diff --git a/src/backends/gr.jl b/src/backends/gr.jl
index 177cd1b9..4f871e6a 100644
--- a/src/backends/gr.jl
+++ b/src/backends/gr.jl
@@ -580,6 +580,9 @@ function gr_get_ticks_size(ticks, i)
 end
 
 function _update_min_padding!(sp::Subplot{GRBackend})
+    if !haskey(ENV, "GKSwstype") && isijulia()
+        ENV["GKSwstype"] = "svg"
+    end
     # Add margin given by the user
     leftpad   = 2mm  + sp[:left_margin]
     toppad    = 2mm  + sp[:top_margin]
diff --git a/test/runtests.jl b/test/runtests.jl
index 69b4d393..da7fcb05 100644
--- a/test/runtests.jl
+++ b/test/runtests.jl
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ default(show=false, reuse=true)
 img_eps = isinteractive() ? 1e-2 : 10e-2
 
 @testset "GR" begin
+    ENV["GKSwstype"] = "100"
     @test gr() == Plots.GRBackend()
     @test backend() == Plots.GRBackend()