diff --git a/tests/src/unit-json_patch.cpp b/tests/src/unit-json_patch.cpp
index 17d30f189..d7c8a2f15 100644
--- a/tests/src/unit-json_patch.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/unit-json_patch.cpp
@@ -672,6 +672,83 @@ TEST_CASE("JSON patch")
         }
     }
 
+    SECTION("patch_inplace")
+    {
+        SECTION("happy path: patch_inplace mirrors patch() on success")
+        {
+            // mirrors "A.5. Replacing a Value" above, but applies the patch with
+            // patch_inplace() to a mutable copy instead of using patch()'s
+            // returned copy
+            json doc = R"(
+                    {
+                        "baz": "qux",
+                        "foo": "bar"
+                    }
+                )"_json;
+
+            json const patch = R"(
+                    [
+                        { "op": "replace", "path": "/baz", "value": "boo" }
+                    ]
+                )"_json;
+
+            json const expected = R"(
+                    {
+                        "baz": "boo",
+                        "foo": "bar"
+                    }
+                )"_json;
+
+            doc.patch_inplace(patch);
+            CHECK(doc == expected);
+        }
+
+        SECTION("distinguishing contract vs patch(): partial application on failure")
+        {
+            // Unlike patch(), which is all-or-nothing because it applies the
+            // patch to an internal copy that is simply discarded when an
+            // exception is thrown (leaving the original untouched no matter
+            // what), patch_inplace() mutates the document it is called on
+            // directly and immediately, operation by operation. So if a JSON
+            // Patch fails partway through, whatever operations already
+            // succeeded remain applied -- the document is left in a partially
+            // patched state. This is empirically verified current behavior,
+            // not just documented intent, and is pinned here as such.
+            json const original = R"(
+                    {
+                        "baz": "qux",
+                        "foo": "bar"
+                    }
+                )"_json;
+
+            // the first operation ("replace") succeeds; the second ("test")
+            // fails because the value at "/baz" no longer (and never did)
+            // equal "not boo"
+            json const patch = R"(
+                    [
+                        { "op": "replace", "path": "/baz", "value": "boo" },
+                        { "op": "test", "path": "/baz", "value": "not boo" }
+                    ]
+                )"_json;
+
+            // patch() never modifies the object it is called on -- it always
+            // operates on (and returns) a separate copy, so the original is
+            // left completely untouched, regardless of success or failure
+            json copy_for_patch = original;
+            CHECK_THROWS_AS(copy_for_patch.patch(patch), json::other_error&);
+            CHECK(copy_for_patch == original);
+
+            // patch_inplace(), in contrast, already applied the successful
+            // "replace" operation to the document before the "test" operation
+            // threw -- that change is not rolled back
+            json doc = original;
+            CHECK_THROWS_AS(doc.patch_inplace(patch), json::other_error&);
+            CHECK(doc != original);
+            CHECK(doc.at("baz") == "boo");
+            CHECK(doc.at("foo") == "bar");
+        }
+    }
+
     SECTION("errors")
     {
         SECTION("unknown operation")