diff --git a/kmod/src/scoutfs_trace.h b/kmod/src/scoutfs_trace.h
index c7157352..c378b2ee 100644
--- a/kmod/src/scoutfs_trace.h
+++ b/kmod/src/scoutfs_trace.h
@@ -2620,24 +2620,148 @@ TRACE_EVENT(scoutfs_block_dirty_ref,
 );
 
 TRACE_EVENT(scoutfs_get_file_block,
-	TP_PROTO(struct super_block *sb, u64 blkno, int flags),
+	TP_PROTO(struct super_block *sb, u64 blkno, int flags,
+		 struct scoutfs_srch_block *srb),
 
-	TP_ARGS(sb, blkno, flags),
+	TP_ARGS(sb, blkno, flags, srb),
 
 	TP_STRUCT__entry(
 		SCSB_TRACE_FIELDS
 		__field(__u64, blkno)
+		__field(__u32, entry_nr)
+		__field(__u32, entry_bytes)
 		__field(int, flags)
+		__field(__u64, first_hash)
+		__field(__u64, first_ino)
+		__field(__u64, first_id)
+		__field(__u64, last_hash)
+		__field(__u64, last_ino)
+		__field(__u64, last_id)
 	),
 
 	TP_fast_assign(
 		SCSB_TRACE_ASSIGN(sb);
 		__entry->blkno = blkno;
+		__entry->entry_nr = __le32_to_cpu(srb->entry_nr);
+		__entry->entry_bytes = __le32_to_cpu(srb->entry_bytes);
 		__entry->flags = flags;
+		__entry->first_hash = __le64_to_cpu(srb->first.hash);
+		__entry->first_ino = __le64_to_cpu(srb->first.ino);
+		__entry->first_id = __le64_to_cpu(srb->first.id);
+		__entry->last_hash = __le64_to_cpu(srb->last.hash);
+		__entry->last_ino = __le64_to_cpu(srb->last.ino);
+		__entry->last_id = __le64_to_cpu(srb->last.id);
+	),
+
+	TP_printk(SCSBF" blkno %llu nr %u bytes %u flags 0x%x first_hash 0x%llx first_ino %llu first_id 0x%llx last_hash 0x%llx last_ino %llu last_id 0x%llx",
+		  SCSB_TRACE_ARGS, __entry->blkno, __entry->entry_nr,
+		  __entry->entry_bytes, __entry->flags,
+		  __entry->first_hash, __entry->first_ino, __entry->first_id,
+		  __entry->last_hash, __entry->last_ino, __entry->last_id)
+);
+
+TRACE_EVENT(scoutfs_srch_new_merge,
+	TP_PROTO(struct super_block *sb),
+
+	TP_ARGS(sb),
+
+	TP_STRUCT__entry(
+		SCSB_TRACE_FIELDS
+	),
+
+	TP_fast_assign(
+		SCSB_TRACE_ASSIGN(sb);
 	),
 
