diff --git a/ext/TermExt.jl b/ext/TermExt.jl
index 20d394ce..d8447be3 100644
--- a/ext/TermExt.jl
+++ b/ext/TermExt.jl
@@ -14,4 +14,4 @@ UnicodePlots.gridplot(plots::Union{AbstractVector,Tuple}; kw...) =
 UnicodePlots.gridplot(plots::Plot...; kw...) =
     Term.grid(map(UnicodePlots.panel, plots); kw...)
 
-end
+end  # module
diff --git a/src/interface/lineplot.jl b/src/interface/lineplot.jl
index 91a8924f..4291c494 100644
--- a/src/interface/lineplot.jl
+++ b/src/interface/lineplot.jl
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 """
+    lineplot(; kw...)
+    lineplot(y; kw...)
     lineplot(x, y; kw...)
     lineplot!(p, args...; kw...)
 
@@ -75,6 +77,7 @@ function lineplot(
     lineplot!(Plot(x, y, z, canvas; pkw...), x, y, z; okw...)
 end
 
+lineplot(; kw...) = lineplot([]; kw...)
 lineplot(y::AbstractVector; kw...) = lineplot(axes(y, 1), y; kw...)
 
 @doc (@doc lineplot) function lineplot!(
diff --git a/src/interface/scatterplot.jl b/src/interface/scatterplot.jl
index 03ab6286..dc264032 100644
--- a/src/interface/scatterplot.jl
+++ b/src/interface/scatterplot.jl
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 """
+    scatterplot(; kw...)
+    scatterplot(y; kw...)
     scatterplot(x, y; kw...)
     scatterplot!(p, args...; kw...)
 
@@ -69,6 +71,7 @@ function scatterplot(
     scatterplot!(Plot(x, y, z, canvas; pkw...), x, y, z; okw...)
 end
 
+scatterplot(; kw...) = lineplot([]; kw...)
 scatterplot(y::AbstractVector; kw...) = scatterplot(axes(y, 1), y; kw...)
 
 @doc (@doc scatterplot) function scatterplot!(
diff --git a/src/plot.jl b/src/plot.jl
index c9e02333..04ef5476 100644
--- a/src/plot.jl
+++ b/src/plot.jl
@@ -149,6 +149,8 @@ function validate_input(x::AbstractVector, y::AbstractVector, z::Nothing)
     end
 end
 
