diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 4d4064f..757b662 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -25,6 +25,17 @@ jobs:
     - run: npm test
     - run: npm run test:integration-issues
 
+  test-templates:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+    - name: Use Node.js 24
+      uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+      with:
+        node-version: 24
+    - run: npm install
+    - run: npm run test:templates
+
   testint:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     # only run if not a fork PR targeting main repo due to permissions
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a285aa2..c694d79 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -145,8 +145,6 @@ When using EJS templates for your meeting issues, the following data properties
   'Australia/Sydney'
 ]; %>
 
-# <%= title %>
-
 ## Date/Time
 
 | Timezone | Date/Time |
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 1878da1..3c90e06 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
     "test:integration": "standard && mocha test/integration.js",
     "test:integration:debug": "GITHUB_TOKEN=$(gh auth token) mocha --inspect --inspect-brk test/integration.js",
     "test:integration-issues": "standard && mocha test/integration-issues.js",
+    "test:templates": "standard && mocha test/templates.js",
     "lint:fix": "standard --fix",
     "preversion": "npm t",
     "postpublish": "git push origin && git push origin --tags",
diff --git a/test/templates.js b/test/templates.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0ca8df8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/templates.js
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+'use strict'
+/* global Temporal */
+const fs = require('fs')
+const path = require('path')
+const ejs = require('ejs')
+const { suite, test } = require('mocha')
+const assert = require('assert')
+if (!global.Temporal) {
+  const polyfill = require('@js-temporal/polyfill')
+  global.Temporal = polyfill.Temporal
+}
+
+const testData = {
+  date: Temporal.Instant.from('2024-01-01T12:00:00Z'),
+  agendaIssues: [
+    { html_url: 'https://example.com/issue/1', title: 'issue 1' },
+    { html_url: 'https://example.com/issue/2', title: 'issue 2' }
+  ],
+  agendaLabel: 'meeting-agenda',
+  meetingNotes: 'https://example.com/notes',
+  owner: 'test-owner',
+  repo: 'test-repo',
+  meetingLink: 'https://meet.example.com',
+  title: 'Ye Olde Meetinge'
+}
+
+const readme = fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '../README.md'), 'utf8')
+const defaultTemplate = require('../lib/default-template')
+const mdTemplate = fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '../.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/meeting.md'), 'utf8')
+
+const compiledMd = ejs.render(mdTemplate, testData)
+const compiledDefault = defaultTemplate(testData)
+const readmeTemplate = getReadmeTemplate()
+
+suite('template consistency', () => {
+  test('default template should match md template', () => {
+    const normalizedMd = normalizeOutput(compiledMd)
+    const normalizedDefault = normalizeOutput(compiledDefault)
+
+    assert.strictEqual(normalizedMd, normalizedDefault)
+  })
+
+  test('readme template should match md template', () => {
+    const normalizedReadme = normalizeOutput(readmeTemplate)
+    const normalizedMd = normalizeOutput(mdTemplate)
+
+    assert.strictEqual(normalizedReadme, normalizedMd)
+  })
+})
+
+function normalizeOutput (content) {
+  return content.trim()
+}
+
+function getReadmeTemplate () {
+  const ejsStart = readme.indexOf('```ejs')
+  const ejsEnd = readme.indexOf('```', ejsStart + 6)
+
+  if (ejsStart < 0 || ejsEnd < 0) {
+    throw new Error('couldn\'t find ejs template section in readme')
+  }
+
+  return readme.substring(ejsStart + 6, ejsEnd)
+}