-	TP_printk(SCSBF" blkno %llu flags 0x%x",
-		  SCSB_TRACE_ARGS, __entry->blkno, __entry->flags)
+	TP_printk(SCSBF, SCSB_TRACE_ARGS)
+);
+
+TRACE_EVENT(scoutfs_srch_emit_entry,
+	TP_PROTO(struct super_block *sb, struct scoutfs_srch_entry *sre,
+		 struct scoutfs_srch_block *srb, u64 blkno),
+
+	TP_ARGS(sb, sre, srb, blkno),
+
+	TP_STRUCT__entry(
+		SCSB_TRACE_FIELDS
+		__field(__u32, entry_nr)
+		__field(__u64, blkno)
+		__field(__u64, hash)
+		__field(__u64, ino)
+		__field(__u64, id)
+	),
+
+	TP_fast_assign(
+		SCSB_TRACE_ASSIGN(sb);
+		__entry->entry_nr = __le32_to_cpu(srb->entry_nr);
+		__entry->blkno = blkno;
+		__entry->hash = __le64_to_cpu(sre->hash);
+		__entry->ino = __le64_to_cpu(sre->ino);
+		__entry->id = __le64_to_cpu(sre->id);
+	),
+
+	TP_printk(SCSBF" nr %u blkno %llu hash 0x%llx ino %llu id 0x%llx",
+		  SCSB_TRACE_ARGS, __entry->entry_nr, __entry->blkno,
+		  __entry->hash, __entry->ino, __entry->id)
+);
+
+TRACE_EVENT(scoutfs_srch_clr_tmp,
+	TP_PROTO(struct super_block *sb, struct scoutfs_srch_entry *tmp),
+
+	TP_ARGS(sb, tmp),
+
+	TP_STRUCT__entry(
+		SCSB_TRACE_FIELDS
+		__field(__u64, tmp_hash)
+		__field(__u64, tmp_ino)
+		__field(__u64, tmp_id)
+	),
+
+	TP_fast_assign(
+		SCSB_TRACE_ASSIGN(sb);
+		__entry->tmp_hash = __le64_to_cpu(tmp->hash);
+		__entry->tmp_ino = __le64_to_cpu(tmp->ino);
+		__entry->tmp_id = __le64_to_cpu(tmp->id);
+	),
+
+	TP_printk(SCSBF" tmp hash 0x%llx tmp ino %llu tmp hash 0x%llx",
+		  SCSB_TRACE_ARGS,
+		  __entry->tmp_hash, __entry->tmp_ino, __entry->tmp_id)
+);
+
+TRACE_EVENT(scoutfs_srch_cmp,
+	TP_PROTO(struct super_block *sb, struct scoutfs_srch_entry *root,
+		 struct scoutfs_srch_entry *tmp, void *bl),
+
+	TP_ARGS(sb, root, tmp, bl),
+
+	TP_STRUCT__entry(
+		SCSB_TRACE_FIELDS
+		__field(__u64, root_hash)
+		__field(__u64, root_ino)
+		__field(__u64, root_id)
+		__field(__u64, tmp_hash)
+		__field(__u64, tmp_ino)
+		__field(__u64, tmp_id)
+		__field(void *, bl)
+	),
+
+	TP_fast_assign(
+		SCSB_TRACE_ASSIGN(sb);
+		__entry->root_hash = __le64_to_cpu(root->hash);
+		__entry->root_ino = __le64_to_cpu(root->ino);
+		__entry->root_id = __le64_to_cpu(root->id);
+		__entry->tmp_hash = __le64_to_cpu(tmp->hash);
+		__entry->tmp_ino = __le64_to_cpu(tmp->ino);
+		__entry->tmp_id = __le64_to_cpu(tmp->id);
+		__entry->bl = bl;
+	),
+
+	TP_printk(SCSBF" root hash 0x%llx root ino %llu root id 0x%llx tmp hash 0x%llx tmp ino %llu tmp hash 0x%llx, bl %p",
+		  SCSB_TRACE_ARGS,
+		  __entry->root_hash, __entry->root_ino, __entry->root_id,
+		  __entry->tmp_hash, __entry->tmp_ino, __entry->tmp_id,
+		  __entry->bl)
 );
 
 TRACE_EVENT(scoutfs_block_stale,
diff --git a/kmod/src/server.c b/kmod/src/server.c
index 7f979df7..42992887 100644
--- a/kmod/src/server.c
+++ b/kmod/src/server.c
@@ -630,7 +630,7 @@ static void scoutfs_server_commit_func(struct work_struct *work)
 	ret = scoutfs_alloc_empty_list(sb, &server->alloc, &server->wri,
 				       server->meta_freed,
 				       server->other_freed);
-	if (ret) {
+	if (ret && ret != -ENOLINK) {
 		scoutfs_err(sb, "server error emptying freed: %d", ret);
 		goto out;
 	}
diff --git a/kmod/src/srch.c b/kmod/src/srch.c
index e1b5fb90..942bd969 100644
--- a/kmod/src/srch.c
+++ b/kmod/src/srch.c
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ static int get_file_block(struct super_block *sb,
 		sfl->blocks = cpu_to_le64(blk + 1);
 
 	if (bl) {
-		trace_scoutfs_get_file_block(sb, bl->blkno, flags);
+		trace_scoutfs_get_file_block(sb, bl->blkno, flags, bl->data);
 	}
 
