diff --git a/tests/alpha-blending-test.c b/tests/alpha-blending-test.c
index 31880b734..8e9cc67df 100644
--- a/tests/alpha-blending-test.c
+++ b/tests/alpha-blending-test.c
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness, const struct setup_args *arg)
 	setup.width = BLOCK_WIDTH * ALPHA_STEPS;
 	setup.height = 16;
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	if (arg->color_management) {
 #if !BUILD_COLOR_LCMS
diff --git a/tests/bad-buffer-test.c b/tests/bad-buffer-test.c
index 6d966d9b3..6d7bff6e5 100644
--- a/tests/bad-buffer-test.c
+++ b/tests/bad-buffer-test.c
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness)
 
 	compositor_setup_defaults(&setup);
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	return weston_test_harness_execute_as_client(harness, &setup);
 }
diff --git a/tests/buffer-transforms-test.c b/tests/buffer-transforms-test.c
index f7ec51e11..34fa05f82 100644
--- a/tests/buffer-transforms-test.c
+++ b/tests/buffer-transforms-test.c
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness, const struct setup_args *arg)
 	setup.scale = arg->scale;
 	setup.transform = arg->transform;
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	return weston_test_harness_execute_as_client(harness, &setup);
 }
diff --git a/tests/color-icc-output-test.c b/tests/color-icc-output-test.c
index 81311ff33..aae852afe 100644
--- a/tests/color-icc-output-test.c
+++ b/tests/color-icc-output-test.c
@@ -234,6 +234,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness, const struct setup_args *arg)
 	setup.height = WINDOW_HEIGHT;
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
 	setup.logging_scopes = "log,color-lcms-profiles,color-lcms-transformations,color-lcms-optimizer";
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	file_name = output_filename_for_fixture(THIS_TEST_NAME, harness,
 						arg->meta.name, "icm");
diff --git a/tests/color-management-test.c b/tests/color-management-test.c
index 2ac78741d..630462e40 100644
--- a/tests/color-management-test.c
+++ b/tests/color-management-test.c
@@ -640,6 +640,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness)
 	compositor_setup_defaults(&setup);
         setup.renderer = WESTON_RENDERER_GL;
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	/* Create the sRGB ICC profile. We do that only once for this test
 	 * program. */
diff --git a/tests/constraints-test.c b/tests/constraints-test.c
index ad6af5c39..e53bbc2b1 100644
--- a/tests/constraints-test.c
+++ b/tests/constraints-test.c
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness)
 
 	compositor_setup_defaults(&setup);
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	return weston_test_harness_execute_as_client(harness, &setup);
 }
diff --git a/tests/devices-test.c b/tests/devices-test.c
index a2a705736..311451c2e 100644
--- a/tests/devices-test.c
+++ b/tests/devices-test.c
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness)
 	compositor_setup_defaults(&setup);
 
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	return weston_test_harness_execute_as_client(harness, &setup);
 }
diff --git a/tests/event-test.c b/tests/event-test.c
index 2e19f0141..371162435 100644
--- a/tests/event-test.c
+++ b/tests/event-test.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness)
 
 	compositor_setup_defaults(&setup);
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	return weston_test_harness_execute_as_client(harness, &setup);
 }
diff --git a/tests/internal-screenshot-test.c b/tests/internal-screenshot-test.c
index da63cb53f..96236b9b2 100644
--- a/tests/internal-screenshot-test.c
+++ b/tests/internal-screenshot-test.c
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness)
 	setup.width = 320;
 	setup.height = 240;
 	setup.shell = SHELL_DESKTOP;
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	weston_ini_setup (&setup,
 			  cfgln("[shell]"),
diff --git a/tests/keyboard-test.c b/tests/keyboard-test.c
index 9ccbfd06f..0f415a9af 100644
--- a/tests/keyboard-test.c
+++ b/tests/keyboard-test.c
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness)
 
 	compositor_setup_defaults(&setup);
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	return weston_test_harness_execute_as_client(harness, &setup);
 }
diff --git a/tests/linux-explicit-synchronization-test.c b/tests/linux-explicit-synchronization-test.c
index ae3e897d8..0798b35d8 100644
--- a/tests/linux-explicit-synchronization-test.c
+++ b/tests/linux-explicit-synchronization-test.c
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness)
 	compositor_setup_defaults(&setup);
 
