diff --git a/linux/scripts/test/deb-packaging.tests.sh b/linux/scripts/test/deb-packaging.tests.sh
index 134421e0a43..8da8fd8ec8d 100755
--- a/linux/scripts/test/deb-packaging.tests.sh
+++ b/linux/scripts/test/deb-packaging.tests.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/bin/bash
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
 set -eu
 
 ## START STANDARD BUILD SCRIPT INCLUDE
@@ -7,93 +7,7 @@ THIS_SCRIPT="$(readlink -f "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")"
 . "${THIS_SCRIPT%/*}/../../../resources/build/build-utils.sh"
 ## END STANDARD BUILD SCRIPT INCLUDE
 
-mockDebPkgTools() {
-  echo "#!/bin/bash
-  " > "${tmpDir}/dpkg"
-  chmod +x "${tmpDir}/dpkg"
-  cp "${tmpDir}/dpkg" "${tmpDir}/dpkg-gensymbols"
-  PATH=${tmpDir}:${PATH}
-}
-
-createBase() {
-  TIER=$1
-  remoteDir=$(mktemp -d)
-  cd "${remoteDir}"
-  git init --bare --initial-branch=master .
-
-  workDir=$(mktemp -d)
-  cd "${workDir}"
-  git init --initial-branch=master .
-  git remote add origin "${remoteDir}"
-  mkdir -p linux/debian
-  echo "libkeymancore.so.1 libkeymancore1 #MINVER#
-* Build-Depends-Package: libkeymancore-dev
-
- km_core_actions_dispose@Base 17.0.197
- km_core_context_clear@Base 17.0.195
- km_core_context_get@Base 17.0.195
- km_core_context_item_list_size@Base 17.0.195
- km_core_context_items_dispose@Base 17.0.195
-" > linux/debian/libkeymancore1.symbols
-  git add linux/debian/libkeymancore1.symbols
-
-  mkdir -p core
-  echo "1.0.0" > core/CORE_API_VERSION.md
-  git add core/CORE_API_VERSION.md
-
-  echo "16.0.145" > VERSION.md
-  git add VERSION.md
-
-  echo "stable" > TIER.md
-  git add TIER.md
-
-  mkdir -p linux/scripts
-  cp -r "${REPO_ROOT}"/linux/scripts/* linux/scripts
-  git add linux/scripts
-
-  mkdir -p resources/build
-  cp -r "${REPO_ROOT}"/resources/build/* resources/build
-  cp "${REPO_ROOT}"/resources/builder.inc.sh resources/
-  git add resources
-
-  git commit -m "Initial"
-  git push origin master
-
-  git branch -c stable-16.0
-  git push origin stable-16.0
-  git tag -m "16.0.145" release-16.0.145
-  git push origin release-16.0.145
-
-  echo "${TIER}" > TIER.md
-  git add TIER.md
-
-  echo "17.0.255" > VERSION.md
-  git add VERSION.md
-  git commit -m "Commit for Alpha"
-  git push origin master
-
-  git checkout -b chore
-
-  BINPKG_NAME=${tmpDir}/libkeymancore1_17.0.257-1+noble1_amd64.deb
-  touch "${BINPKG_NAME}"
-}
-
-setup() {
-  OLDPATH=${PATH}
-  tmpDir=$(mktemp -d)
-  mockDebPkgTools
-}
-
-teardown() {
-  PATH=${OLDPATH}
-  rm -rf ${tmpDir}
-}
-
-run_test() {
-  setup
-  $1 > /tmp/$1.log 2>&1 && echo -e "${COLOR_GREEN}$1: OK${COLOR_RESET}" || echo -e "${COLOR_RED}$1: FAILED${COLOR_RESET}"
-  teardown
-}
+. "${THIS_SCRIPT%/*}/test.inc.sh"
 
 test_check_updated_version_number__NoChange_OK() {
   createBase alpha
@@ -120,6 +34,7 @@ test_check_updated_version_number__LineAdded_OK() {
 }
 
