diff --git a/tests/silenttestrunner.py b/tests/silenttestrunner.py
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/silenttestrunner.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import unittest, sys
+
+def main(modulename):
+    '''run the tests found in module, printing nothing when all tests pass'''
+    module = sys.modules[modulename]
+    suite = unittest.defaultTestLoader.loadTestsFromModule(module)
+    results = unittest.TestResult()
+    suite.run(results)
+    if results.errors or results.failures:
+        for tc, exc in results.errors:
+            print 'ERROR:', tc
+            print
+            sys.stdout.write(exc)
+        for tc, exc in results.failures:
+            print 'FAIL:', tc
+            print
+            sys.stdout.write(exc)
+        sys.exit(1)