diff --git a/src/stpipe/step.py b/src/stpipe/step.py
index 778eeb7d..683cf55b 100644
--- a/src/stpipe/step.py
+++ b/src/stpipe/step.py
@@ -990,7 +990,7 @@ def save_model(
 
         elif isinstance(model, Sequence) and not isinstance(model, str):
             if not hasattr(model, "save"):
-                # list of datamodels, e.g. ModelContainer
+                # list of datamodels, e.g. JWST ModelContainer
                 output_paths = []
                 for i, m in enumerate(model):
                     # ignore list of lists. individual steps should handle this
diff --git a/tests/test_step.py b/tests/test_step.py
index 972f84a9..ea38a0b4 100644
--- a/tests/test_step.py
+++ b/tests/test_step.py
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 """Test step.Step"""
 
+import copy
 import logging
 import re
+from collections.abc import Sequence
 from typing import ClassVar
 
 import asdf
@@ -9,6 +11,7 @@
 
 import stpipe.config_parser as cp
 from stpipe import cmdline
+from stpipe.datamodel import AbstractDataModel
 from stpipe.pipeline import Pipeline
 from stpipe.step import Step
 
@@ -411,3 +414,123 @@ def test_log_records():
     pipeline.run()
 
     assert any(r == "This step has called out a warning." for r in pipeline.log_records)
+
+
+class StepWithModel(Step):
+    """A step that immediately saves the model it gets passed in"""
+
+    spec = """
+    output_ext = string(default='simplestep')
+    save_results = boolean(default=True)
+    """
+    # spec = """
+    #
+    # skip = bool(default=False)
+    # """
+
+    def process(self, input_model):
+        return input_model
+
+
+class SimpleDataModel(AbstractDataModel):
+    """A simple data model"""
+
+    @property
+    def crds_observatory(self):
+        return "jwst"
+
+    # @property
+    # def meta(self):
+    #     return {"filename": "test.fits"}
+
+    def get_crds_parameters(self):
+        return {"test": "none"}
+
+    def save(self, path, dir_path=None, *args, **kwargs):
+        saveid = getattr(self, "saveid", None)
+        if saveid is not None:
+            print(f"here {saveid}")
+            fname = saveid+"-saved.txt"
+            with open(fname, "w") as f:
+                f.write(f"{path}")
+            return fname
+        return None
+
+
+def test_save(tmp_cwd):
+
+    model = SimpleDataModel()
+    model.saveid = "test"
+    step = StepWithModel()
+    step.run(model)
+    assert (tmp_cwd / "test-saved.txt").exists()
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope="function")
+def model_list():
+    model = SimpleDataModel()
+    model_list = [copy.deepcopy(model) for _ in range(3)]
+    for i, model in enumerate(model_list):
+        model.saveid = f"test{i}"
+    return model_list
+
+
+def test_save_list(tmp_cwd, model_list):
+    step = StepWithModel()
+    step.run(model_list)
+    for i in range(3):
+        assert (tmp_cwd / f"test{i}-saved.txt").exists()
+
+
+class SimpleContainer(Sequence):
+
+    def __init__(self, models):
+        self._models = models
+
+    def __len__(self):
+        return len(self._models)
+
+    def __getitem__(self, idx):
+        return self._models[idx]
+
+    def __iter__(self):
+        yield from self._models
+
+    def insert(self, index, model):
+        self._models.insert(index, model)
+
+    def append(self, model):
+        self._models.append(model)
+
+    def extend(self, model):
+        self._models.extend(model)
+
+    def pop(self, index=-1):
+        self._models.pop(index)
+
+
+def test_save_container(tmp_cwd, model_list):
+    """ensure list-like save still works for non-list sequence"""
+    container = SimpleContainer(model_list)
+    step = StepWithModel()
+    step.run(container)
+    for i in range(3):
+        assert (tmp_cwd / f"test{i}-saved.txt").exists()
+
+
+def test_save_tuple_with_nested_list(tmp_cwd, model_list):
+    """
+    in rare cases, multiple outputs are returned from step as tuple.
+    One example is the jwst badpix_selfcal step, which returns one sci exposure
+    and a list containing an arbitrary number of background exposures.
+    Expected behavior in this case, at least at time of writing, is to save the
+    science exposure and ignore the list
+    """
+    single_model = SimpleDataModel()
+    single_model.saveid = "test"
+    container = (single_model, model_list)
+    step = StepWithModel()
+    step.run(container)
+    assert (tmp_cwd / "test-saved.txt").exists()
+    for i in range(3):
+        assert not (tmp_cwd / f"test{i}-saved.txt").exists()