diff --git a/IPython/lib/tests/test_pylabtools.py b/IPython/lib/tests/test_pylabtools.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f800002
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+++ b/IPython/lib/tests/test_pylabtools.py
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+"""Tests for pylab tools module.
+"""
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Copyright (c) 2011, the IPython Development Team.
+#
+# Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
+#
+# The full license is in the file COPYING.txt, distributed with this software.
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Imports
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+from __future__ import print_function
+
+# Stdlib imports
+
+# Third-party imports
+import matplotlib; matplotlib.use('Agg')
+import nose.tools as nt
+
+from matplotlib import pyplot as plt
+
+# Our own imports
+from IPython.testing import decorators as dec
+from .. import pylabtools as pt
+
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Globals and constants
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Local utilities
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Classes and functions
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+@dec.parametric
+def test_figure_to_svg():
+    # simple empty-figure test
+    fig = plt.figure()
+    yield nt.assert_equal(pt.figure_to_svg(fig), None)
+
+    plt.close('all')
+
+    # simple check for at least svg-looking output
+    fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+    ax.plot([1,2,3])
+    plt.draw()
+    svg = pt.figure_to_svg(fig)[:100].lower()
+    yield nt.assert_true('doctype svg' in svg)