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	/* We need to use the pixman renderer, since a few of the tests depend
 	 * on the renderer holding onto a surface buffer until the next one
diff --git a/tests/output-damage-test.c b/tests/output-damage-test.c
index b021ea519..e3f5cb0ae 100644
--- a/tests/output-damage-test.c
+++ b/tests/output-damage-test.c
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness, const struct setup_args *arg)
 	setup.scale = arg->scale;
 	setup.transform = arg->transform;
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	/*
 	 * The test here works by swapping the whole wl_surface into a
diff --git a/tests/output-transforms-test.c b/tests/output-transforms-test.c
index 006ab35ae..9e5fda986 100644
--- a/tests/output-transforms-test.c
+++ b/tests/output-transforms-test.c
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness, const struct setup_args *arg)
 	setup.scale = arg->scale;
 	setup.transform = arg->transform;
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	return weston_test_harness_execute_as_client(harness, &setup);
 }
diff --git a/tests/paint-node-test.c b/tests/paint-node-test.c
index cec75a311..2db81cef4 100644
--- a/tests/paint-node-test.c
+++ b/tests/paint-node-test.c
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness, const struct setup_args *arg)
 	setup.height = 240;
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
 	setup.logging_scopes = "log,test-harness-plugin";
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	return weston_test_harness_execute_as_client(harness, &setup);
 }
diff --git a/tests/pointer-shot-test.c b/tests/pointer-shot-test.c
index a78d7ed9f..ed3497c47 100644
--- a/tests/pointer-shot-test.c
+++ b/tests/pointer-shot-test.c
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness, const struct setup_args *arg)
 	setup.width = 320;
 	setup.height = 240;
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	return weston_test_harness_execute_as_client(harness, &setup);
 }
diff --git a/tests/pointer-test.c b/tests/pointer-test.c
index cd727ac68..79753cfd7 100644
--- a/tests/pointer-test.c
+++ b/tests/pointer-test.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness)
 
 	compositor_setup_defaults(&setup);
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	return weston_test_harness_execute_as_client(harness, &setup);
 }
diff --git a/tests/presentation-test.c b/tests/presentation-test.c
index a0862d60a..3ffedd1f4 100644
--- a/tests/presentation-test.c
+++ b/tests/presentation-test.c
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness)
 
 	compositor_setup_defaults(&setup);
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	return weston_test_harness_execute_as_client(harness, &setup);
 }
diff --git a/tests/roles-test.c b/tests/roles-test.c
index d88428847..d687ee225 100644
--- a/tests/roles-test.c
+++ b/tests/roles-test.c
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness)
 	compositor_setup_defaults(&setup);
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
 	setup.logging_scopes = "log,proto,test-harness-plugin";
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	return weston_test_harness_execute_as_client(harness, &setup);
 }
diff --git a/tests/single-pixel-buffer-test.c b/tests/single-pixel-buffer-test.c
index e7cf13314..b091a1743 100644
--- a/tests/single-pixel-buffer-test.c
+++ b/tests/single-pixel-buffer-test.c
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness, const struct setup_args *arg)
 	setup.height = 240;
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
 	setup.logging_scopes = "log,test-harness-plugin";
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	return weston_test_harness_execute_as_client(harness, &setup);
 }
diff --git a/tests/subsurface-shot-test.c b/tests/subsurface-shot-test.c
index c405304ed..e31a3ae2e 100644
--- a/tests/subsurface-shot-test.c
+++ b/tests/subsurface-shot-test.c
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness, const struct setup_args *arg)
 	setup.height = 240;
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
 	setup.logging_scopes = "log,test-harness-plugin";
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	return weston_test_harness_execute_as_client(harness, &setup);
 }
diff --git a/tests/subsurface-test.c b/tests/subsurface-test.c
index edaea9fa7..34b950824 100644
--- a/tests/subsurface-test.c
+++ b/tests/subsurface-test.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness)
 
 	compositor_setup_defaults(&setup);
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	return weston_test_harness_execute_as_client(harness, &setup);
 }
diff --git a/tests/text-test.c b/tests/text-test.c
index 2f5103b60..d34e77f7f 100644
--- a/tests/text-test.c
+++ b/tests/text-test.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness)
 