 	*bl_ret = bl;
@@ -1525,6 +1525,66 @@ static bool should_commit(struct super_block *sb, struct scoutfs_alloc *alloc,
 		scoutfs_alloc_meta_low(sb, alloc, nr);
 }
 
+static int alloc_srch_block(struct super_block *sb, struct scoutfs_alloc *alloc,
+			    struct scoutfs_block_writer *wri,
+			    struct scoutfs_srch_file *sfl,
+			    struct scoutfs_block **bl,
+			    u64 blk)
+{
+	DECLARE_SRCH_INFO(sb, srinf);
+	int ret;
+
+	if (atomic_read(&srinf->shutdown))
+		return -ESHUTDOWN;
+
+	/* could grow and dirty to a leaf */
+	if (should_commit(sb, alloc, wri, sfl->height + 1))
+		return -EAGAIN;
+
+	ret = get_file_block(sb, alloc, wri, sfl, GFB_INSERT | GFB_DIRTY,
+			     blk, bl);
+	if (ret < 0)
+		return ret;
+
+	scoutfs_inc_counter(sb, srch_compact_dirty_block);
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int emit_srch_entry(struct super_block *sb,
+			   struct scoutfs_srch_file *sfl,
+			   struct scoutfs_srch_block *srb,
+			   struct scoutfs_srch_entry *sre,
+			   u64 blk)
+{
+	int ret;
+
+	ret = encode_entry(srb->entries + le32_to_cpu(srb->entry_bytes),
+			   sre, &srb->tail);
+	if (WARN_ON_ONCE(ret <= 0)) {
+		/* shouldn't happen */
+		return -EIO;
+	}
+
+	if (srb->entry_bytes == 0) {
+		if (blk == 0)
+			sfl->first = *sre;
+		srb->first = *sre;
+	}
+
+	le32_add_cpu(&srb->entry_nr, 1);
+	le32_add_cpu(&srb->entry_bytes, ret);
+	srb->last = *sre;
+	srb->tail = *sre;
+	sfl->last = *sre;
+	le64_add_cpu(&sfl->entries, 1);
+
+	scoutfs_inc_counter(sb, srch_compact_entry);
+	trace_scoutfs_srch_emit_entry(sb, sre, srb, blk);
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 struct tourn_node {
 	struct scoutfs_srch_entry sre;
 	int ind;
@@ -1559,20 +1619,18 @@ static int kway_merge(struct super_block *sb,
 		      kway_get_t kway_get, kway_advance_t kway_adv,
 		      void **args, int nr, bool logs_input)
 {
-	DECLARE_SRCH_INFO(sb, srinf);
 	struct scoutfs_srch_block *srb = NULL;
-	struct scoutfs_srch_entry last_tail;
+	struct scoutfs_srch_entry tmp_entry = {0};
 	struct scoutfs_block *bl = NULL;
 	struct tourn_node *tnodes;
 	struct tourn_node *leaves;
 	struct tourn_node *root;
 	struct tourn_node *tn;
-	int last_bytes = 0;
+	bool have_tmp = false;
 	int nr_parents;
 	int nr_nodes;
 	int empty = 0;
 	int ret = 0;
-	int diff;
 	u64 blk;
 	int ind;
 	int i;
@@ -1606,97 +1664,73 @@ static int kway_merge(struct super_block *sb,
 		}
 	}
 
