diff --git a/src/interrupts.rs b/src/interrupts.rs
index e9bb9236c..4fdeb2b70 100644
--- a/src/interrupts.rs
+++ b/src/interrupts.rs
@@ -30,13 +30,8 @@ extern "x86-interrupt" fn double_fault_handler(
     panic!("EXCEPTION: DOUBLE FAULT\n{:#?}", stack_frame);
 }
 
-#[cfg(test)]
-use crate::{serial_print, serial_println};
-
 #[test_case]
 fn test_breakpoint_exception() {
-    serial_print!("test_breakpoint_exception...");
     // invoke a breakpoint exception
     x86_64::instructions::interrupts::int3();
-    serial_println!("[ok]");
 }
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index c910eef53..fb8414895 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -16,11 +16,25 @@ pub fn init() {
     gdt::init();
     interrupts::init_idt();
 }
+pub trait Testable {
+    fn run(&self) -> ();
+}
+
+impl<T> Testable for T
+where
+    T: Fn(),
+{
+    fn run(&self) {
+        serial_print!("{}...\t", core::any::type_name::<T>());
+        self();
+        serial_println!("[ok]");
+    }
+}
 
-pub fn test_runner(tests: &[&dyn Fn()]) {
+pub fn test_runner(tests: &[&dyn Testable]) {
     serial_println!("Running {} tests", tests.len());
     for test in tests {
-        test();
+        test.run();
     }
     exit_qemu(QemuExitCode::Success);
 }
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index b5cd3b428..a496a6d25 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -40,3 +40,8 @@ fn panic(info: &PanicInfo) -> ! {
 fn panic(info: &PanicInfo) -> ! {
     blog_os::test_panic_handler(info)
 }
+
+#[test_case]
+fn trivial_assertion() {
+    assert_eq!(1, 1);
+}
diff --git a/src/vga_buffer.rs b/src/vga_buffer.rs
index d81f11688..70f29521a 100644
--- a/src/vga_buffer.rs
+++ b/src/vga_buffer.rs
@@ -3,9 +3,6 @@ use lazy_static::lazy_static;
 use spin::Mutex;
 use volatile::Volatile;
 
-#[cfg(test)]
-use crate::{serial_print, serial_println};
-
 lazy_static! {
     /// A global `Writer` instance that can be used for printing to the VGA text buffer.
     ///
@@ -175,30 +172,22 @@ pub fn _print(args: fmt::Arguments) {
 
 #[test_case]
 fn test_println_simple() {
-    serial_print!("test_println... ");
     println!("test_println_simple output");
-    serial_println!("[ok]");
 }
 
 #[test_case]
 fn test_println_many() {
-    serial_print!("test_println_many... ");
     for _ in 0..200 {
         println!("test_println_many output");
     }
-    serial_println!("[ok]");
 }
 
 #[test_case]
 fn test_println_output() {
-    serial_print!("test_println_output... ");
-
     let s = "Some test string that fits on a single line";
     println!("{}", s);
     for (i, c) in s.chars().enumerate() {
         let screen_char = WRITER.lock().buffer.chars[BUFFER_HEIGHT - 2][i].read();
         assert_eq!(char::from(screen_char.ascii_character), c);
     }
-
-    serial_println!("[ok]");
 }
diff --git a/tests/basic_boot.rs b/tests/basic_boot.rs
index f5cf85e55..c409647e5 100644
--- a/tests/basic_boot.rs
+++ b/tests/basic_boot.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #![test_runner(blog_os::test_runner)]
 #![reexport_test_harness_main = "test_main"]
 
-use blog_os::{println, serial_print, serial_println};
+use blog_os::println;
 use core::panic::PanicInfo;
 
 #[no_mangle] // don't mangle the name of this function
@@ -21,7 +21,5 @@ fn panic(info: &PanicInfo) -> ! {
 
 #[test_case]
 fn test_println() {
-    serial_print!("test_println... ");
     println!("test_println output");
-    serial_println!("[ok]");
 }
diff --git a/tests/should_panic.rs b/tests/should_panic.rs
index d624bcbe1..375f51c03 100644
--- a/tests/should_panic.rs
+++ b/tests/should_panic.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ pub extern "C" fn _start() -> ! {
 }
 
 fn should_fail() {
-    serial_print!("should_fail... ");
+    serial_print!("should_panic::should_fail...\t");
     assert_eq!(0, 1);
 }