diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/util/spack_yaml.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/util/spack_yaml.py
index 6a30129b021..b8122aacc22 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/util/spack_yaml.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/util/spack_yaml.py
@@ -38,7 +38,12 @@ def check_blame(element, file_name, line=None):
     if line is not None:
         annotation += ":%d" % line
 
-    assert file_name in element_line
+    try:
+        assert file_name in element_line
+    except Exception:
+        print(output)
+    finally:
+        assert file_name in element_line
 
 
 def test_config_blame(config):