diff --git a/features/reportlab.feature b/features/reportlab.feature
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3544ad44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/features/reportlab.feature
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+Feature: ReportLab renderer
+  Scenario: SVG cubic path commands are translated to ReportLab path calls
+    Given an SVG path with move, line, cubic, and close commands
+    When the SVG path is rendered with the ReportLab backend
+    Then the ReportLab path should receive the expected drawing commands
diff --git a/features/steps/reportlab_steps.py b/features/steps/reportlab_steps.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c257231f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/features/steps/reportlab_steps.py
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+# Copyright 2014, Sandia Corporation. Under the terms of Contract
+# DE-AC04-94AL85000 with Sandia Corporation, the U.S. Government retains certain
+# rights in this software.
+
+from behave import *
+
+import unittest.mock
+import xml.etree.ElementTree as xml
+
+import test
+import toyplot.reportlab
+
+
+@given(u'an SVG path with move, line, cubic, and close commands')
+def step_impl(context):
+    context.svg = xml.Element(
+        "svg",
+        width="10px",
+        height="10px",
+        style="border-style:none",
+        )
+    xml.SubElement(
+        context.svg,
+        "path",
+        d="M 0 0 L 1 1 C 2 3 4 5 6 7 Z",
+        style="fill:none;stroke:black;stroke-width:1",
+        )
+
+
+@when(u'the SVG path is rendered with the ReportLab backend')
+def step_impl(context):
+    context.path = unittest.mock.Mock()
+    context.canvas = unittest.mock.Mock()
+    context.canvas.beginPath.return_value = context.path
+    toyplot.reportlab.render(context.svg, context.canvas)
+
+
+@then(u'the ReportLab path should receive the expected drawing commands')
+def step_impl(context):
+    test.assert_equal(context.canvas.beginPath.call_count, 1)
+    test.assert_sequence_equal(
+        context.path.moveTo.call_args_list,
+        [unittest.mock.call(0.0, 0.0)],
+        )
+    test.assert_sequence_equal(
+        context.path.lineTo.call_args_list,
+        [unittest.mock.call(1.0, 1.0)],
+        )
+    test.assert_sequence_equal(
+        context.path.curveTo.call_args_list,
+        [unittest.mock.call(2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0)],
+        )
+    test.assert_equal(context.path.close.call_count, 1)
+    test.assert_sequence_equal(
+        context.canvas.drawPath.call_args_list,
+        [unittest.mock.call(context.path)],
+        )
diff --git a/toyplot/reportlab/__init__.py b/toyplot/reportlab/__init__.py
index ffab7558..48d7a362 100644
--- a/toyplot/reportlab/__init__.py
+++ b/toyplot/reportlab/__init__.py
@@ -131,6 +131,23 @@ def set_stroke_color(canvas, color):
         canvas.setStrokeColorRGB(color["r"], color["g"], color["b"])
         canvas.setStrokeAlpha(color["a"].item())
 
+    def draw_svg_path(path, commands):
+        while commands:
+            command = commands.pop(0)
+            if command == "L":
+                path.lineTo(
+                    as_float(commands.pop(0)), as_float(commands.pop(0)))
+            elif command == "M":
+                path.moveTo(
+                    as_float(commands.pop(0)), as_float(commands.pop(0)))
+            elif command == "C":
+                path.curveTo(
+                    as_float(commands.pop(0)), as_float(commands.pop(0)),
+                    as_float(commands.pop(0)), as_float(commands.pop(0)),
+                    as_float(commands.pop(0)), as_float(commands.pop(0)))
+            elif command in ["Z", "z"]:
+                path.close()
+
     def render_element(root, element, canvas, styles):
         canvas.saveState()
 
@@ -243,15 +260,7 @@ def render_element(root, element, canvas, styles):
                     set_stroke_color(canvas, stroke)
                     canvas.setLineCap(get_line_cap(current_style))
                     path = canvas.beginPath()
-                    commands = element.get("d").split()
-                    while commands:
-                        command = commands.pop(0)
-                        if command == "L":
-                            path.lineTo(
-                                as_float(commands.pop(0)), as_float(commands.pop(0)))
-                        elif command == "M":
-                            path.moveTo(
-                                as_float(commands.pop(0)), as_float(commands.pop(0)))
+                    draw_svg_path(path, element.get("d").split())
                     canvas.drawPath(path)
             elif element.tag == "polygon":
                 fill, fill_gradient = get_fill(root, current_style)