diff --git a/scripts/run_tests.sh b/scripts/run_tests.sh
index e9952e46b..df0bf2521 100755
--- a/scripts/run_tests.sh
+++ b/scripts/run_tests.sh
@@ -3,15 +3,21 @@
 set -e
 set -o pipefail
 
-# allow writing core files
-ulimit -c unlimited -S
 
 cd build/${BUILDTYPE:-Release}
 
 for TEST in ./test_* ; do
+    # allow writing core files
+    ulimit -c unlimited -S
+
     RESULT=0
     ${TEST} || RESULT=$?
 
+    if [[ ${RESULT} != 0 ]]; then
+        echo "The program crashed with exit code ${RESULT}. We're now trying to output the core dump."
+        ls -la
+    fi
+
     # output core dump if we got one
     for DUMP in $(find ./ -maxdepth 1 -name 'core*' -print); do
         gdb ${TEST} ${DUMP} -ex "thread apply all bt" -ex "set pagination 0" -batch