo = main
+      .variable({fulfilled: (value) => log.push(value)})
+      .define([], () => delay(1, 100));
+    await sleep();
+    foo.dispose();
+    await sleep(200);
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(log, []);
+  });
+  it("invalidates the variable", async () => {
+    const runtime = new Runtime();
+    const main = runtime.module();
+    const log = [];
+    const foo = main
+      .variable(true)
+      .define(["invalidation"], async (invalidation) => {
+        await invalidation;
+        log.push("invalidation");
+      });
+    await sleep();
+    foo.dispose();
+    await sleep();
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(log, ["invalidation"]);
+  });
+  it("terminates generators", async () => {
+    const runtime = new Runtime();
+    const main = runtime.module();
+    const log = [];
+    const foo = main.variable(true).define([], function* () {
+      try {
+        while (true) yield;
+      } finally {
+        log.push("return");
+      }
+    });
+    await sleep();
+    foo.dispose();
+    await sleep();
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(log, ["return"]);
+  });
+  it("terminates async generators", async () => {
+    const runtime = new Runtime();
+    const main = runtime.module();
+    const log = [];
+    const foo = main.variable(true).define([], async function* () {
+      try {
+        while (true) {
+          await sleep();
+          yield;
+        }
+      } finally {
+        log.push("return");
+      }
+    });
+    await sleep();
+    foo.dispose();
+    await sleep();
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(log, [ "return"]);
+  });
+});