diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-and-test.yml b/.github/workflows/build-and-test.yml
index e1b7f112..d43ff375 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-and-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-and-test.yml
@@ -36,4 +36,4 @@ jobs:
         run: make
 
       - name: test
-        run: make test
+        run: make test-verbose-if-fail
diff --git a/Makefile.meson b/Makefile.meson
index 74cc710a..13d01354 100644
--- a/Makefile.meson
+++ b/Makefile.meson
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ check: test
 test: all
 	@cd $(BUILDDIR); $(MESON) test
 
+test-verbose-if-fail: all
+	@cd $(BUILDDIR); $(MESON) test || $(MESON) test --verbose
+
 test-valgrind: $(BUILDDIR)
 	@cd $(BUILDDIR); $(MESON) test --wrap='valgrind --leak-check=full --error-exitcode=1'