diff --git a/tests/test_images.sh b/tests/test_images.sh
index 4450f4e7d..0ad6ee029 100755
--- a/tests/test_images.sh
+++ b/tests/test_images.sh
@@ -230,7 +230,11 @@ silent_run()
 {
 	typeset -a commandLine=("$@")
 	info "running: ${commandLine[@]}"
-	chronic "${commandLine[@]}"
+	if [ -z "${DEBUG:-}" ]; then
+		chronic "${commandLine[@]}"
+	else
+		"${commandLine[@]}"
+	fi
 }