diff --git a/test/utils/init.js b/test/utils/init.js
index 9c244342638fde..e2925cb103309e 100644
--- a/test/utils/init.js
+++ b/test/utils/init.js
@@ -4,12 +4,15 @@ import * as testingLibrary from '@testing-library/react/pure';
 import consoleError from './consoleError';
 import './initMatchers';
 
-consoleError();
-
 enzyme.configure({ adapter: new Adapter() });
 
 // checking if an element is hidden is quite expensive
 // this is only done in CI as a fail safe. It can still explicitly be checked
 // in the test files which helps documenting what is part of the DOM but hidden
 // from assistive technology
-testingLibrary.configure({ defaultHidden: !process.env.CI });
+const defaultHidden = !process.env.CI;
+// adds verbosity for something that might be confusing
+console.warn(`${defaultHidden ? 'including' : 'excluding'} inaccessible elements by default`);
+testingLibrary.configure({ defaultHidden });
+
+consoleError();