diff --git a/test/tst_io.jl b/test/tst_io.jl
index 79ae3d17..3afd3113 100644
--- a/test/tst_io.jl
+++ b/test/tst_io.jl
@@ -56,30 +56,34 @@ end
     end
 end
 
-@testset "stringify plot - performance regression" begin
-    p = heatmap(collect(1:30) * collect(1:30)')
-    @test string(p; color = true) isa String  # 1st pass - ttfp
-
-    measure = Sys.islinux() && VERSION > v"1.10.0" && length(VERSION.prerelease) < 2
+sombrero(x, y) = 30sinc(√(x^2 + y^2) / π)
 
-    if measure
-        GC.enable(false)
-        stats = @timed string(p; color = true)  # repeated !
-        @test stats.bytes / 1e3 < 400  # ~ 356kB on 1.10
-        @test stats.time * 1e3 < 0.5  # ~ 0.3ms on 1.10
-        GC.enable(true)
+@testset "stringify plot - performance regression" begin
+    nightly = occursin("DEV", string(VERSION))  # or length(VERSION.prerelease) < 2
+    measure = Sys.islinux() && VERSION > v"1.10.0-" && !nightly
+
+    let p = heatmap(collect(1:30) * collect(1:30)')
+        @test string(p; color = true) isa String  # 1st pass - ttfp
+
+        if measure
+            GC.enable(false)
+            stats = @timed string(p; color = true)  # repeated !
+            @test stats.bytes / 1e3 < 500  # ~ 356kB on 1.10
+            @test stats.time * 1e3 < 0.8  # ~ 0.3ms on 1.10
+            GC.enable(true)
+        end
     end
 
-    sombrero(x, y) = 30sinc(√(x^2 + y^2) / π)
-    p = surfaceplot(-8:0.5:8, -8:0.5:8, sombrero; axes3d = false)
-    @test string(p; color = true) isa String  # 1st pass - ttfp
+    let p = surfaceplot(-8:0.5:8, -8:0.5:8, sombrero; axes3d = false)
+        @test string(p; color = true) isa String  # 1st pass - ttfp
 
-    if measure
-        GC.enable(false)
-        stats = @timed string(p; color = true)  # repeated !
-        @test stats.bytes / 1e3 < 160  # ~ 152kB on 1.10
-        @test stats.time * 1e3 < 0.5  # ~ 0.26ms on 1.10
-        GC.enable(true)
+        if measure
+            GC.enable(false)
+            stats = @timed string(p; color = true)  # repeated !
+            @test stats.bytes / 1e3 < 160  # ~ 152kB on 1.10
+            @test stats.time * 1e3 < 0.5  # ~ 0.26ms on 1.10
+            GC.enable(true)
+        end
     end
 end