diff --git a/rdkit/CMakeLists.txt b/rdkit/CMakeLists.txt
index fc428fc00..fb6189135 100644
--- a/rdkit/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/rdkit/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -24,4 +24,6 @@ add_pytest(pythonTestDirVLib
          ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/VLib/test_list.py --testDir ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/VLib )
 add_pytest(pythonTestDirChem
          ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/Chem/test_list.py --testDir ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/Chem )
+add_pytest(pythonTestSping
+         ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/Chem/test_list.py --testDir ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/sping )
 
diff --git a/rdkit/sping/PDF/pdfdoc.py b/rdkit/sping/PDF/pdfdoc.py
index c0c870c86..4cfc305f2 100755
--- a/rdkit/sping/PDF/pdfdoc.py
+++ b/rdkit/sping/PDF/pdfdoc.py
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ class PDFPage(PDFObject):
 
   def setStream(self, data):
     if isinstance(data, (list, tuple)):
-      data = LINEEND.join(data, LINEEND)
+      data = LINEEND.join(data)
     self.stream.setStream(data)
 
 
diff --git a/rdkit/sping/PS/pidPS.py b/rdkit/sping/PS/pidPS.py
index 979ff341b..1de6b8935 100755
--- a/rdkit/sping/PS/pidPS.py
+++ b/rdkit/sping/PS/pidPS.py
@@ -456,8 +456,8 @@ translate
 
     # save() will now become part of the spec.
     file = file or self.filename
-    fileobj = getFileObject(file)
-    fileobj.write(self.code.join(linesep))
+    fileobj = getFileObject(file, 'w')
+    fileobj.write(linesep.join(self.code))
     # here's a hack. we might want to be able to add more after saving so
     # preserve the current code ???
     preserveCode = self.code
@@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ translate
 
     self.psEndDocument()  # depends on _inDocumentFlag :(
 
-    fileobj.write(finalizationCode.join(linesep))
+    fileobj.write(linesep.join(finalizationCode))
     #  fileobj.close()  ### avoid this for now
     ## clean up my mess: This is not a good way to do things FIXME!!! ???
     self.code = preserveCode
diff --git a/rdkit/sping/PS/psmetrics.py b/rdkit/sping/PS/psmetrics.py
index 8caebcda4..d6c94e2e3 100755
--- a/rdkit/sping/PS/psmetrics.py
+++ b/rdkit/sping/PS/psmetrics.py
@@ -226,5 +226,10 @@ def stringwidth(text, font, encoding):
       raise KeyError("Improper encoding {0} or font name {1}".format(encoding, font))
   w = 0
   for char in text:
-    w = w + widths[ord(char)]
+    chr_idx = ord(char)
+    if chr_idx < len(widths):
+      chr_width = widths[chr_idx]
+    else:
+      chr_width = max(widths)
+    w = w + chr_width
   return w
diff --git a/rdkit/sping/colors.py b/rdkit/sping/colors.py
index a1ce2be73..ec186006b 100755
--- a/rdkit/sping/colors.py
+++ b/rdkit/sping/colors.py
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ class Color:
   def __rmul__(self, x):
     return Color(self.red * x, self.green * x, self.blue * x)
 
+  def __truediv__(self, x):
+    return Color(self.red / x, self.green / x, self.blue / x)
+
   def __div__(self, x):
     return Color(self.red / x, self.green / x, self.blue / x)
 
diff --git a/rdkit/sping/test_list.py b/rdkit/sping/test_list.py
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..f8e2f4b15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rdkit/sping/test_list.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+tests = [
+  ("python", "test_list.py", {'dir': 'tests'}),
+]
+
+
+longTests = []
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+  import sys
+  from rdkit import TestRunner
+  failed, tests = TestRunner.RunScript('test_list.py', 0, 1)
+  sys.exit(len(failed))
diff --git a/rdkit/sping/tests/pstests.py b/rdkit/sping/tests/pstests.py
index 9af550b4b..dfce57c1f 100755
--- a/rdkit/sping/tests/pstests.py
+++ b/rdkit/sping/tests/pstests.py
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-# $Id$
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
 from __future__ import print_function
 import pidtest
 
-
 def testLatin1Chars(can):
   curx, cury = 10, 20
   can.drawString("hola M�laga amigos ni�os", curx, cury)
diff --git a/rdkit/sping/tests/test_list.py b/rdkit/sping/tests/test_list.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f8c4f180a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rdkit/sping/tests/test_list.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+tests = [
+  ("python", "testallps.py", {}),
+]
+
+
+longTests = []
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+  import sys
+  from rdkit import TestRunner
+  failed, tests = TestRunner.RunScript('test_list.py', 0, 1)
+  sys.exit(len(failed))
diff --git a/rdkit/sping/tests/testallps.py b/rdkit/sping/tests/testallps.py
index 7ef95724f..7da924391 100755
--- a/rdkit/sping/tests/testallps.py
+++ b/rdkit/sping/tests/testallps.py
@@ -1,31 +1,42 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
+import unittest
 import pidtest
-import sping.PS.pidPS
+from rdkit.sping.PS import pidPS
 
-canvas = sping.PS.pidPS.PSCanvas(name="testallps.ps", size=(400, 500))
+class TestCase(unittest.TestCase):
+  def test_all(self):
+    canvas = pidPS.PSCanvas(name="testallps.ps", size=(400, 500))
 
-pidtest.drawStrings(canvas)
+    pidtest.drawStrings(canvas)
 
-canvas.flush()
-canvas.clear()  # resets the canvas
+    canvas.flush()
+    canvas.clear()  # resets the canvas
 
-pidtest.drawRotstring(canvas)
-canvas.flush()
-canvas.clear()
+    pidtest.drawRotstring(canvas)
+    canvas.flush()
+    canvas.clear()
 
-x1 = 100
-y1 = 100
-radius = 20
-canvas.drawString("Test", 100, 250)
-canvas.drawEllipse(x1, y1 - radius, x1 + 2 * radius, y1 + radius, edgeWidth=1)
-canvas.flush()
-canvas.clear()
+    x1 = 100
+    y1 = 100
+    radius = 20
+    canvas.drawString("Test", 100, 250)
+    canvas.drawEllipse(x1, y1 - radius, x1 + 2 * radius, y1 + radius, edgeWidth=1)
+    canvas.flush()
+    canvas.clear()
 
-pidtest.drawBasics(canvas)
-canvas.flush()
-canvas.clear()
+    pidtest.drawBasics(canvas)
+    canvas.flush()
+    canvas.clear()
 
-import pstests
-pstests.testLatin1Chars(canvas)
+    import pstests
+    pstests.testLatin1Chars(canvas)
 
-canvas.save()
+    canvas.save()
+
+  def test_pdf_canvas_works(self):
+    from rdkit.Chem.Draw.spingCanvas import Canvas
+    canvas = Canvas((200, 400), 'test.pdf', imageType="pdf")
+    canvas.canvas.showPage()
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':  # pragma: nocover
+  unittest.main()
diff --git a/rdkit/test_list.py b/rdkit/test_list.py
index 8aac37926..df1718de3 100755
--- a/rdkit/test_list.py
+++ b/rdkit/test_list.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ tests = [
   ("python", "test_list.py", {'dir': 'SimDivFilters'}),
   ("python", "test_list.py", {'dir': 'VLib'}),
   ("python", "test_list.py", {'dir': 'utils'}),
+  ("python", "test_list.py", {'dir': 'sping'}),
 ]
 
 longTests = []