 test_check_updated_version_number__LineAddedWithoutVerUpd_ERROR() {
+  local output
   createBase alpha
 
   sed -i 's/ km_core_actions_dispose@Base 17.0.197/ km_core_actions_dispose@Base 17.0.197\n km_core_added@Base 17.0.197/' linux/debian/libkeymancore1.symbols
@@ -150,6 +65,7 @@ test_check_updated_version_number__LineRemovedWithAPIUpd_OK() {
 }
 
 test_check_updated_version_number__LineRemoved_OnlyCoreApiUpd_ERROR() {
+  local output
   createBase alpha
   echo "2.0.0" > core/CORE_API_VERSION.md
   git add core/CORE_API_VERSION.md
@@ -165,6 +81,7 @@ test_check_updated_version_number__LineRemoved_OnlyCoreApiUpd_ERROR() {
 }
 
 test_check_updated_version_number__LineRemoved_OnlySymbolsFileUpd_ERROR() {
+  local output
   createBase alpha
   git mv linux/debian/libkeymancore{1,2}.symbols
   sed -i 's/libkeymancore1/libkeymancore2/' linux/debian/libkeymancore2.symbols
@@ -181,6 +98,7 @@ test_check_updated_version_number__LineRemoved_OnlySymbolsFileUpd_ERROR() {
 }
 
 test_check_updated_version_number__LineRemovedWithAPIUpd_NotMetadataUpd_ERROR() {
+  local output
   createBase alpha
   echo "2.0.0" > core/CORE_API_VERSION.md
   git add core/CORE_API_VERSION.md
@@ -247,6 +165,7 @@ test_check_updated_version_number__LineRemoved_InAlpha_FileMissingInStable_ApiVe
 }
 
 test_check_updated_version_number__LineRemoved_InAlpha_FileMissingInStable_ApiVerUnchanged_ERROR() {
+  local output
   createBase alpha
   git checkout master
   # simulate a commit that renamed the .symbols file
@@ -271,6 +190,7 @@ test_check_updated_version_number__LineRemoved_InAlpha_FileMissingInStable_ApiVe
 }
 
 test_check_updated_version_number__LineRemoved_InAlpha_ChangeFromStable_ERROR() {
+  local output
   createBase alpha
 
   sed -i '6d' linux/debian/libkeymancore1.symbols
@@ -285,6 +205,7 @@ test_check_updated_version_number__LineRemoved_InAlpha_ChangeFromStable_ERROR()
 }
 
 test_check_updated_version_number__LineRemoved_InBeta_ApiVerUnchanged_ERROR() {
+  local output
   createBase beta
 
   # simulate a commit that already introduced an API version change in Beta
@@ -340,6 +261,7 @@ test_check_updated_version_number__LineRemoved_InBeta_ApiVerChanged_OK() {
 }
 
 test_check_updated_version_number__LineRemoved_InBeta_FileMissingInStable_ApiVerUnchanged_ERROR() {
+  local output
   createBase alpha
   git checkout -b beta
   # simulate a commit that renamed the .symbols file
@@ -363,6 +285,34 @@ test_check_updated_version_number__LineRemoved_InBeta_FileMissingInStable_ApiVer
   [[ "${output[*]}" == *" ERROR: Major API change without updating API version number in libfoo1.symbols file"* ]]
 }
 