+Plot(; kw...) = Plot([], []; kw...)
+
 function Plot(
     x::AbstractVector,
     y::AbstractVector,
diff --git a/test/references_24/surfaceplot/sombrero_aspect.txt b/test/references_24/surfaceplot/sombrero_aspect.txt
index 4e817124..06d21b57 100644
--- a/test/references_24/surfaceplot/sombrero_aspect.txt
+++ b/test/references_24/surfaceplot/sombrero_aspect.txt
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣾⡿⠿⣿⣿⣕⣒⣒⣊⣽⣯⡮⠵⠅⠮⠮⢵⣽⣯⣑⣒⣒⣪⣿⣿⠿⢿⣷⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
     │⠀⠀⠀⠐⠻⠿⠛⠛⠛⠛⠽⢿⣶⣶⡾⠓⠉⠢⠈⡀⢁⠁⠔⠉⠚⢷⣶⣶⡿⠯⠛⠛⠛⠛⠿⠟⠂⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
     │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⠿⣯⣯⣓⢶⣷⡆⣶⣾⡶⣚⣽⣽⠿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
-    │⠀⠀⠀⢸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠻⡳⡻⡃⢟⢟⢞⠟⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
-    │⠀⢀⡠⠼⠤⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠪⠆⡵⠕⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
-    │⠊⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠂⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ └──┘
+    │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠻⡳⡻⡃⢟⢟⢞⠟⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
+    │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠪⠆⡵⠕⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
+    │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ └──┘
     └────────────────────────────────────────┘ -10 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/references_24/surfaceplot/sombrero_identity.txt b/test/references_24/surfaceplot/sombrero_identity.txt
index 8b7bbf85..247c563a 100644
--- a/test/references_24/surfaceplot/sombrero_identity.txt
+++ b/test/references_24/surfaceplot/sombrero_identity.txt
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@
     │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣨⣅⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
     │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣴⡾⢟⣿⣿⣿⣿⡻⢷⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
     │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣸⡿⣿⣋⣿⣿⣿⣿⣙⣿⢿⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
-    │⠀⠀⠀⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⠟⠀⢿⣟⣿⣟⣿⣿⣻⡿⠀⠻⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
-    │⠀⠀⠀⢸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⢿⡿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
-    │⠀⢀⡠⠜⠤⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠻⠮⣿⣿⠵⠟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
-    │⠊⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠂⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ └──┘
+    │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⠟⠀⢿⣟⣿⣟⣿⣿⣻⡿⠀⠻⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
+    │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⢿⡿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
+    │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠻⠮⣿⣿⠵⠟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
+    │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ └──┘
     └────────────────────────────────────────┘ -10 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/references_24/surfaceplot/sombrero_zscale.txt b/test/references_24/surfaceplot/sombrero_zscale.txt
index 5ffbe508..6e5d084a 100644
--- a/test/references_24/surfaceplot/sombrero_zscale.txt
+++ b/test/references_24/surfaceplot/sombrero_zscale.txt
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⣿⢖⡒⢊⡠⣯⣳⠳⠟⣞⣽⢄⡑⢒⡲⣿⣷⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
     │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⡿⡿⢿⣷⣏⣉⢤⣣⣺⡭⢯⣗⣜⡤⣉⣹⣾⡿⢿⢿⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
     │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠺⠟⠉⠀⠀⠈⣿⣻⣿⡷⢿⡻⣟⡿⢾⣿⣟⣿⠁⠀⠀⠉⠻⠗⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
-    │⠀⠀⠀⢸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⢿⣯⣟⣻⢞⡷⣟⣻⣽⡿⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
-    │⠀⢀⡠⠼⠤⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠛⠻⣺⣗⠟⠛⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
-    │⠊⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠂⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ └──┘
+    │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⢿⣯⣟⣻⢞⡷⣟⣻⣽⡿⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
+    │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠛⠻⣺⣗⠟⠛⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
+    │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ └──┘
     └────────────────────────────────────────┘ -10 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/references_8/surfaceplot/sombrero_aspect.txt b/test/references_8/surfaceplot/sombrero_aspect.txt
index ae680fa9..d81e1ad5 100644
--- a/test/references_8/surfaceplot/sombrero_aspect.txt
+++ b/test/references_8/surfaceplot/sombrero_aspect.txt
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣾⡿⠿⣿⣿⣕⣒⣒⣊⣽⣯⡮⠵⠅⠮⠮⢵⣽⣯⣑⣒⣒⣪⣿⣿⠿⢿⣷⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
     │⠀⠀⠀⠐⠻⠿⠛⠛⠛⠛⠽⢿⣶⣶⡾⠓⠉⠢⠈⡀⢁⠁⠔⠉⠚⢷⣶⣶⡿⠯⠛⠛⠛⠛⠿⠟⠂⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
     │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⠿⣯⣯⣓⢶⣷⡆⣶⣾⡶⣚⣽⣽⠿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
-    │⠀⠀⠀⢸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠻⡳⡻⡃⢟⢟⢞⠟⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
-    │⠀⢀⡠⠼⠤⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠪⠆⡵⠕⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
-    │⠊⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠂⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ └──┘
+    │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠻⡳⡻⡃⢟⢟⢞⠟⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
+    │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠪⠆⡵⠕⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
+    │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ └──┘
     └────────────────────────────────────────┘ -10 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/references_8/surfaceplot/sombrero_identity.txt b/test/references_8/surfaceplot/sombrero_identity.txt
index 426fca2d..b44eb568 100644
--- a/test/references_8/surfaceplot/sombrero_identity.txt
+++ b/test/references_8/surfaceplot/sombrero_identity.txt
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@
     │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣨⣅⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
     │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣴⡾⢟⣿⣿⣿⣿⡻⢷⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
     │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣸⡿⣿⣋⣿⣿⣿⣿⣙⣿⢿⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
-    │⠀⠀⠀⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⠟⠀⢿⣟⣿⣟⣿⣿⣻⡿⠀⠻⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
-    │⠀⠀⠀⢸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⢿⡿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
-    │⠀⢀⡠⠜⠤⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠻⠮⣿⣿⠵⠟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
-    │⠊⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠂⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ └──┘
+    │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⠟⠀⢿⣟⣿⣟⣿⣿⣻⡿⠀⠻⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
+    │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⢿⡿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
+    │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠻⠮⣿⣿⠵⠟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
+    │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ └──┘
     └────────────────────────────────────────┘ -10 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/references_8/surfaceplot/sombrero_zscale.txt b/test/references_8/surfaceplot/sombrero_zscale.txt
index 85d4a596..bf97dc5f 100644
--- a/test/references_8/surfaceplot/sombrero_zscale.txt
+++ b/test/references_8/surfaceplot/sombrero_zscale.txt
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⣿⢖⡒⢊⡠⣯⣳⠳⠟⣞⣽⢄⡑⢒⡲⣿⣷⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
     │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⡿⡿⢿⣷⣏⣉⢤⣣⣺⡭⢯⣗⣜⡤⣉⣹⣾⡿⢿⢿⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
     │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠺⠟⠉⠀⠀⠈⣿⣻⣿⡷⢿⡻⣟⡿⢾⣿⣟⣿⠁⠀⠀⠉⠻⠗⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
-    │⠀⠀⠀⢸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⢿⣯⣟⣻⢞⡷⣟⣻⣽⡿⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
-    │⠀⢀⡠⠼⠤⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠛⠻⣺⣗⠟⠛⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
-    │⠊⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠂⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ └──┘
+    │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⢿⣯⣟⣻⢞⡷⣟⣻⣽⡿⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
+    │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠛⠻⣺⣗⠟⠛⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ │▄▄│
+    │⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀│ └──┘
     └────────────────────────────────────────┘ -10 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/runtests.jl b/test/runtests.jl
index 565bab2e..f3d14c3c 100644
--- a/test/runtests.jl
+++ b/test/runtests.jl
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ withenv("FORCE_COLOR" => "X") do  # JuliaPlots/UnicodePlots.jl/issues/134
     @timeit_include "tst_quality.jl"
 end
 
