diff --git a/tests/test-defs.sh b/tests/test-defs.sh
index 7e1739b..64f383c 100755
--- a/tests/test-defs.sh
+++ b/tests/test-defs.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
+if [ ! -z "$JSONC_TEST_TRACE" ] ; then
+	VERBOSE=1
+	set -x
+	set -v
+fi
 # Make sure srcdir is an absolute path.  Supply the variable
 # if it does not exist.  We want to be able to run the tests
 # stand-alone!!