+test_check_updated_version_number__LineInsertedInBranch_OK() {
+  createBase alpha
+
+  local base_sha=$(git rev-parse master)
+
+  # Add a line in chore branch
+  echo " km_core_foo@Base 17.0.200" >> linux/debian/libkeymancore1.symbols
+  git add linux/debian/libkeymancore1.symbols
+  git commit -m "API method added in chore branch"
+
+  # Add a line in master branch
+  git checkout master
+  echo " km_core_foo@Base 17.0.205" >> linux/debian/libkeymancore1.symbols
+  git add linux/debian/libkeymancore1.symbols
+  git commit -m "API method changed in master branch"
+  echo "readme" > README.md
+  git add README.md
+  git commit -m "Some change on master"
+  git checkout chore
+
+  # merge master into chore
+  git merge --strategy-option=ours master
+
+  echo "## Calling API verification"
+  pwd
+  linux/scripts/deb-packaging.sh --bin-pkg "${BINPKG_NAME}" --git-sha "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" --git-base "${base_sha}" verify
+}
+
 echo "(test logs are in /tmp/<testname>.log)"
 run_test test_check_updated_version_number__NoChange_OK
 run_test test_check_updated_version_number__LineAdded_OK
@@ -378,5 +328,6 @@ run_test test_check_updated_version_number__LineRemoved_InAlpha_ChangeFromStable
 run_test test_check_updated_version_number__LineRemoved_InBeta_ApiVerUnchanged_ERROR
 run_test test_check_updated_version_number__LineRemoved_InBeta_ApiVerChanged_OK
 run_test test_check_updated_version_number__LineRemoved_InBeta_FileMissingInStable_ApiVerUnchanged_ERROR
+run_test test_check_updated_version_number__LineInsertedInBranch_OK
 
