diff --git a/src/tests/blit.cpp b/src/tests/blit.cpp
index 26ef2de34..9faf7f509 100644
--- a/src/tests/blit.cpp
+++ b/src/tests/blit.cpp
@@ -111,47 +111,49 @@ TEST_CASE("Blitting") {
   // original version https://github.com/dankamongmen/notcurses/issues/1354
   SUBCASE("QuadblitterMax") {
     if(notcurses_canutf8(nc_)){
-      uint32_t p2x2[4];
-      uint32_t* ptl = &p2x2[0];
-      ncpixel_set_a(ptl, 0xff);
-      ncpixel_set_r(ptl, 0);
-      ncpixel_set_g(ptl, 0);
-      ncpixel_set_b(ptl, 0);
-      uint32_t* ptr = &p2x2[1];
-      ncpixel_set_a(ptr, 0xff);
-      ncpixel_set_r(ptr, 0x43);
-      ncpixel_set_g(ptr, 0x46);
-      ncpixel_set_b(ptr, 0x43);
-      uint32_t* pbl = &p2x2[2];
-      ncpixel_set_a(pbl, 0xff);
-      ncpixel_set_r(pbl, 0x4c);
-      ncpixel_set_g(pbl, 0x50);
-      ncpixel_set_b(pbl, 0x51);
-      uint32_t* pbr = &p2x2[3];
-      ncpixel_set_a(pbr, 0xff);
-      ncpixel_set_r(pbr, 0x90);
-      ncpixel_set_g(pbr, 0x94);
-      ncpixel_set_b(pbr, 0x95);
-      auto ncv = ncvisual_from_rgba(p2x2, 2, 8, 2);
-      REQUIRE(nullptr != ncv);
-      struct ncvisual_options vopts = {
-        .n = nullptr, .scaling = NCSCALE_NONE,
-        .y = 0, .x = 0, .begy = 0, .begx = 0, .leny = 0, .lenx = 0,
-        .blitter = NCBLIT_2x2, .flags = 0,
-      };
-      auto ncp = ncvisual_render(nc_, ncv, &vopts);
-      ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
-      REQUIRE(nullptr != ncp);
-      CHECK(0 == notcurses_render(nc_));
-      ncplane_destroy(ncp);
-      uint64_t channels;
-      uint16_t stylemask;
-      auto egc = notcurses_at_yx(nc_, 0, 0, &stylemask, &channels);
-      REQUIRE(nullptr != egc);
-      CHECK(0 == strcmp(egc, "▟"));
-      CHECK(0 == stylemask);
-      CHECK(0x4060646340000000 == channels);
-      free(egc);
+      if(nc_->tcache.quadrants){
+        uint32_t p2x2[4];
+        uint32_t* ptl = &p2x2[0];
+        ncpixel_set_a(ptl, 0xff);
+        ncpixel_set_r(ptl, 0);
+        ncpixel_set_g(ptl, 0);
+        ncpixel_set_b(ptl, 0);
+        uint32_t* ptr = &p2x2[1];
+        ncpixel_set_a(ptr, 0xff);
+        ncpixel_set_r(ptr, 0x43);
+        ncpixel_set_g(ptr, 0x46);
+        ncpixel_set_b(ptr, 0x43);
+        uint32_t* pbl = &p2x2[2];
+        ncpixel_set_a(pbl, 0xff);
+        ncpixel_set_r(pbl, 0x4c);
+        ncpixel_set_g(pbl, 0x50);
+        ncpixel_set_b(pbl, 0x51);
+        uint32_t* pbr = &p2x2[3];
+        ncpixel_set_a(pbr, 0xff);
+        ncpixel_set_r(pbr, 0x90);
+        ncpixel_set_g(pbr, 0x94);
+        ncpixel_set_b(pbr, 0x95);
+        auto ncv = ncvisual_from_rgba(p2x2, 2, 8, 2);
+        REQUIRE(nullptr != ncv);
+        struct ncvisual_options vopts = {
+          .n = nullptr, .scaling = NCSCALE_NONE,
+          .y = 0, .x = 0, .begy = 0, .begx = 0, .leny = 0, .lenx = 0,
+          .blitter = NCBLIT_2x2, .flags = 0,
+        };
+        auto ncp = ncvisual_render(nc_, ncv, &vopts);
+        ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
+        REQUIRE(nullptr != ncp);
+        CHECK(0 == notcurses_render(nc_));
+        ncplane_destroy(ncp);
+        uint64_t channels;
+        uint16_t stylemask;
+        auto egc = notcurses_at_yx(nc_, 0, 0, &stylemask, &channels);
+        REQUIRE(nullptr != egc);
+        CHECK(0 == strcmp(egc, "▟"));
+        CHECK(0 == stylemask);
+        CHECK(0x4060646340000000 == channels);
+        free(egc);
+      }
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/src/tests/stacking.cpp b/src/tests/stacking.cpp
index 272a92dba..0897e38d4 100644
--- a/src/tests/stacking.cpp
+++ b/src/tests/stacking.cpp
@@ -102,79 +102,83 @@ TEST_CASE("Stacking") {
   }
 
