diff --git a/tests/common/database_fixture.cpp b/tests/common/database_fixture.cpp
index 72ccccfe..c2206243 100644
--- a/tests/common/database_fixture.cpp
+++ b/tests/common/database_fixture.cpp
@@ -48,6 +48,16 @@ database_fixture::database_fixture()
    : app(), db( *app.chain_database() )
 {
    try {
+   int argc = boost::unit_test::framework::master_test_suite().argc;
+   char** argv = boost::unit_test::framework::master_test_suite().argv;
+   for( int i=1; i<argc; i++ )
+   {
+      const std::string arg = argv[i];
+      if( arg == "--record-assert-trip" )
+         fc::enable_record_assert_trip = true;
+      if( arg == "--show-test-names" )
+         std::cout << "running test " << boost::unit_test::framework::current_test_case().p_name << std::endl;
+   }
    auto ahplugin = app.register_plugin<graphene::account_history::account_history_plugin>();
    auto mhplugin = app.register_plugin<graphene::market_history::market_history_plugin>();
    delegate_pub_key = delegate_priv_key.get_public_key();
diff --git a/tests/common/database_fixture.hpp b/tests/common/database_fixture.hpp
index 39ad99f4..09e8aaf2 100644
--- a/tests/common/database_fixture.hpp
+++ b/tests/common/database_fixture.hpp
@@ -59,11 +59,13 @@ using namespace graphene::db;
       ("expr", #expr)                                     \
       ("exc_type", #exc_type)                             \
       );                                                  \
-   std::cout << "GRAPHENE_REQUIRE_THROW begin "           \
-      << req_throw_info << std::endl;                     \
+   if( fc::enable_record_assert_trip )                    \
+      std::cout << "GRAPHENE_REQUIRE_THROW begin "        \
+         << req_throw_info << std::endl;                  \
    BOOST_REQUIRE_THROW( expr, exc_type );                 \
-   std::cout << "GRAPHENE_REQUIRE_THROW end "             \
-      << req_throw_info << std::endl;                     \
+   if( fc::enable_record_assert_trip )                    \
+      std::cout << "GRAPHENE_REQUIRE_THROW end "          \
+         << req_throw_info << std::endl;                  \
 }
 
 #define GRAPHENE_CHECK_THROW( expr, exc_type )            \
@@ -75,11 +77,13 @@ using namespace graphene::db;
       ("expr", #expr)                                     \
       ("exc_type", #exc_type)                             \
       );                                                  \
-   std::cout << "GRAPHENE_CHECK_THROW begin "             \
-      << req_throw_info << std::endl;                     \
+   if( fc::enable_record_assert_trip )                    \
+      std::cout << "GRAPHENE_CHECK_THROW begin "          \
+         << req_throw_info << std::endl;                  \
    BOOST_CHECK_THROW( expr, exc_type );                   \
-   std::cout << "GRAPHENE_CHECK_THROW end "               \
-      << req_throw_info << std::endl;                     \
+   if( fc::enable_record_assert_trip )                    \
+      std::cout << "GRAPHENE_CHECK_THROW end "            \
+         << req_throw_info << std::endl;                  \
 }
 
 #define REQUIRE_OP_VALIDATION_FAILURE_2( op, field, value, exc_type ) \