 # TODO: still some test cases missing for the different checks
diff --git a/linux/scripts/test/test.inc.sh b/linux/scripts/test/test.inc.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6e21ef2b5d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/linux/scripts/test/test.inc.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+setup() {
+  OLDPATH=${PATH}
+  tmpDir="$(mktemp -d)"
+  mockDebPkgTools
+}
+
+teardown() {
+  PATH=${OLDPATH}
+  rm -rf "${tmpDir}"
+}
+
+mockDebPkgTools() {
+  echo "#!/bin/bash
+  " > "${tmpDir}/dpkg"
+  chmod +x "${tmpDir}/dpkg"
+  cp "${tmpDir}/dpkg" "${tmpDir}/dpkg-gensymbols"
+  PATH=${tmpDir}:${PATH}
+}
+
+createBase() {
+  TIER=$1
+  remoteDir=$(mktemp -d)
+  cd "${remoteDir}"
+  git init --bare --initial-branch=master .
+
+  workDir=$(mktemp -d)
+  cd "${workDir}"
+  git init --initial-branch=master .
+  git remote add origin "${remoteDir}"
+  mkdir -p linux/debian
+  echo "libkeymancore.so.1 libkeymancore1 #MINVER#
+* Build-Depends-Package: libkeymancore-dev
+
+ km_core_actions_dispose@Base 17.0.197
+ km_core_context_clear@Base 17.0.195
+ km_core_context_get@Base 17.0.198
+ km_core_context_item_list_size@Base 17.0.195
+ km_core_context_items_dispose@Base 17.0.195
+" > linux/debian/libkeymancore1.symbols
+  git add linux/debian/libkeymancore1.symbols
+
+  mkdir -p core
+  echo "1.0.0" > core/CORE_API_VERSION.md
+  git add core/CORE_API_VERSION.md
+
+  echo "16.0.145" > VERSION.md
+  git add VERSION.md
+
+  echo "stable" > TIER.md
+  git add TIER.md
+
+  mkdir -p linux/scripts
+  cp -r "${REPO_ROOT}"/linux/scripts/* linux/scripts
+  git add linux/scripts
+
+  mkdir -p resources/build
+  cp -r "${REPO_ROOT}"/resources/build/* resources/build
+  cp "${REPO_ROOT}"/resources/builder.inc.sh resources/
+  git add resources
+
+  git commit -m "Initial"
+  git push origin master
+
+  git branch -c stable-16.0
+  git push origin stable-16.0
+  git tag -m "16.0.145" release-16.0.145
+  git push origin release-16.0.145
+
+  echo "${TIER}" > TIER.md
+  git add TIER.md
+
+  echo "17.0.255" > VERSION.md
+  git add VERSION.md
+  git commit -m "Commit for Alpha"
+  git push origin master
+
+  git checkout -b chore
+
+  BINPKG_NAME=${tmpDir}/libkeymancore1_17.0.257-1+noble1_amd64.deb
+  touch "${BINPKG_NAME}"
+}
+
+run_test() {
+  setup
+  $1 > "/tmp/$1.log" 2>&1 && echo -e "${COLOR_GREEN}$1: OK${COLOR_RESET}" || echo -e "${COLOR_RED}$1: FAILED${COLOR_RESET}"
+  teardown
+}
diff --git a/linux/scripts/test/test.sh b/linux/scripts/test/test.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..f0a56655d58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/linux/scripts/test/test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -eu
+
+"$(dirname "$0")/deb-packaging.tests.sh"
+"$(dirname "$0")/verify_api.tests.sh"
diff --git a/linux/scripts/test/verify_api.tests.sh b/linux/scripts/test/verify_api.tests.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..05f60cea836
--- /dev/null
+++ b/linux/scripts/test/verify_api.tests.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Unit tests for verify_api.inc.sh
+set -eu
+shopt -s inherit_errexit
+
+## START STANDARD BUILD SCRIPT INCLUDE
+# adjust relative paths as necessary
+THIS_SCRIPT="$(readlink -f "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")"
+. "${THIS_SCRIPT%/*}/../../../resources/build/build-utils.sh"
+## END STANDARD BUILD SCRIPT INCLUDE
+
+. "${THIS_SCRIPT%/*}/test.inc.sh"
+. "${KEYMAN_ROOT}/linux/scripts/verify_api.inc.sh"
+
+
+fixture_setup() {
+  SONAME=1
+  LIB_NAME=libkeymancore
+  PKG_NAME="${LIB_NAME}${SONAME}"
+  EXIT_CODE=-1
+}
+
+test_compare_versions__less_patch() {
+  [[ $(compare_versions "17.0.197" "17.0.198") == -1 ]]
+}
+
+test_compare_versions__less_minor() {
+  [[ $(compare_versions "17.0.197" "17.1.197") == -1 ]]
+}
+
+test_compare_versions__less_major() {
+  [[ $(compare_versions "17.0.197" "18.0.0") == -1 ]]
+}
+
+test_compare_versions__greater() {
+  [[ $(compare_versions "17.0.198" "17.0.197") == 1 ]]
+}
+
+test_compare_versions__same() {
+  [[ $(compare_versions "17.0.197" "17.0.197") == 0 ]]
+}
+
+test_compare_versions__greater0() {
+  [[ $(compare_versions "17.0.197" "0") == 1 ]]
+}
+
+test_get_highest_version_in_symbols_file() {
+  local output
+  createBase alpha
+  echo ' (c++|optional)"typeinfo name for std::codecvt@Base" 17.0.244' >> linux/debian/libkeymancore1.symbols
+  git add linux/debian/libkeymancore1.symbols
+  git commit -m "API method added"
+
+  # Execute
+  output=$(get_highest_version_in_symbols_file "$(git rev-parse HEAD)")
+  echo "${output[*]}" # for logging
+  [[ "${output}" == "17.0.244" ]]
+}
+
+test_check_updated_version_number__LineInsertedInBranch_OK() {
+  local output
+  createBase alpha
+
+  local base_sha=$(git rev-parse master)
+
+  # Add a line in chore branch
+  sed -i 's/km_core_actions_dispose@Base 17.0.197/km_core_actions_dispose@Base 17.0.201/' linux/debian/libkeymancore1.symbols
+  echo " km_core_foo@Base 17.0.200" >> linux/debian/libkeymancore1.symbols
+  git add linux/debian/libkeymancore1.symbols
+  git commit -m "API method added in chore branch"
+
+  # Add a line in master branch
+  git checkout master
+  sed -i 's/km_core_actions_dispose@Base 17.0.197/km_core_actions_dispose@Base 17.0.199/' linux/debian/libkeymancore1.symbols
+  git add linux/debian/libkeymancore1.symbols
+  git commit -m "API method changed in master branch"
+  echo "readme" > README.md
+  git add README.md
+  git commit -m "Some change on master"
+  git checkout chore
+
+  # merge master into chore
+  git merge --strategy-option=ours master
+
+  echo "## Calling API verification"
+  pwd
+  GIT_SHA="$(git rev-parse HEAD)"
+  GIT_BASE="${base_sha}"
+
+  output=$(check_updated_version_number)
+  echo "${output[*]}" # for logging
+  [[ "${output[*]}" == *"OK: libkeymancore1.symbols file got updated with package version number"* ]]
+}
+
+
+fixture_setup
+echo "(test logs are in /tmp/<testname>.log)"
+run_test test_compare_versions__less_patch
+run_test test_compare_versions__less_minor
+run_test test_compare_versions__less_major
+run_test test_compare_versions__greater
+run_test test_compare_versions__same
+run_test test_compare_versions__greater0
+run_test test_get_highest_version_in_symbols_file
+run_test test_check_updated_version_number__LineInsertedInBranch_OK
diff --git a/linux/scripts/verify_api.inc.sh b/linux/scripts/verify_api.inc.sh
index 63072bc4f7c..adaa9187c27 100644
--- a/linux/scripts/verify_api.inc.sh
+++ b/linux/scripts/verify_api.inc.sh
@@ -79,17 +79,70 @@ check_updated_version_number() {
         # If only lines got removed we basically skip this test. A later check will
         # test that the API version got updated.
         output_ok "${PKG_NAME}.symbols file did change but only removed lines"
-    elif ! git log -p -1 -- "debian/${PKG_NAME}.symbols" | grep -q "${VERSION}"; then
-      output_error "${PKG_NAME}.symbols file got changed without changing the package version number of the symbol"
-      EXIT_CODE=1
     else
-      output_ok "${PKG_NAME}.symbols file got updated with package version number"
+      local version_base version_head
+      version_head=$(get_highest_version_in_symbols_file "${GIT_SHA}")
+      version_base=$(get_highest_version_in_symbols_file "${GIT_BASE}")
+      if (( $(compare_versions "${version_head}" "${version_base}") > 0 )); then
+        output_ok "${PKG_NAME}.symbols file got updated with package version number"
+      else
+        output_error "${PKG_NAME}.symbols file got changed without changing the package version number of the symbol"
+        EXIT_CODE=1
+      fi
     fi
   else
     output_ok "${PKG_NAME}.symbols file didn't change"
   fi
 }
 
