diff --git a/tests/lhs-test.latex b/tests/lhs-test.latex
index 5f376328a..ac985e287 100644
--- a/tests/lhs-test.latex
+++ b/tests/lhs-test.latex
@@ -84,6 +84,12 @@
 \renewcommand{\subparagraph}[1]{\oldsubparagraph{#1}\mbox{}}
 \fi
 
+% set default figure placement to htbp
+\makeatletter
+\def\fps@figure{htbp}
+\makeatother
+
+
 \date{}
 
 \begin{document}
diff --git a/tests/lhs-test.latex+lhs b/tests/lhs-test.latex+lhs
index b6db76e6f..37135ad5c 100644
--- a/tests/lhs-test.latex+lhs
+++ b/tests/lhs-test.latex+lhs
@@ -48,6 +48,12 @@
 \renewcommand{\subparagraph}[1]{\oldsubparagraph{#1}\mbox{}}
 \fi
 
+% set default figure placement to htbp
+\makeatletter
+\def\fps@figure{htbp}
+\makeatother
+
+
 \date{}
 
 \begin{document}
diff --git a/tests/writer.latex b/tests/writer.latex
index eaecea949..7784f0d01 100644
--- a/tests/writer.latex
+++ b/tests/writer.latex
@@ -62,6 +62,12 @@
 \renewcommand{\subparagraph}[1]{\oldsubparagraph{#1}\mbox{}}
 \fi
 
+% set default figure placement to htbp
+\makeatletter
+\def\fps@figure{htbp}
+\makeatother
+
+
 \title{Pandoc Test Suite}
 \author{John MacFarlane \and Anonymous}
 \date{July 17, 2006}
diff --git a/tests/writers-lang-and-dir.latex b/tests/writers-lang-and-dir.latex
index badb0eb82..b04b007c4 100644
--- a/tests/writers-lang-and-dir.latex
+++ b/tests/writers-lang-and-dir.latex
@@ -77,6 +77,12 @@
   \newenvironment{LTR}{\beginL}{\endL}
 \fi
 
+% set default figure placement to htbp
+\makeatletter
+\def\fps@figure{htbp}
+\makeatother
+
+
 \date{}
 
 \begin{document}