   SUBCASE("StackedQuadHalves") {
-    struct ncplane_options opts = {
-      0, 0, 1, 1, nullptr, "top", nullptr, 0, 0, 0,
-    };
-    auto top = ncplane_create(n_, &opts);
-    REQUIRE(nullptr != top);
-    // create an ncvisual of 2 rows, 2 columns, with the top 0xffffff
-    const uint32_t topv[] = {htole(0xff00ff00), htole(0xff00ff00), htole(0), htole(0)};
-    auto ncv = ncvisual_from_rgba(topv, 2, 8, 2);
-    REQUIRE(nullptr != ncv);
-    struct ncvisual_options vopts = {
-      .n = top, .scaling = NCSCALE_NONE, .y = 0, .x = 0, .begy = 0, .begx = 0,
-      .leny = 2, .lenx = 2, .blitter = NCBLIT_2x2, .flags = 0,
-    };
-    CHECK(top == ncvisual_render(nc_, ncv, &vopts));
-    ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
+    if(nc_->tcache.quadrants){
+      struct ncplane_options opts = {
+        0, 0, 1, 1, nullptr, "top", nullptr, 0, 0, 0,
+      };
+      auto top = ncplane_create(n_, &opts);
+      REQUIRE(nullptr != top);
+      // create an ncvisual of 2 rows, 2 columns, with the top 0xffffff
+      const uint32_t topv[] = {htole(0xff00ff00), htole(0xff00ff00), htole(0), htole(0)};
+      auto ncv = ncvisual_from_rgba(topv, 2, 8, 2);
+      REQUIRE(nullptr != ncv);
+      struct ncvisual_options vopts = {
+        .n = top, .scaling = NCSCALE_NONE, .y = 0, .x = 0, .begy = 0, .begx = 0,
+        .leny = 2, .lenx = 2, .blitter = NCBLIT_2x2, .flags = 0,
+      };
+      CHECK(top == ncvisual_render(nc_, ncv, &vopts));
+      ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
 
-    // create an ncvisual of 2 rows, 2 columns, with the bottom 0xffffff
-    const uint32_t botv[] = {htole(0), htole(0), htole(0xff00ff00), htole(0xff00ff00)};
-    ncv = ncvisual_from_rgba(botv, 2, 8, 2);
-    REQUIRE(nullptr != ncv);
-    vopts.n = n_;
-    CHECK(n_ == ncvisual_render(nc_, ncv, &vopts));
-    ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
+      // create an ncvisual of 2 rows, 2 columns, with the bottom 0xffffff
+      const uint32_t botv[] = {htole(0), htole(0), htole(0xff00ff00), htole(0xff00ff00)};
+      ncv = ncvisual_from_rgba(botv, 2, 8, 2);
+      REQUIRE(nullptr != ncv);
+      vopts.n = n_;
+      CHECK(n_ == ncvisual_render(nc_, ncv, &vopts));
+      ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
 
-    CHECK(0 == notcurses_render(nc_));
-    uint64_t channels;
-    auto egc = notcurses_at_yx(nc_, 0, 0, nullptr, &channels);
-    REQUIRE(nullptr != egc);
-    // ought yield space with white background FIXME currently just yields
-    // an upper half block
-    CHECK(0 == strcmp("\u2580", egc));
-    CHECK(0x00ff00 == channels_fg_rgb(channels));
-    CHECK(0x00ff00 == channels_bg_rgb(channels));
-    ncplane_destroy(top);
+      CHECK(0 == notcurses_render(nc_));
+      uint64_t channels;
+      auto egc = notcurses_at_yx(nc_, 0, 0, nullptr, &channels);
+      REQUIRE(nullptr != egc);
+      // ought yield space with white background FIXME currently just yields
+      // an upper half block
+      CHECK(0 == strcmp("\u2580", egc));
+      CHECK(0x00ff00 == channels_fg_rgb(channels));
+      CHECK(0x00ff00 == channels_bg_rgb(channels));
+      ncplane_destroy(top);
+    }
   }
 