+	trace_scoutfs_srch_new_merge(sb);
+
 	/* always append new blocks */
 	blk = le64_to_cpu(sfl->blocks);
 	while (empty < nr) {
-		if (bl == NULL) {
-			if (atomic_read(&srinf->shutdown)) {
-				ret = -ESHUTDOWN;
-				goto out;
-			}
-
-			/* could grow and dirty to a leaf */
-			if (should_commit(sb, alloc, wri, sfl->height + 1)) {
-				ret = 0;
-				goto out;
-			}
-
-			ret = get_file_block(sb, alloc, wri, sfl,
-					     GFB_INSERT | GFB_DIRTY, blk, &bl);
-			if (ret < 0)
-				goto out;
-			srb = bl->data;
-			scoutfs_inc_counter(sb, srch_compact_dirty_block);
-		}
-
-		if (sre_cmp(&root->sre, &srb->last) != 0) {
-			last_bytes = le32_to_cpu(srb->entry_bytes);
-			last_tail = srb->last;
-			ret = encode_entry(srb->entries +
-					   le32_to_cpu(srb->entry_bytes),
-					   &root->sre, &srb->tail);
-			if (WARN_ON_ONCE(ret <= 0)) {
-				/* shouldn't happen */
-				ret = -EIO;
-				goto out;
-			}
+		trace_scoutfs_srch_cmp(sb, &root->sre, &tmp_entry, bl);
+
+		if (sre_cmp(&root->sre, &tmp_entry) != 0) {
+			if (have_tmp) {
+				if (bl == NULL) {
+					ret = alloc_srch_block(sb, alloc, wri,
+							       sfl, &bl, blk);
+					if (ret < 0) {
+						if (ret == -EAGAIN)
+							ret = 0;
+						goto out;
+					}
+					srb = bl->data;
+				}
 
-			if (srb->entry_bytes == 0) {
-				if (blk == 0)
-					sfl->first = root->sre;
-				srb->first = root->sre;
-			}
-			le32_add_cpu(&srb->entry_nr, 1);
-			le32_add_cpu(&srb->entry_bytes, ret);
-			srb->last = root->sre;
-			srb->tail = root->sre;
-			sfl->last = root->sre;
-			le64_add_cpu(&sfl->entries, 1);
-			ret = 0;
+				ret = emit_srch_entry(sb, sfl, srb, &tmp_entry,
+						      blk);
+				if (ret < 0)
+					goto out;
 
-			if (le32_to_cpu(srb->entry_bytes) >
-			    SCOUTFS_SRCH_BLOCK_SAFE_BYTES) {
-				scoutfs_block_put(sb, bl);
-				bl = NULL;
-				blk++;
-			}
+				if (le32_to_cpu(srb->entry_bytes) >
+						SCOUTFS_SRCH_BLOCK_SAFE_BYTES) {
+					scoutfs_block_put(sb, bl);
+					bl = NULL;
+					blk++;
+					memset(&tmp_entry, 0, sizeof(tmp_entry));
+					have_tmp = false;
+					continue;
+				}
 
-			/* end sorted block on _SAFE offset for testing */
-			if (bl && le32_to_cpu(srb->entry_nr) == 1 && logs_input &&
-			    scoutfs_trigger(sb, SRCH_COMPACT_LOGS_PAD_SAFE)) {
-				pad_entries_at_safe(sfl, srb);
-				scoutfs_block_put(sb, bl);
-				bl = NULL;
-				blk++;
+				/*
+				 * end sorted block on _SAFE offset for
+				 * testing
+				 */
+				if (bl && le32_to_cpu(srb->entry_nr) == 1 &&
+				    logs_input &&
+				    scoutfs_trigger(sb, SRCH_COMPACT_LOGS_PAD_SAFE)) {
+					pad_entries_at_safe(sfl, srb);
+					scoutfs_block_put(sb, bl);
+					bl = NULL;
+					blk++;
+
+					memset(&tmp_entry, 0, sizeof(tmp_entry));
+					have_tmp = false;
+					continue;
+				}
 			}
 
-			scoutfs_inc_counter(sb, srch_compact_entry);
-
+			tmp_entry = root->sre;
+			have_tmp = true;
 		} else {
 			/*
 			 * Duplicate entries indicate deletion so we
-			 * undo the previously encoded entry and ignore
+			 * undo the previously cached tmp entry and ignore
 			 * this entry.  This only happens within each
 			 * block.  Deletions can span block boundaries
 			 * and will be filtered out by search and
 			 * hopefully removed in future compactions.
 			 */
-			diff = le32_to_cpu(srb->entry_bytes) - last_bytes;
-			if (diff) {
-				memset(srb->entries + last_bytes, 0, diff);
-				if (srb->entry_bytes == 0) {
-					/* last_tail will be 0 */
-					if (blk == 0)
-						sfl->first = last_tail;
-					srb->first = last_tail;
-				}
-				le32_add_cpu(&srb->entry_nr, -1);
-				srb->entry_bytes = cpu_to_le32(last_bytes);
-				srb->last = last_tail;
-				srb->tail = last_tail;
-				sfl->last = last_tail;
-				le64_add_cpu(&sfl->entries, -1);
-			}
+			trace_scoutfs_srch_clr_tmp(sb, &tmp_entry);
+			memset(&tmp_entry, 0, sizeof(tmp_entry));
+			have_tmp = false;
 
