diff --git a/pandas/tests/plotting/common.py b/pandas/tests/plotting/common.py
index 92e2dc7b5d934..c31d8b539ae6f 100644
--- a/pandas/tests/plotting/common.py
+++ b/pandas/tests/plotting/common.py
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ def setUp(self):
         self.mpl_ge_1_4_0 = plotting._mpl_ge_1_4_0()
         self.mpl_ge_1_5_0 = plotting._mpl_ge_1_5_0()
         self.mpl_ge_2_0_0 = plotting._mpl_ge_2_0_0()
+        self.mpl_ge_2_0_1 = plotting._mpl_ge_2_0_1()
 
         if self.mpl_ge_1_4_0:
             self.bp_n_objects = 7
diff --git a/pandas/tests/plotting/test_hist_method.py b/pandas/tests/plotting/test_hist_method.py
index 22de7055e3cea..380bdc12abce4 100644
--- a/pandas/tests/plotting/test_hist_method.py
+++ b/pandas/tests/plotting/test_hist_method.py
@@ -241,8 +241,8 @@ def test_hist_layout(self):
     @slow
     # GH 9351
     def test_tight_layout(self):
-        if self.mpl_ge_2_0_0:
-            df = DataFrame(randn(100, 2))
+        if self.mpl_ge_2_0_1:
+            df = DataFrame(randn(100, 3))
             _check_plot_works(df.hist)
             self.plt.tight_layout()
 
diff --git a/pandas/tools/plotting.py b/pandas/tools/plotting.py
index d46c38c117445..d311b0e6d83eb 100644
--- a/pandas/tools/plotting.py
+++ b/pandas/tools/plotting.py
@@ -150,6 +150,14 @@ def _mpl_ge_2_0_0():
         return False
 
 
+def _mpl_ge_2_0_1():
+    try:
+        import matplotlib
+        return matplotlib.__version__ >= LooseVersion('2.0.1')
+    except ImportError:
+        return False
+
+
 if _mpl_ge_1_5_0():
     # Compat with mp 1.5, which uses cycler.
     import cycler