   SUBCASE("StackedQuadCrossed") {
-    ncplane_erase(n_);
-    notcurses_refresh(nc_, nullptr, nullptr);
-    struct ncplane_options opts = {
-      0, 0, 1, 1, nullptr, "top", nullptr, 0, 0, 0,
-    };
-    auto top = ncplane_create(n_, &opts);
-    REQUIRE(nullptr != top);
-    // create an ncvisual of 2 rows, 2 columns, with the tl, br 0xffffff
-    const uint32_t topv[] = {htole(0xffffffff), htole(0), htole(0), htole(0xffffffff)};
-    auto ncv = ncvisual_from_rgba(topv, 2, 8, 2);
-    REQUIRE(nullptr != ncv);
-    struct ncvisual_options vopts = {
-      .n = top, .scaling = NCSCALE_NONE, .y = 0, .x = 0, .begy = 0, .begx = 0,
-      .leny = 2, .lenx = 2, .blitter = NCBLIT_2x2, .flags = 0,
-    };
-    CHECK(top == ncvisual_render(nc_, ncv, &vopts));
-    ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
+    if(nc_->tcache.quadrants){
+      ncplane_erase(n_);
+      notcurses_refresh(nc_, nullptr, nullptr);
+      struct ncplane_options opts = {
+        0, 0, 1, 1, nullptr, "top", nullptr, 0, 0, 0,
+      };
+      auto top = ncplane_create(n_, &opts);
+      REQUIRE(nullptr != top);
+      // create an ncvisual of 2 rows, 2 columns, with the tl, br 0xffffff
+      const uint32_t topv[] = {htole(0xffffffff), htole(0), htole(0), htole(0xffffffff)};
+      auto ncv = ncvisual_from_rgba(topv, 2, 8, 2);
+      REQUIRE(nullptr != ncv);
+      struct ncvisual_options vopts = {
+        .n = top, .scaling = NCSCALE_NONE, .y = 0, .x = 0, .begy = 0, .begx = 0,
+        .leny = 2, .lenx = 2, .blitter = NCBLIT_2x2, .flags = 0,
+      };
+      CHECK(top == ncvisual_render(nc_, ncv, &vopts));
+      ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
 
-    // create an ncvisual of 2 rows, 2 columns, with the tr, bl 0xffffff
-    const uint32_t botv[] = {htole(0), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0)};
-    ncv = ncvisual_from_rgba(botv, 2, 8, 2);
-    REQUIRE(nullptr != ncv);
-    vopts.n = n_;
-    CHECK(n_ == ncvisual_render(nc_, ncv, &vopts));
-    ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
+      // create an ncvisual of 2 rows, 2 columns, with the tr, bl 0xffffff
+      const uint32_t botv[] = {htole(0), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0xffffffff), htole(0)};
+      ncv = ncvisual_from_rgba(botv, 2, 8, 2);
+      REQUIRE(nullptr != ncv);
+      vopts.n = n_;
+      CHECK(n_ == ncvisual_render(nc_, ncv, &vopts));
+      ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
 
-    CHECK(0 == notcurses_render(nc_));
-    uint64_t channels;
-    auto egc = notcurses_at_yx(nc_, 0, 0, nullptr, &channels);
-    REQUIRE(nullptr != egc);
-    // ought yield space with white background FIXME currently just yields
-    // an upper half block
-    CHECK(0 == strcmp("\u259a", egc)); // quadrant upper left and lower right
-    CHECK(0xffffff == channels_fg_rgb(channels));
-    CHECK(0xffffff == channels_bg_rgb(channels));
-    ncplane_destroy(top);
+      CHECK(0 == notcurses_render(nc_));
+      uint64_t channels;
+      auto egc = notcurses_at_yx(nc_, 0, 0, nullptr, &channels);
+      REQUIRE(nullptr != egc);
+      // ought yield space with white background FIXME currently just yields
+      // an upper half block
+      CHECK(0 == strcmp("\u259a", egc)); // quadrant upper left and lower right
+      CHECK(0xffffff == channels_fg_rgb(channels));
+      CHECK(0xffffff == channels_bg_rgb(channels));
+      ncplane_destroy(top);
+    }
   }
 
   // common teardown