diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_backend_pdf.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_backend_pdf.py
index 8f17176dac53..1d9b7b0ed12f 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_backend_pdf.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_backend_pdf.py
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@
 
 @image_comparison(baseline_images=['pdf_use14corefonts'], extensions=['pdf'])
 def test_use14corefonts():
+    original_rcParams = {}
+    original_rcParams.update(rcParams)
+
     rcParams['backend'] = 'pdf'
     rcParams['pdf.use14corefonts'] = True
     rcParams['font.family'] = 'sans-serif'
@@ -18,8 +21,11 @@ def test_use14corefonts():
     and containing some French characters and the euro symbol:
     "Merci pépé pour les 10 €"'''
 
-    plt.figure()
-    plt.title(title)
-    plt.text(0.5, 0.5, text, horizontalalignment='center', fontsize=24)
-    plt.axhline(0.5, linewidth=0.5)
-    plt.savefig('pdf_use14corefonts.pdf')
+    try:
+        plt.figure()
+        plt.title(title)
+        plt.text(0.5, 0.5, text, horizontalalignment='center', fontsize=24)
+        plt.axhline(0.5, linewidth=0.5)
+        plt.savefig('pdf_use14corefonts.pdf')
+    finally:
+        rcParams.update(original_rcParams)