diff --git a/test/README b/test/README
index d12cff24..79a9b1b2 100644
--- a/test/README
+++ b/test/README
@@ -76,6 +76,14 @@ the tests in one of the following ways.
 	TEST_EMACS=my-special-emacs TEST_EMACSCLIENT=my-emacsclient ./emacs
 	make test TEST_EMACS=my-special-emacs TEST_EMACSCLIENT=my-emacsclient
 
+Quiet Execution
+---------------
+
+Normally, when new script starts and when test PASSes you get a message
+printed on screen. This printing can be disabled by setting the
+NOTMUCH_TEST_QUIET variable to a non-null value. Message on test
+failures and skips are still printed.
+
 Skipping Tests
 --------------
 If, for any reason, you need to skip one or more tests, you can do so
diff --git a/test/basic b/test/basic
index 64eb7d74..f7eed320 100755
--- a/test/basic
+++ b/test/basic
@@ -74,12 +74,12 @@ suppress_diff_date() {
 }
 
 test_begin_subtest "Ensure that test output is suppressed unless the test fails"
-output=$(cd $TEST_DIRECTORY; ./test-verbose 2>&1 | suppress_diff_date)
+output=$(cd $TEST_DIRECTORY; NOTMUCH_TEST_QUIET= ./test-verbose 2>&1 | suppress_diff_date)
 expected=$(cat $EXPECTED/test-verbose-no | suppress_diff_date)
 test_expect_equal "$output" "$expected"
 
 test_begin_subtest "Ensure that -v does not suppress test output"
-output=$(cd $TEST_DIRECTORY; ./test-verbose -v 2>&1 | suppress_diff_date)
+output=$(cd $TEST_DIRECTORY; NOTMUCH_TEST_QUIET= ./test-verbose -v 2>&1 | suppress_diff_date)
 expected=$(cat $EXPECTED/test-verbose-yes | suppress_diff_date)
 # Do not include the results of test-verbose in totals
 rm $TEST_DIRECTORY/test-results/test-verbose
diff --git a/test/test-lib.sh b/test/test-lib.sh
index 34e0db68..d8e0d911 100644
--- a/test/test-lib.sh
+++ b/test/test-lib.sh
@@ -198,7 +198,10 @@ print_test_description ()
 	echo $this_test: "Testing ${test_description}"
 	test_description_printed=1
 }
-print_test_description
+if [ -z "$NOTMUCH_TEST_QUIET" ]
+then
+	print_test_description
+fi
 
 exec 5>&1
 
@@ -717,6 +720,9 @@ test_ok_ () {
 		return
 	fi
 	test_success=$(($test_success + 1))
+	if test -n "$NOTMUCH_TEST_QUIET"; then
+		return 0
+	fi
 	say_color pass "%-6s" "PASS"
 	echo " $test_subtest_name"
 }
@@ -727,6 +733,7 @@ test_failure_ () {
 		return
 	fi
 	test_failure=$(($test_failure + 1))
+	print_test_description
 	test_failure_message_ "FAIL" "$test_subtest_name" "$@"
 	test "$immediate" = "" || { GIT_EXIT_OK=t; exit 1; }
 	return 1