diff --git a/browser/base/content/test/newtab/browser_newtab_bug991111.js b/browser/base/content/test/newtab/browser_newtab_bug991111.js
index e9932094ca88..ce36ef2bc29a 100644
--- a/browser/base/content/test/newtab/browser_newtab_bug991111.js
+++ b/browser/base/content/test/newtab/browser_newtab_bug991111.js
@@ -1,9 +1,15 @@
 /* Any copyright is dedicated to the Public Domain.
    http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ */
 
+const PREF_NEWTAB_ROWS = "browser.newtabpage.rows";
+
 function runTests() {
+  // set max rows to 1, to avoid scroll events by clicking middle button
+  Services.prefs.setIntPref(PREF_NEWTAB_ROWS, 1);
   yield setLinks("-1");
   yield addNewTabPageTab();
+  // we need a second newtab to honor max rows
+  yield addNewTabPageTab();
 
   // Remember if the click handler was triggered
   let cell = getCell(0);
@@ -16,4 +22,5 @@ function runTests() {
   // Send a middle-click and make sure it happened
   yield EventUtils.synthesizeMouseAtCenter(cell.node, {button: 1}, getContentWindow());
   ok(clicked, "middle click triggered click listener");
+  Services.prefs.clearUserPref(PREF_NEWTAB_ROWS);
 }
diff --git a/browser/base/content/test/newtab/browser_newtab_bug998387.js b/browser/base/content/test/newtab/browser_newtab_bug998387.js
index d2e51e7d1bd5..04ff21294ab4 100644
--- a/browser/base/content/test/newtab/browser_newtab_bug998387.js
+++ b/browser/base/content/test/newtab/browser_newtab_bug998387.js
@@ -1,9 +1,15 @@
 /* Any copyright is dedicated to the Public Domain.
    http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ */
 
+const PREF_NEWTAB_ROWS = "browser.newtabpage.rows";
+
 function runTests() {
+  // set max rows to 1, to avoid scroll events by clicking middle button
+  Services.prefs.setIntPref(PREF_NEWTAB_ROWS, 1);
   yield setLinks("0");
   yield addNewTabPageTab();
+  // we need a second newtab to honor max rows
+  yield addNewTabPageTab();
 
   // Remember if the click handler was triggered
   let {site} = getCell(0);
@@ -22,4 +28,5 @@ function runTests() {
 
   // Make sure the cell didn't actually get blocked
   checkGrid("0");
+  Services.prefs.clearUserPref(PREF_NEWTAB_ROWS);
 }
diff --git a/browser/base/content/test/newtab/browser_newtab_focus.js b/browser/base/content/test/newtab/browser_newtab_focus.js
index a423e3397801..82d9b4237bc8 100644
--- a/browser/base/content/test/newtab/browser_newtab_focus.js
+++ b/browser/base/content/test/newtab/browser_newtab_focus.js
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ function runTests() {
 
   // Focus count in new tab page.
   // 30 = 9 * 3 + 3 = 9 sites, each with link, pin and remove buttons; search
-  // bar; search button; and toggle button.
+  // bar; search button; and toggle button. Additionaly there may or may not be
+  // a scroll bar caused by fix to 1180387, which will eat an extra focus
   let FOCUS_COUNT = 30;
 
   // Create a new tab page.
@@ -42,7 +43,9 @@ function countFocus(aExpectedCount) {
     let focusedElement = document.commandDispatcher.focusedElement;
     if (focusedElement && focusedElement.classList.contains("urlbar-input")) {
       window.removeEventListener("focus", onFocus, true);
-      is(focusCount, aExpectedCount, "Validate focus count in the new tab page.");
+      // account for a potential presence of a scroll bar
+      ok(focusCount == aExpectedCount || focusCount == (aExpectedCount + 1),
+         "Validate focus count in the new tab page.");
       executeSoon(TestRunner.next);
     } else {
       if (focusedElement && focusedElement.ownerDocument == contentDoc &&
diff --git a/browser/base/content/test/newtab/head.js b/browser/base/content/test/newtab/head.js
index e936ad75b0dd..6eb54ebf03f9 100644
--- a/browser/base/content/test/newtab/head.js
+++ b/browser/base/content/test/newtab/head.js
@@ -587,7 +587,8 @@ function createExternalDropIframe() {
   iframe.style.position = "absolute";
   iframe.style.zIndex = 50;
 
-  let margin = doc.getElementById("newtab-margin-top");
+  // the frame has to be attached to a visible element
+  let margin = doc.getElementById("newtab-search-container");
   margin.appendChild(iframe);
 
   iframe.addEventListener("load", function onLoad() {