-# ~ 193s & 12.3GiB on 1.8
+# ~ 90s & 8.26GiB on 1.9
 print_timer(TO; compact = true, sortby = :firstexec)
 
 println("\n== end: testing with $(UnicodePlots.colormode())bit colormode ==")
diff --git a/test/tst_io.jl b/test/tst_io.jl
index 54766293..414ada2f 100644
--- a/test/tst_io.jl
+++ b/test/tst_io.jl
@@ -60,11 +60,13 @@ end
     p = heatmap(collect(1:30) * collect(1:30)')
     @test string(p; color = true) isa String  # 1st pass - ttfp
 
-    if Sys.islinux()
+    measure = Sys.islinux() && VERSION > v"1.9.0" && length(VERSION.prerelease) < 2
+
+    if measure
         GC.enable(false)
         stats = @timed string(p; color = true)  # repeated !
-        @test stats.bytes / 1e3 < 600  # ~ 550kB on 1.7
-        @test stats.time * 1e3 < 2  # ~ 1.17ms on 1.7
+        @test stats.bytes / 1e3 < 400  # ~ 374kB on 1.9
+        @test stats.time * 1e3 < 1  # ~ 0.3ms on 1.9
         GC.enable(true)
     end
 
@@ -72,11 +74,11 @@ end
     p = surfaceplot(-8:0.5:8, -8:0.5:8, sombrero; axes3d = false)
     @test string(p; color = true) isa String  # 1st pass - ttfp
 
-    if Sys.islinux()
+    if measure
         GC.enable(false)
         stats = @timed string(p; color = true)  # repeated !
-        @test stats.bytes / 1e3 < 250  # ~ 155kB on 1.7
-        @test stats.time * 1e3 < 1  # ~ 0.42ms on 1.7
+        @test stats.bytes / 1e3 < 160  # ~ 152kB on 1.9
+        @test stats.time * 1e3 < 0.5  # ~ 0.16ms on 1.9
         GC.enable(true)
     end
 end
diff --git a/test/tst_lineplot.jl b/test/tst_lineplot.jl
index ac04a243..eeab7107 100644
--- a/test/tst_lineplot.jl
+++ b/test/tst_lineplot.jl
@@ -1,16 +1,18 @@
 x = [-1, 1, 3, 3, -1]
 y = [2, 0, -5, 2, -5]
 