+compare_versions() {
+  local first_parts second_parts
+  IFS='.' read -r -a first_parts <<< "$1"
+  IFS='.' read -r -a second_parts <<< "$2"
+  if (( first_parts[0] < second_parts[0] )); then
+    echo -1
+  elif (( first_parts[0] > second_parts[0] )); then
+    echo 1
+  elif (( first_parts[1] < second_parts[1] )); then
+    echo -1
+  elif (( first_parts[1] > second_parts[1] )); then
+    echo 1
+  elif (( first_parts[2] < second_parts[2] )); then
+    echo -1
+  elif (( first_parts[2] > second_parts[2] )); then
+    echo 1
+  else
+    echo 0
+  fi
+}
+
+get_highest_version_in_symbols_file() {
+  local sha="$1"
+  local symbol_lines line line_version
+  local max_version=0
+
+  tmpfile=$(mktemp)
+  if ! git cat-file blob "${sha}:linux/debian/${PKG_NAME}.symbols" > "${tmpfile}" 2>/dev/null; then
+    rm "${tmpfile}"
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  # Start with fourth line which is where symbols start
+  mapfile -s 3 symbol_lines < "${tmpfile}"
+  for line in "${symbol_lines[@]}"; do
+    #  km_core_actions_dispose@Base 17.0.197
+    line_version=${line##* }
+    if (( $(compare_versions "${line_version}" "${max_version}") > 0 )); then
+      max_version="${line_version}"
+    fi
+  done
+
+  echo "${max_version}"
+
+  rm "${tmpfile}"
+  return 0
+}
+
 get_api_version_in_symbols_file() {
   # Retrieve symbols file at commit $1 and extract "1" from
   # "libkeymancore.so.1 libkeymancore1 #MINVER#"