diff --git a/ietf/doc/management/commands/reset_rfc_authors.py b/ietf/doc/management/commands/reset_rfc_authors.py
index 61be4fb688..e2ab5f1208 100644
--- a/ietf/doc/management/commands/reset_rfc_authors.py
+++ b/ietf/doc/management/commands/reset_rfc_authors.py
@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@ def handle(self, *args, **options):
             raise CommandError(
                 f"rfc{options['rfcnum']} does not exist in the Datatracker."
             )
+
+        draft = rfc.came_from_draft()
+        if draft is None:
+            raise CommandError(f"{rfc.name} did not come from a draft. Can't reset.")
+
         orig_authors = rfc.documentauthor_set.all()
         if orig_authors.exists():
             # Potentially dangerous, so refuse unless "--force" is specified
@@ -43,9 +48,6 @@ def handle(self, *args, **options):
                     f"Removed author(s): {', '.join(removed_auth_names)}"
                 )
             )
-        draft = rfc.came_from_draft()
-        if draft is None:
-            raise CommandError(f"{rfc.name} did not come from a draft. Can't reset.")
 
         for author in draft.documentauthor_set.all():
             # Copy the author but point at the new doc.
diff --git a/ietf/doc/management/commands/tests.py b/ietf/doc/management/commands/tests.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8244d87266
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ietf/doc/management/commands/tests.py
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+# Copyright The IETF Trust 2024, All Rights Reserved
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+from io import StringIO
+
+from django.core.management import call_command, CommandError
+
+from ietf.doc.factories import DocumentAuthorFactory, WgDraftFactory, WgRfcFactory
+from ietf.doc.models import Document, DocumentAuthor
+from ietf.utils.test_utils import TestCase
+
+
+class CommandTests(TestCase):
+    @staticmethod
+    def _call_command(command_name, *args, **options):
+        """Call command, capturing (and suppressing) output"""
+        out = StringIO()
+        err = StringIO()
+        options["stdout"] = out
+        options["stderr"] = err
+        call_command(command_name, *args, **options)
+        return out.getvalue(), err.getvalue()
+
+    def test_reset_rfc_authors(self):
+        command_name = "reset_rfc_authors"
+
+        draft = WgDraftFactory()
+        DocumentAuthorFactory.create_batch(3, document=draft)
+        rfc = WgRfcFactory()  # rfc does not yet have a draft
+        DocumentAuthorFactory.create_batch(3, document=rfc)
+        bad_rfc_num = (
+            1
+            + Document.objects.filter(rfc_number__isnull=False)
+            .order_by("-rfc_number")
+            .first()
+            .rfc_number
+        )
+        docauthor_fields = [
+            field.name
+            for field in DocumentAuthor._meta.get_fields()
+            if field.name not in ["document", "id"]
+        ]
+
+        with self.assertRaises(CommandError, msg="Cannot reset a bad RFC number"):
+            self._call_command(command_name, bad_rfc_num)
+
+        with self.assertRaises(CommandError, msg="Cannot reset an RFC with no draft"):
+            self._call_command(command_name, rfc.rfc_number)
+
+        with self.assertRaises(CommandError, msg="Cannot force-reset an RFC with no draft"):
+            self._call_command(command_name, rfc.rfc_number, "--force")
+
+        # Link the draft to the rfc
+        rfc.targets_related.create(relationship_id="became_rfc", source=draft)
+
+        with self.assertRaises(CommandError, msg="Cannot reset an RFC with authors"):
+            self._call_command(command_name, rfc.rfc_number)
+
+        # Calling with force should work
+        self._call_command(command_name, rfc.rfc_number, "--force")
+        self.assertCountEqual(
+            draft.documentauthor_set.values(*docauthor_fields),
+            rfc.documentauthor_set.values(*docauthor_fields),
+        )
+
+        # Calling on an RFC with no authors should also work
+        rfc.documentauthor_set.all().delete()
+        self._call_command(command_name, rfc.rfc_number)
+        self.assertCountEqual(
+            draft.documentauthor_set.values(*docauthor_fields),
+            rfc.documentauthor_set.values(*docauthor_fields),
+        )