diff --git a/python/tests/conftest.py b/python/tests/conftest.py
index 411c07a8c..a7bc59f98 100644
--- a/python/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/python/tests/conftest.py
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@ import os
 
 import pytest
 
+# Use to monkeypatch damask.version (for comparsion to reference files that contain version information)
+def pytest_configure():
+    pytest.dummy_version = '99.99.99-9999-pytest'
+
+
 def pytest_addoption(parser):
     parser.addoption("--update",
                      action="store_true",
diff --git a/python/tests/test_Colormap.py b/python/tests/test_Colormap.py
index b95d23a86..8d3d51018 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_Colormap.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_Colormap.py
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ class TestColormap:
                                            ('Gmsh','.msh')
                                           ])
     def test_compare_reference(self,format,ext,tmpdir,reference_dir,update,monkeypatch):
-        monkeypatch.setattr(damask, 'version', '99.99.99-9999-pytest')
+        monkeypatch.setattr(damask, 'version', pytest.dummy_version)
         name = 'binary'
         c = Colormap.from_predefined(name)
         if update: