diff --git a/.github/workflows/python-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/python-tests.yml
index 024f231f..51df9365 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python-tests.yml
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 # .github/workflows/python-tests.yml
+
 name: LaCE automated testing
 
 on:
   push:
     branches: '*'
   workflow_dispatch:
+
 jobs:
   build:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -24,22 +26,26 @@ jobs:
         pip install fdasrsf
         pip install setuptools
         pip install pytest wheel pytest-cov
+
     - name: Install lace
       run: pip install -e .
 
+    - name: Create temporary directory
+      run: mkdir -p temp/plots  # Create a temporary directory for plots
 
     - name: Run tests
       timeout-minutes: 30
       run: |
-        pytest tests/test_lace.py 
-        pytest tests/plot_mpg.py
+        pytest tests/test_lace.py
+        pytest tests/plot_mpg.py -- --output_dir temp/plots  # Pass the temp directory as an argument
 
     - name: Archive generated plots
       uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
       with:
         name: validation-figures
-        path: data/validation_figures/Gadget/*.png
+        path: temp/plots/*.png  # Upload all generated PNG files from the temp directory
+
     - name: List generated plots
       run: |
-        echo "Files in the validation_figures directory:"
-        ls data/validation_figures/Gadget/ 
+        echo "Files in the temporary plots directory:"
+        ls temp/plots/   
diff --git a/tests/plot_mpg.py b/tests/plot_mpg.py
index a892db91..3474ee3c 100644
--- a/tests/plot_mpg.py
+++ b/tests/plot_mpg.py
@@ -16,34 +16,29 @@
 from lace.utils.plotting_functions import plot_p1d_vs_emulator
 
 
-def test():
+def test(output_dir='data/validation_figures/Gadget/'):
     """
     Function to plot emulated P1D using specified archive (Nyx or Gadget).
     
     Parameters:
-    archive (str): Archive to use for data ('Nyx' or 'Gadget')
+    output_dir (str): Directory to save plots.
     """
     archive_name = 'Gadget'
-    # Get the base directory of the lace module
     repo = os.path.dirname(lace.__path__[0]) + "/"
     
     # Define the parameters for the emulator specific to Gadget
     emu_params = ['Delta2_p', 'n_p', 'mF', 'sigT_Mpc', 'gamma', 'kF_Mpc']
-    training_set='Cabayol23'
-    emulator_label='Cabayol23+'
+    training_set = 'Cabayol23'
+    emulator_label = 'Cabayol23+'
     model_path = f'{repo}data/NNmodels/Cabayol23+/Cabayol23+_drop_sim'
 
     # Initialize a GadgetArchive instance for postprocessing data
     archive = gadget_archive.GadgetArchive(postproc="Cabayol23")
     
-    # Directory for saving plots
-    save_dir = f'{repo}data/validation_figures/{archive_name}/'
-    # Create the directory if it does not exist
-    os.makedirs(save_dir, exist_ok=True)
+    # Create the output directory if it does not exist
+    os.makedirs(output_dir, exist_ok=True)
     
-    #for ii, sim in enumerate(archive.list_sim):
-    for ii, sim in enumerate(['mpg_1','mpg_central']):
-
+    for ii, sim in enumerate(['mpg_1', 'mpg_central']):
         if sim == 'mpg_central':
             model_path_central = f'{repo}data/NNmodels/Cabayol23+/Cabayol23+.pt'
 
@@ -70,10 +65,7 @@ def test():
             testing_data = [d for d in testing_data if d['val_scaling'] == 1]
             
         # Plot and save the emulated P1D
-        save_path = f'{save_dir}{sim}.png'
+        save_path = f'{output_dir}{sim}.png'  # Save plots to the specified output directory
         plot_p1d_vs_emulator(testing_data, emulator, save_path=save_path)
     
     return  
-
-# Call the function to execute the test
-test()