diff --git a/src/lib/pickles/step_verifier.ml b/src/lib/pickles/step_verifier.ml
index 43356ddd6c7..df9934b5b7d 100644
--- a/src/lib/pickles/step_verifier.ml
+++ b/src/lib/pickles/step_verifier.ml
@@ -682,38 +682,6 @@ struct
       in
       domain ~max:(Domain.log2_size max_domains.h)
 
-  let%test_module "side loaded domains" =
-    ( module struct
-      let run k =
-        let y =
-          run_and_check (fun () ->
-              let y = k () in
-              fun () -> As_prover.read_var y )
-          |> Or_error.ok_exn
-        in
-        y
-
-      let%test_unit "side loaded domains" =
-        let open Side_loaded_verification_key in
-        let domains = [ { Domains.h = 10 }; { h = 15 } ] in
-        let pt = Field.Constant.random () in
-        List.iter domains ~f:(fun ds ->
-            let d_unchecked =
-              Plonk_checks.domain
-                (module Field.Constant)
-                (Pow_2_roots_of_unity ds.h) ~shifts:Common.tick_shifts
-                ~domain_generator:Backend.Tick.Field.domain_generator
-            in
-            let checked_domain () =
-              side_loaded_domain ~log2_size:(Field.of_int ds.h)
-            in
-            [%test_eq: Field.Constant.t]
-              (d_unchecked#vanishing_polynomial pt)
-              (run (fun () ->
-                   (checked_domain ())#vanishing_polynomial (Field.constant pt) )
-              ) )
-    end )
-
   (* module Split_evaluations = struct
        open Plonk_types
 
@@ -1253,3 +1221,7 @@ struct
 end
 
 include Make (Step_main_inputs)
+
+module For_tests_only = struct
+  let side_loaded_domain = side_loaded_domain
+end
diff --git a/src/lib/pickles/step_verifier.mli b/src/lib/pickles/step_verifier.mli
index b4fbb485204..3c67030594e 100644
--- a/src/lib/pickles/step_verifier.mli
+++ b/src/lib/pickles/step_verifier.mli
@@ -175,3 +175,14 @@ val verify :
      Import.Types.Step.Proof_state.Per_proof.In_circuit.t
      (* unfinalized *)
   -> Step_main_inputs.Impl.Boolean.var
+
+module For_tests_only : sig
+  type field := Step_main_inputs.Impl.Field.t
+
+  val side_loaded_domain :
+       log2_size:field
+    -> < generator : field
+       ; log2_size : field
+       ; shifts : field Pickles_types.Plonk_types.Shifts.t
+       ; vanishing_polynomial : field -> field >
+end
diff --git a/src/lib/pickles/test/main.ml b/src/lib/pickles/test/main.ml
index 9bef61df4dd..ae0036b3094 100644
--- a/src/lib/pickles/test/main.ml
+++ b/src/lib/pickles/test/main.ml
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ let () =
   let tests =
     Test_impls.tests @ Test_opt_sponge.tests @ Test_plonk_curve_ops.tests
     @ Test_sponge.tests @ Test_step.tests @ Test_scalar_challenge.tests
-    @ Test_side_loaded_verification_key.tests @ Test_wrap_hack.tests
+    @ Test_side_loaded_verification_key.tests @ Test_step_verifier.tests
+    @ Test_wrap_hack.tests
   in
   Alcotest.run "Pickles" tests
diff --git a/src/lib/pickles/test/test_step_verifier.ml b/src/lib/pickles/test/test_step_verifier.ml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9661d48ffcc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/pickles/test/test_step_verifier.ml
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+(* Testing
+   -------
+
+   Component: Pickles
+   Subject: Test Step_verifier
+   Invocation: \
+    dune exec src/lib/pickles/test/main.exe -- test "Step verifier"
+*)
+
+module Step_main_inputs = Pickles__Step_main_inputs
+open Step_main_inputs.Impl
+
+let run k =
+  let y =
+    run_and_check (fun () ->
+        let y = k () in
+        fun () -> As_prover.read_var y )
+    |> Or_error.ok_exn
+  in
+  y
+
+let test_side_loaded_domains () =
+  let module O = One_hot_vector.Make (Impl) in
+  let open Pickles__Side_loaded_verification_key in
+  let domains = [ { Domains.h = 10 }; { h = 15 } ] in
+  let pt = Field.Constant.random () in
+  List.iter domains ~f:(fun ds ->
+      let d_unchecked =
+        Plonk_checks.domain
+          (module Field.Constant)
+          (Pow_2_roots_of_unity ds.h) ~shifts:Common.tick_shifts
+          ~domain_generator:Backend.Tick.Field.domain_generator
+      in
+      let checked_domain () =
+        Pickles__Step_verifier.For_tests_only.side_loaded_domain
+          ~log2_size:(Field.of_int ds.h)
+      in
+      let pp ppf cst =
+        Format.pp_print_string ppf (Field.Constant.to_string cst)
+      in
+      (Alcotest.check (Alcotest.testable pp Field.Constant.equal))
+        "side loaded domains"
+        (d_unchecked#vanishing_polynomial pt)
+        (run (fun () ->
+             (checked_domain ())#vanishing_polynomial (Field.constant pt) ) ) )
+
+let tests =
+  let open Alcotest in
+  [ ( "Step verifier"
+    , [ test_case "side loaded domains" `Quick test_side_loaded_domains ] )
+  ]