diff --git a/tests/python_tests/compositing_test.py b/tests/python_tests/compositing_test.py
index e4874bf69..60e821b30 100644
--- a/tests/python_tests/compositing_test.py
+++ b/tests/python_tests/compositing_test.py
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 
 from nose.tools import *
 import os,sys
-from utilities import execution_path, Todo, get_unique_colors, pixel2channels
+from utilities import execution_path, run_tests, Todo
+from utilities import get_unique_colors, pixel2channels
 import mapnik
 
 def setup():
@@ -221,4 +222,4 @@ def test_background_image_with_alpha_and_background_color_against_composited_con
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     setup()
-    [eval(run)() for run in dir() if 'test_' in run]
+    run_tests(eval(x) for x in dir() if x.startswith("test_"))
diff --git a/tests/python_tests/utilities.py b/tests/python_tests/utilities.py
index 0a48dc0fc..5de51c3b7 100644
--- a/tests/python_tests/utilities.py
+++ b/tests/python_tests/utilities.py
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 from nose.plugins.errorclass import ErrorClass, ErrorClassPlugin
 
-import os, sys, inspect
+import os, sys, inspect, traceback
 
 def execution_path(filename):
     return os.path.join(os.path.dirname(sys._getframe(1).f_code.co_filename), filename)
@@ -55,3 +56,23 @@ def get_unique_colors(im):
                  pixels.append(pixel)
     pixels = sorted(pixels)
     return map(pixel2rgba,pixels)
+
+def run_tests(iterable):
+    failed = 0
+    for test in iterable:
+        try:
+            test()
+            sys.stderr.write("\x1b[32m✓ \x1b[m" + test.__name__ + "\x1b[m\n")
+        except:
+            exc_type, exc_value, exc_tb = sys.exc_info()
+            failed += 1
+            sys.stderr.write("\x1b[31m✘ \x1b[m" + test.__name__ + "\x1b[m\n")
+            for mline in traceback.format_exception_only(exc_type, exc_value):
+                for line in mline.rstrip().split("\n"):
+                    sys.stderr.write("  \x1b[31m" + line + "\x1b[m\n")
+            sys.stderr.write("  Traceback:\n")
+            for mline in traceback.format_tb(exc_tb):
+                for line in mline.rstrip().split("\n"):
+                    sys.stderr.write("  " + line + "\n")
+        sys.stderr.flush()
+    return failed