diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index f4e54db00cf..d4f299fa777 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -326,10 +326,13 @@ Here's an example:
 
 ```python
 @check_figures_equal()
-def test_my_plotting_case(fig_ref, fig_test):
+def test_my_plotting_case():
   "Test that my plotting function works"
+  fig_ref = Figure()
   fig_ref.grdimage("@earth_relief_01d_g", projection="W120/15c", cmap="geo")
+  fig_test = Figure()
   fig_test.grdimage(grid, projection="W120/15c", cmap="geo")
+  return fig_ref, fig_test
 ```
 
 Note: This is the recommended way to test plots whenever possible, such as when
diff --git a/pygmt/helpers/testing.py b/pygmt/helpers/testing.py
index 889e7f61efd..34db14ae06c 100644
--- a/pygmt/helpers/testing.py
+++ b/pygmt/helpers/testing.py
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 from matplotlib.testing.compare import compare_images
 
 from ..exceptions import GMTImageComparisonFailure
-from ..figure import Figure
 
 
 def check_figures_equal(*, tol=0.0, result_dir="result_images"):
@@ -36,19 +35,26 @@ def check_figures_equal(*, tol=0.0, result_dir="result_images"):
 
     >>> import pytest
     >>> import shutil
+    >>> from pygmt import Figure
 
     >>> @check_figures_equal(result_dir="tmp_result_images")
-    ... def test_check_figures_equal(fig_ref, fig_test):
+    ... def test_check_figures_equal():
+    ...     fig_ref = Figure()
     ...     fig_ref.basemap(projection="X5c", region=[0, 5, 0, 5], frame=True)
+    ...     fig_test = Figure()
     ...     fig_test.basemap(projection="X5c", region=[0, 5, 0, 5], frame="af")
+    ...     return fig_ref, fig_test
     >>> test_check_figures_equal()
     >>> assert len(os.listdir("tmp_result_images")) == 0
     >>> shutil.rmtree(path="tmp_result_images")  # cleanup folder if tests pass
 
     >>> @check_figures_equal(result_dir="tmp_result_images")
-    ... def test_check_figures_unequal(fig_ref, fig_test):
+    ... def test_check_figures_unequal():
+    ...     fig_ref = Figure()
     ...     fig_ref.basemap(projection="X5c", region=[0, 5, 0, 5], frame=True)
+    ...     fig_test = Figure()
     ...     fig_test.basemap(projection="X5c", region=[0, 3, 0, 3], frame=True)
+    ...     return fig_ref, fig_test
     >>> with pytest.raises(GMTImageComparisonFailure):
     ...     test_check_figures_unequal()
     >>> for suffix in ["", "-expected", "-failed-diff"]:
@@ -68,9 +74,7 @@ def decorator(func):
 
         def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
             try:
-                fig_ref = Figure()
-                fig_test = Figure()
-                func(*args, fig_ref=fig_ref, fig_test=fig_test, **kwargs)
+                fig_ref, fig_test = func(*args, **kwargs)
                 ref_image_path = os.path.join(
                     result_dir, func.__name__ + "-expected.png"
                 )
diff --git a/pygmt/tests/test_grdimage.py b/pygmt/tests/test_grdimage.py
index 8f4398ff8fd..d9fb40f2b53 100644
--- a/pygmt/tests/test_grdimage.py
+++ b/pygmt/tests/test_grdimage.py
@@ -93,9 +93,12 @@ def test_grdimage_over_dateline(xrgrid):
 
 
 @check_figures_equal()
-def test_grdimage_central_longitude(grid, fig_ref, fig_test):
+def test_grdimage_central_longitude(grid):
     """
     Test that plotting a grid centred at different longitudes/meridians work.
     """
+    fig_ref = Figure()
     fig_ref.grdimage("@earth_relief_01d_g", projection="W120/15c", cmap="geo")
+    fig_test = Figure()
     fig_test.grdimage(grid, projection="W120/15c", cmap="geo")
+    return fig_ref, fig_test