diff --git a/.github/workflows/basictest.yml b/.github/workflows/basictest.yml
index 7b6d686..38e0008 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/basictest.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/basictest.yml
@@ -86,12 +86,6 @@ jobs:
       run: |
         python3 -m pip install numpy ncrystal matplotlib
         nctool --test
-        python3 -c 'import numpy'
-        python3 -c 'import matplotlib'
-        python3 -c 'import matplotlib.pyplot'
-        #NB: import matplotlib.pyplot is also to ensure the font cache is
-        #triggered, so we don't get output in the middle of our unit tests
-        #later..
 
     - name: Build-and-test-release
       run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/condatest.yml b/.github/workflows/condatest.yml
index 55b70b8..962fd16 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/condatest.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/condatest.yml
@@ -62,14 +62,6 @@ jobs:
           python3 -m pip install --no-deps ./src_co
           echo "sb --version: "$(sb --version)
 
-      - name: Prepare matplotlib
-        run: |
-          set -eux
-          python3 -c 'import matplotlib'
-          #Trigger fontlib cache (so we don't get output in the middle of our
-          #unit tests later):
-          python3 -c 'import matplotlib.pyplot'
-
       - name: Build and test Core only
         id: build-and-test-core-only
         run: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/condatest_essdgproj.yml b/.github/workflows/condatest_essdgproj.yml
index 9bdab19..19c87d0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/condatest_essdgproj.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/condatest_essdgproj.yml
@@ -61,11 +61,6 @@ jobs:
           #For dev work: python3 -m pip install --no-deps ./src_co
           python3 -m pip install --no-deps ./src_co
           echo "sb --version: "$(sb --version)
-          python3 -c 'import matplotlib'
-          python3 -c 'import matplotlib.pyplot'
-          #NB: import matplotlib.pyplot is also to ensure the font cache is
-          #triggered, so we don't get output in the middle of our unit tests
-          #later..
 
       - name: Build and test release mode
         id: build-and-test-release-mode
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-doc.yml b/.github/workflows/test-doc.yml
index 007f2a9..6ae148a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-doc.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-doc.yml
@@ -32,13 +32,7 @@ jobs:
       run: conda env update --name simplebuild_dgcode --file ./.github/resources/conda-setup_extra_for_docs.yml
 
     - name: Install self
-      run: |
-           python3 -mpip install .
-           python3 -c 'import matplotlib'
-           python3 -c 'import matplotlib.pyplot'
-           #NB: import matplotlib.pyplot is also to ensure the font cache is
-           #triggered, so we don't get output in the middle of our unit tests
-           #later..
+      run: python3 -mpip install .
 
     - name: Build documentation
       #NB: -W to turn warnings into errors:
diff --git a/doc/source/conf.py b/doc/source/conf.py
index 45d93b7..a350f42 100644
--- a/doc/source/conf.py
+++ b/doc/source/conf.py
@@ -406,6 +406,10 @@ def _snip_sbverify():
                       ' NOT SHOWN HERE >>\n<<\n' )
     fileout.write_text(edit)
 
+#Trigger matplotlib font cache early, so we don't have that confusing output in
+#the examples on the website:
+import matplotlib.pyplot
+
 run_tricorder_cmds()
 generate_sbverify()
 _snip_sbverify()