diff --git a/tests/helpers/assertions.hpp b/tests/helpers/assertions.hpp
index 18bcaa03..27b72040 100644
--- a/tests/helpers/assertions.hpp
+++ b/tests/helpers/assertions.hpp
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
         catch (...)                                                           \
         {                                                                     \
         }                                                                     \
-        throw xlnt::exception("test failed -> " XLNT_STRINGIFY(expression)); \
+        throw xlnt::exception("assert failed -> " XLNT_STRINGIFY(expression)); \
     } while (false)
 
 #define xlnt_assert_throws_nothing(expression)                                \
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
         catch (...)                                                           \
         {                                                                     \
         }                                                                     \
-        throw xlnt::exception("test failed -> " XLNT_STRINGIFY(expression)); \
+        throw xlnt::exception("assert throws nothing failed -> " XLNT_STRINGIFY(expression)); \
     } while (false)
 
 #define xlnt_assert_throws(expression, exception_type)                        \
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
         catch (...)                                                           \
         {                                                                     \
         }                                                                     \
-        throw xlnt::exception("test failed -> " XLNT_STRINGIFY(expression)); \
+        throw xlnt::exception("assert throws failed -> " XLNT_STRINGIFY(expression)); \
     } while (false)
 
 #define xlnt_assert_equals(left, right) xlnt_assert(left == right)
diff --git a/tests/helpers/test_suite.hpp b/tests/helpers/test_suite.hpp
index 6083b052..02460d96 100644
--- a/tests/helpers/test_suite.hpp
+++ b/tests/helpers/test_suite.hpp
@@ -41,16 +41,15 @@ public:
             }
             catch (std::exception &ex)
             {
+                std::string fail_msg = test.second + " failed with:\n" + std::string(ex.what());
                 std::cout << "*\n"
-                          << test.second << " failed with:\n"
-                          << ex.what() << '\n';
+                          << fail_msg << '\n';
                 status.tests_failed++;
-                status.failures.push_back(test.second);
+                status.failures.push_back(fail_msg);
             }
             catch (...)
             {
-                std::cout << "*\n"
-                          << test.second << " failed" << '\n';
+                std::cout << "*\n" << test.second << " failed\n";
                 status.tests_failed++;
                 status.failures.push_back(test.second);
             }
diff --git a/tests/runner.cpp b/tests/runner.cpp
index 5ecd2697..08a589f2 100644
--- a/tests/runner.cpp
+++ b/tests/runner.cpp
@@ -63,11 +63,11 @@ void run_tests()
 
 void print_summary()
 {
-    std::cout << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "\n\n";
 
     for (auto failure : overall_status.failures)
     {
-        std::cout << failure << " failed" << std::endl;
+        std::cout << failure << "\n\n";
     }
 }