 			scoutfs_inc_counter(sb, srch_compact_removed_entry);
 		}
@@ -1739,6 +1773,24 @@ static int kway_merge(struct super_block *sb,
 	/* could stream a final index.. arguably a small portion of work */
 
 out:
+	if (have_tmp) {
+		bool emit = true;
+
+		if (bl == NULL) {
+			ret = alloc_srch_block(sb, alloc, wri, sfl, &bl, blk);
+			if (ret) {
+				emit = false;
+				if (ret == -EAGAIN)
+					ret = 0;
+			} else {
+				srb = bl->data;
+			}
+		}
+
+		if (emit)
+			ret = emit_srch_entry(sb, sfl, srb, &tmp_entry, blk);
+	}
+
 	scoutfs_block_put(sb, bl);
 	vfree(tnodes);
 	return ret;
@@ -1982,6 +2034,11 @@ static int kway_get_reader(struct super_block *sb,
 	    rdr->skip > SCOUTFS_SRCH_BLOCK_SAFE_BYTES ||
 	    rdr->skip >= le32_to_cpu(srb->entry_bytes)) {
 		/* XXX inconsistency */
+		scoutfs_err(sb, "blkno %llu pos %u vs %ld, skip %u, bytes %u",
+			__le64_to_cpu(srb->hdr.blkno),
+			rdr->pos, SCOUTFS_SRCH_BLOCK_SAFE_BYTES,
+			rdr->skip,
+			le32_to_cpu(srb->entry_bytes));
 		return -EIO;
 	}
 
diff --git a/tests/golden/srch-safe-merge-pos b/tests/golden/srch-safe-merge-pos
index e801d558..48934d7e 100644
--- a/tests/golden/srch-safe-merge-pos
+++ b/tests/golden/srch-safe-merge-pos
@@ -1,37 +1,7 @@
 == initialize per-mount values
 == arm compaction triggers
-trigger srch_compact_logs_pad_safe armed: 1
-trigger srch_merge_stop_safe armed: 1
-trigger srch_compact_logs_pad_safe armed: 1
-trigger srch_merge_stop_safe armed: 1
-trigger srch_compact_logs_pad_safe armed: 1
-trigger srch_merge_stop_safe armed: 1
-trigger srch_compact_logs_pad_safe armed: 1
-trigger srch_merge_stop_safe armed: 1
-trigger srch_compact_logs_pad_safe armed: 1
-trigger srch_merge_stop_safe armed: 1
 == compact more often
 == create padded sorted inputs by forcing log rotation
-trigger srch_force_log_rotate armed: 1
-trigger srch_force_log_rotate armed: 1
-trigger srch_force_log_rotate armed: 1
-trigger srch_force_log_rotate armed: 1
-trigger srch_compact_logs_pad_safe armed: 1
-trigger srch_force_log_rotate armed: 1
-trigger srch_force_log_rotate armed: 1
-trigger srch_force_log_rotate armed: 1
-trigger srch_force_log_rotate armed: 1
-trigger srch_compact_logs_pad_safe armed: 1
-trigger srch_force_log_rotate armed: 1
-trigger srch_force_log_rotate armed: 1
-trigger srch_force_log_rotate armed: 1
-trigger srch_force_log_rotate armed: 1
-trigger srch_compact_logs_pad_safe armed: 1
-trigger srch_force_log_rotate armed: 1
-trigger srch_force_log_rotate armed: 1
-trigger srch_force_log_rotate armed: 1
-trigger srch_force_log_rotate armed: 1
-trigger srch_compact_logs_pad_safe armed: 1
 == compaction of padded should stop at safe
 == verify no compaction errors
 == cleanup
diff --git a/tests/run-tests.sh b/tests/run-tests.sh
index f6c506ec..8a6be950 100755
--- a/tests/run-tests.sh
+++ b/tests/run-tests.sh
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ done
 
