diff --git a/python/tests/conftest.py b/python/tests/conftest.py
index 87aa9a363..a6f6e62ad 100644
--- a/python/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/python/tests/conftest.py
@@ -1,11 +1,29 @@
 from pathlib import Path
+import datetime
+
 import numpy as np
-
 import pytest
+from _pytest.monkeypatch import MonkeyPatch
 
-# 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'
+import damask
+
+
+patched_version = '99.99.99-9999-pytest'
+@pytest.fixture
+def patch_damask_version(monkeysession):
+    """Set damask.version for reproducible tests results."""
+    monkeysession.setattr(damask, 'version', patched_version)
+
+patched_date = datetime.datetime(2019, 11, 2, 11, 58, 0)
+@pytest.fixture
+def patch_datetime_now(monkeysession):
+    """Set datetime.datetime.now for reproducible tests results."""
+    class mydatetime:
+        @classmethod
+        def now(cls):
+            return patched_date
+
+    monkeysession.setattr(datetime, 'datetime', mydatetime)
 
 
 def pytest_addoption(parser):
diff --git a/python/tests/test_Colormap.py b/python/tests/test_Colormap.py
index b3309f12b..4fe0cc9fb 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_Colormap.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_Colormap.py
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ def reference_dir(reference_dir_base):
 
 class TestColormap:
 
+    @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+    def _patch_damask_version(self, patch_damask_version):
+        print('patched damask.version')
+
     def test_conversion(self):
 
         specials = np.array([[0.,0.,0.],
@@ -29,7 +33,6 @@ class TestColormap:
                              [1.,1.,1.]
                              ])
         rgbs = np.vstack((specials,np.random.rand(100,3)))
-        pass # class not integrated
         for rgb in rgbs:
             print('rgb',rgb)
 
@@ -150,8 +153,7 @@ class TestColormap:
                                            ('GOM','.legend'),
                                            ('Gmsh','.msh')
                                           ])
-    def test_compare_reference(self,format,ext,tmpdir,reference_dir,update,monkeypatch):
-        monkeypatch.setattr(damask, 'version', pytest.dummy_version)
+    def test_compare_reference(self,format,ext,tmpdir,reference_dir,update):
         name = 'binary'
         c = Colormap.from_predefined(name)
         if update: