As we work towards fault-tolerant quantum computers, it is important to test whether we are on the right track. This will mean devising and implementing proof-of-principle experiments for error detection and correction in quantum circuits. Because different groups are pursuing different paths towards fault-tolerance, cross-platform comparisons will be difficult without standardized cross-platform tests. Here we discuss what it means to experiment with quantum error correction in near-term quantum hardware, and how we might achieve cross-platform benchmarks.