 # set some T_ defaults
 T_TRACE_DUMP="0"
-T_TRACE_PRINTK="0"
+T_TRACE_PRINTK=""
 T_PORT_START="19700"
 T_LOOP_ITER="1"
 
@@ -137,6 +137,9 @@ while true; do
 	        test -n "$2" || die "-l must have a nr iterations argument"
 		test "$2" -eq "$2" 2>/dev/null || die "-l <nr> argument must be an integer"
 		T_LOOP_ITER="$2"
+
+		# when looping, break after first failure
+		T_ABORT="1"
 		shift
 		;;
 	-M)
@@ -399,31 +402,44 @@ if [ -n "$T_INSMOD" ]; then
 	cmd insmod "$T_MODULE"
 fi
 
-if [ -n "$T_TRACE_MULT" ]; then
-#	orig_trace_size=$(cat /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/buffer_size_kb)
-	orig_trace_size=1408
-	mult_trace_size=$((orig_trace_size * T_TRACE_MULT))
-	msg "increasing trace buffer size from $orig_trace_size KiB to $mult_trace_size KiB"
-	echo $mult_trace_size > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/buffer_size_kb
-fi
-
-nr_globs=${#T_TRACE_GLOB[@]}
-if [ $nr_globs -gt 0 ]; then
-	echo 0 > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/events/scoutfs/enable
+start_tracing() {
+	if [ -n "$T_TRACE_MULT" ]; then
+		orig_trace_size=1408
+		mult_trace_size=$((orig_trace_size * T_TRACE_MULT))
+		msg "increasing trace buffer size from $orig_trace_size KiB to $mult_trace_size KiB"
+		echo $mult_trace_size > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/buffer_size_kb
+	fi
 
-	for g in "${T_TRACE_GLOB[@]}"; do
-		for e in /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/events/scoutfs/$g/enable; do
-			if test -w "$e"; then
-				echo 1 > "$e"
-			else
-				die "-t glob '$g' matched no scoutfs events"
-			fi
+	nr_globs=${#T_TRACE_GLOB[@]}
+	if [ $nr_globs -gt 0 ]; then
+		echo 0 > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/events/scoutfs/enable
+
+		for g in "${T_TRACE_GLOB[@]}"; do
+			for e in /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/events/scoutfs/$g/enable; do
+				if test -w "$e"; then
+					echo 1 > "$e"
+				else
+					die "-t glob '$g' matched no scoutfs events"
+				fi
+			done
 		done
-	done
 
-	nr_events=$(cat /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/set_event | wc -l)
-	msg "enabled $nr_events trace events from $nr_globs -t globs"
-fi
+		nr_events=$(cat /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/set_event | wc -l)
+		msg "enabled $nr_events trace events from $nr_globs -t globs"
+	fi
+}
+
+stop_tracing() {
+	if [ -n "$T_TRACE_GLOB" -o -n "$T_TRACE_PRINTK" ]; then
+		msg "saving traces and disabling tracing"
+		echo 0 > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/events/scoutfs/enable
+		echo 0 > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/options/trace_printk
+		cat /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/trace | gzip > "$T_RESULTS/traces.gz"
+		if [ -n "$orig_trace_size" ]; then
+			echo $orig_trace_size > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/buffer_size_kb
+		fi
+	fi
+}
 
 if [ -n "$T_TRACE_PRINTK" ]; then
 	echo "$T_TRACE_PRINTK" > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/options/trace_printk
@@ -603,24 +619,26 @@ passed=0
 skipped=0
 failed=0
 skipped_permitted=0
-for t in $tests; do
-	# tests has basenames from sequence, get path and name
-	t="tests/$t"
-	test_name=$(basename "$t" | sed -e 's/.sh$//')
+for iter in $(seq 1 $T_LOOP_ITER); do
+
+	start_tracing
 
