diff --git a/modules/photo/test/test_cloning.cpp b/modules/photo/test/test_cloning.cpp
index 62fe243954..ab84b89cbf 100644
--- a/modules/photo/test/test_cloning.cpp
+++ b/modules/photo/test/test_cloning.cpp
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
 using namespace cv;
 using namespace std;
 
+static const double numerical_precision = 1.;
 
 TEST(Photo_SeamlessClone_normal, regression)
 {
@@ -69,8 +70,9 @@ TEST(Photo_SeamlessClone_normal, regression)
     p.y = destination.size().height/2;
     seamlessClone(source, destination, mask, p, result, 1);
 
-    imwrite(folder + "cloned.png", result);
-
+    Mat reference = imread(folder + "reference.png");
+    double error = norm(reference, result, NORM_L1);
+    EXPECT_LE(error, numerical_precision);
 }
 
 TEST(Photo_SeamlessClone_mixed, regression)
@@ -94,7 +96,9 @@ TEST(Photo_SeamlessClone_mixed, regression)
     p.y = destination.size().height/2;
     seamlessClone(source, destination, mask, p, result, 2);
 
-    imwrite(folder + "cloned.png", result);
+    Mat reference = imread(folder + "reference.png");
+    double error = norm(reference, result, NORM_L1);
+    EXPECT_LE(error, numerical_precision);
 
 }
 
@@ -119,7 +123,9 @@ TEST(Photo_SeamlessClone_featureExchange, regression)
     p.y = destination.size().height/2;
     seamlessClone(source, destination, mask, p, result, 3);
 
-    imwrite(folder + "cloned.png", result);
+    Mat reference = imread(folder + "reference.png");
+    double error = norm(reference, result, NORM_L1);
+    EXPECT_LE(error, numerical_precision);
 
 }
 
@@ -138,7 +144,9 @@ TEST(Photo_SeamlessClone_colorChange, regression)
     Mat result;
     colorChange(source, mask, result, 1.5, .5, .5);
 
-    imwrite(folder + "cloned.png", result);
+    Mat reference = imread(folder + "reference.png");
+    double error = norm(reference, result, NORM_L1);
+    EXPECT_LE(error, numerical_precision);
 
 }
 
@@ -157,7 +165,9 @@ TEST(Photo_SeamlessClone_illuminationChange, regression)
     Mat result;
     illuminationChange(source, mask, result, 0.2f, 0.4f);
 
-    imwrite(folder + "cloned.png", result);
+    Mat reference = imread(folder + "reference.png");
+    double error = norm(reference, result, NORM_L1);
+    EXPECT_LE(error, numerical_precision);
 
 }
 
@@ -176,6 +186,8 @@ TEST(Photo_SeamlessClone_textureFlattening, regression)
     Mat result;
     textureFlattening(source, mask, result, 30, 45, 3);
 
-    imwrite(folder + "cloned.png", result);
+    Mat reference = imread(folder + "reference.png");
+    double error = norm(reference, result, NORM_L1);
+    EXPECT_LE(error, numerical_precision);
 
 }