-@test_throws MethodError lineplot()
-@test_throws MethodError lineplot(sin, x, y)
-@test_throws ArgumentError lineplot(0, 3, Function[])
-@test_throws ArgumentError lineplot(x, Function[])
-@test_throws ArgumentError lineplot(Function[])
-@test_throws Union{BoundsError,DimensionMismatch} lineplot([1, 2], [1, 2, 3])
-@test_throws Union{BoundsError,DimensionMismatch} lineplot([1, 2, 3], [1, 2])
-@test_throws Union{BoundsError,DimensionMismatch} lineplot([1, 2, 3], 1:2)
-@test_throws Union{BoundsError,DimensionMismatch} lineplot(1:3, [1, 2])
-@test_throws Union{BoundsError,DimensionMismatch} lineplot(1:3, 1:2)
+@testset "input" begin
+    @test lineplot() isa Plot
+    @test_throws MethodError lineplot(sin, x, y)
+    @test_throws ArgumentError lineplot(0, 3, Function[])
+    @test_throws ArgumentError lineplot(x, Function[])
+    @test_throws ArgumentError lineplot(Function[])
+    @test_throws Union{BoundsError,DimensionMismatch} lineplot([1, 2], [1, 2, 3])
+    @test_throws Union{BoundsError,DimensionMismatch} lineplot([1, 2, 3], [1, 2])
+    @test_throws Union{BoundsError,DimensionMismatch} lineplot([1, 2, 3], 1:2)
+    @test_throws Union{BoundsError,DimensionMismatch} lineplot(1:3, [1, 2])
+    @test_throws Union{BoundsError,DimensionMismatch} lineplot(1:3, 1:2)
+end
 
 @testset "Nan / Inf" begin
     @test lineplot([0, NaN], [0, 0]) isa Plot
diff --git a/test/tst_plot.jl b/test/tst_plot.jl
index 3adca9b9..df607734 100644
--- a/test/tst_plot.jl
+++ b/test/tst_plot.jl
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
     test_ref("plot/empty_small.txt", @show_col(p))
 
     # empty plot ctor
+    p = Plot()
+    @test p isa Plot
     p = Plot([], [])
     @test p isa Plot
     p = Plot([], [], [])
diff --git a/test/tst_scatterplot.jl b/test/tst_scatterplot.jl
index adf5aedc..25be4b94 100644
--- a/test/tst_scatterplot.jl
+++ b/test/tst_scatterplot.jl
@@ -1,14 +1,16 @@
 x = [-1, 1, 3, 3, -1]
 y = [2, 0, -5, 2, -5]
 
-@test_throws MethodError scatterplot()
-@test_throws MethodError scatterplot(sin, x)
-@test_throws DimensionMismatch scatterplot([sin], x)
-@test_throws DimensionMismatch scatterplot([1, 2], [1, 2, 3])
-@test_throws DimensionMismatch scatterplot([1, 2, 3], [1, 2])
-@test_throws DimensionMismatch scatterplot([1, 2, 3], 1:2)
-@test_throws DimensionMismatch scatterplot(1:3, [1, 2])
-@test_throws DimensionMismatch scatterplot(1:3, 1:2)
+@testset "input" begin
+    @test scatterplot() isa Plot
+    @test_throws MethodError scatterplot(sin, x)
+    @test_throws DimensionMismatch scatterplot([sin], x)
+    @test_throws DimensionMismatch scatterplot([1, 2], [1, 2, 3])
+    @test_throws DimensionMismatch scatterplot([1, 2, 3], [1, 2])
+    @test_throws DimensionMismatch scatterplot([1, 2, 3], 1:2)
+    @test_throws DimensionMismatch scatterplot(1:3, [1, 2])
+    @test_throws DimensionMismatch scatterplot(1:3, 1:2)
+end
 
 @testset "boundaries" begin
     # tests that the two points are drawn correctly on the canvas
diff --git a/test/tst_surfaceplot.jl b/test/tst_surfaceplot.jl
index d0b6855e..e7ca9c85 100644
--- a/test/tst_surfaceplot.jl
+++ b/test/tst_surfaceplot.jl
@@ -3,13 +3,13 @@
 @testset "zscale" begin
     sombrero(x, y) = 50sinc(√(x^2 + y^2) / π)
 
-    p = surfaceplot(-8:0.5:8, -8:0.5:8, sombrero)
+    p = surfaceplot(-8:0.5:8, -8:0.5:8, sombrero; axes3d = false)
     test_ref("surfaceplot/sombrero_aspect.txt", @show_col(p))
 
-    p = surfaceplot(-8:0.5:8, -8:0.5:8, sombrero; zscale = :identity)
+    p = surfaceplot(-8:0.5:8, -8:0.5:8, sombrero; axes3d = false, zscale = :identity)
     test_ref("surfaceplot/sombrero_identity.txt", @show_col(p))
 
-    p = surfaceplot(-8:0.5:8, -8:0.5:8, sombrero; zscale = h -> h / 2)
+    p = surfaceplot(-8:0.5:8, -8:0.5:8, sombrero; axes3d = false, zscale = h -> h / 2)
     test_ref("surfaceplot/sombrero_zscale.txt", @show_col(p))
 
     @test_throws ArgumentError surfaceplot([1 2; 3 4]; zscale = :not_supported)