 	compositor_setup_defaults(&setup);
 	setup.shell = SHELL_DESKTOP;
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	return weston_test_harness_execute_as_client(harness, &setup);
 }
diff --git a/tests/touch-test.c b/tests/touch-test.c
index d6a4ac409..2cf0b8942 100644
--- a/tests/touch-test.c
+++ b/tests/touch-test.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness)
 
 	compositor_setup_defaults(&setup);
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	return weston_test_harness_execute_as_client(harness, &setup);
 }
diff --git a/tests/viewporter-shot-test.c b/tests/viewporter-shot-test.c
index 1f9bca85b..f5ddab0da 100644
--- a/tests/viewporter-shot-test.c
+++ b/tests/viewporter-shot-test.c
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness,
 	compositor_setup_defaults(&setup);
 	setup.renderer = arg->renderer;
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	return weston_test_harness_execute_as_client(harness, &setup);
 }
diff --git a/tests/viewporter-test.c b/tests/viewporter-test.c
index cbb973ef4..6f5ef669a 100644
--- a/tests/viewporter-test.c
+++ b/tests/viewporter-test.c
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness)
 
 	compositor_setup_defaults(&setup);
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	return weston_test_harness_execute_as_client(harness, &setup);
 }
diff --git a/tests/weston-test-fixture-compositor.c b/tests/weston-test-fixture-compositor.c
index c62a8532f..a885b54f5 100644
--- a/tests/weston-test-fixture-compositor.c
+++ b/tests/weston-test-fixture-compositor.c
@@ -194,6 +194,7 @@ compositor_setup_defaults_(struct compositor_setup *setup,
 		.width = 320,
 		.height = 240,
 		.scale = 1,
+		.refresh = 0,
 		.transform = WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_NORMAL,
 		.config_file = NULL,
 		.extra_module = NULL,
@@ -319,6 +320,12 @@ execute_compositor(const struct compositor_setup *setup,
 		prog_args_take(&args, tmp);
 	}
 
+	if (setup->refresh >= 0 &&
+	    setup->backend == WESTON_BACKEND_HEADLESS) {
+		str_printf(&tmp, "--refresh-rate=%d", setup->refresh);
+		prog_args_take(&args, tmp);
+	}
+
 	if (setup->config_file) {
 		str_printf(&tmp, "--config=%s", setup->config_file);
 		prog_args_take(&args, tmp);
diff --git a/tests/weston-test-fixture-compositor.h b/tests/weston-test-fixture-compositor.h
index b94f62be4..3ef682d13 100644
--- a/tests/weston-test-fixture-compositor.h
+++ b/tests/weston-test-fixture-compositor.h
@@ -31,6 +31,12 @@
 
 #include "weston-testsuite-data.h"
 
+/* Compositor configuration defaults to a refresh rate of 0 to repaint only on
+ * captures immediately. This allows to run the test suite as fast as
+ * possible. Tests not supporting that mode can fallback to the highest refresh
+ * rate using that constant. */
+#define HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH 1000000
+
 /** Weston shell plugin
  *
  * \sa compositor_setup
@@ -73,6 +79,8 @@ struct compositor_setup {
 	unsigned height;
 	/** Default output scale. */
 	int scale;
+	/** Default output refresh rate (headless backend). */
+	int refresh;
 	/** Default output transform, one of WL_OUTPUT_TRANSFORM_*. */
 	enum wl_output_transform transform;
 	/** The absolute path to \c weston.ini to use,
diff --git a/tests/yuv-buffer-test.c b/tests/yuv-buffer-test.c
index 2a3c679c8..33de243d9 100644
--- a/tests/yuv-buffer-test.c
+++ b/tests/yuv-buffer-test.c
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ fixture_setup(struct weston_test_harness *harness)
 	setup.height = 264;
 	setup.shell = SHELL_TEST_DESKTOP;
 	setup.logging_scopes = "log,gl-shader-generator";
+	setup.refresh = HIGHEST_OUTPUT_REFRESH;
 
 	return weston_test_harness_execute_as_client(harness, &setup);
 }