diff --git a/pandas/tests/arrays/test_array.py b/pandas/tests/arrays/test_array.py
index 61d56df485ab1..958ccec930f0e 100644
--- a/pandas/tests/arrays/test_array.py
+++ b/pandas/tests/arrays/test_array.py
@@ -309,6 +309,14 @@ def test_scalar_raises():
         pd.array(1)
 
 
+def test_bounds_check():
+    # GH21796
+    with pytest.raises(
+        TypeError, match=r"cannot safely cast non-equivalent int(32|64) to uint16"
+    ):
+        pd.array([-1, 2, 3], dtype="UInt16")
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # A couple dummy classes to ensure that Series and Indexes are unboxed before
 # getting to the EA classes.