-	# get stats from previous pass
-	last="$T_RESULTS/last-passed-test-stats"
-	stats=$(grep -s "^$test_name " "$last" | cut -d " " -f 2-)
-	test -n "$stats" && stats="last: $stats"
-	printf "  %-30s $stats" "$test_name"
+	for t in $tests; do
+		# tests has basenames from sequence, get path and name
+		t="tests/$t"
+		test_name=$(basename "$t" | sed -e 's/.sh$//')
 
-	# mark in dmesg as to what test we are running
-	echo "run scoutfs test $test_name" > /dev/kmsg
+		# get stats from previous pass
+		last="$T_RESULTS/last-passed-test-stats"
+		stats=$(grep -s "^$test_name " "$last" | cut -d " " -f 2-)
+		test -n "$stats" && stats="last: $stats"
+		printf "  %-30s $stats" "$test_name"
 
-	# let the test get at its extra files
-	T_EXTRA="$T_TESTS/extra/$test_name"
+		# mark in dmesg as to what test we are running
+		echo "run scoutfs test $test_name" > /dev/kmsg
 
-	for iter in $(seq 1 $T_LOOP_ITER); do
+		# let the test get at its extra files
+		T_EXTRA="$T_TESTS/extra/$test_name"
 
 		# create a temporary dir and file path for the test
 		T_TMPDIR="$T_RESULTS/tmp/$test_name"
@@ -710,55 +728,43 @@ for t in $tests; do
 			sts=$T_FAIL_STATUS
 		fi
 
-		# stop looping if we didn't pass
-		if [ "$sts" != "$T_PASS_STATUS" ]; then
-			break;
+		# show and record the result of the test
+		if [ "$sts" == "$T_PASS_STATUS" ]; then
+			echo "  passed: $stats"
+			((passed++))
+			# save stats for passed test
+			grep -s -v "^$test_name " "$last" > "$last.tmp"
+			echo "$test_name $stats" >> "$last.tmp"
+			mv -f "$last.tmp" "$last"
+		elif [ "$sts" == "$T_SKIP_PERMITTED_STATUS" ]; then
+			echo "  [ skipped (permitted): $message ]"
+			echo "$test_name skipped (permitted) $message " >> "$T_RESULTS/skip.log"
+			((skipped_permitted++))
+		elif [ "$sts" == "$T_SKIP_STATUS" ]; then
+			echo "  [ skipped: $message ]"
+			echo "$test_name $message" >> "$T_RESULTS/skip.log"
+			((skipped++))
+		elif [ "$sts" == "$T_FAIL_STATUS" ]; then
+			echo "  [ failed: $message ]"
+			echo "$test_name $message" >> "$T_RESULTS/fail.log"
+			((failed++))
+
+			if [ -n "$T_ABORT" ]; then
+				stop_tracing
+				die "aborting after first failure"
+			fi
 		fi
-	done
-
-	# show and record the result of the test
-	if [ "$sts" == "$T_PASS_STATUS" ]; then
-		echo "  passed: $stats"
-		((passed++))
-		# save stats for passed test
-		grep -s -v "^$test_name " "$last" > "$last.tmp"
-		echo "$test_name $stats" >> "$last.tmp"
-		mv -f "$last.tmp" "$last"
-	elif [ "$sts" == "$T_SKIP_PERMITTED_STATUS" ]; then
-		echo "  [ skipped (permitted): $message ]"
-		echo "$test_name skipped (permitted) $message " >> "$T_RESULTS/skip.log"
-		((skipped_permitted++))
-	elif [ "$sts" == "$T_SKIP_STATUS" ]; then
-		echo "  [ skipped: $message ]"
-		echo "$test_name $message" >> "$T_RESULTS/skip.log"
-		((skipped++))
-	elif [ "$sts" == "$T_FAIL_STATUS" ]; then
-		echo "  [ failed: $message ]"
-		echo "$test_name $message" >> "$T_RESULTS/fail.log"
-		((failed++))
-
-		test -n "$T_ABORT" && die "aborting after first failure"
-	fi
 
-	# record results for TAP format output
-	t_tap_progress $test_name $sts
-	((testcount++))
+		# record results for TAP format output
+		t_tap_progress $test_name $sts
+		((testcount++))
+	done
 
+	stop_tracing
 done
 
 msg "all tests run: $passed passed, $skipped skipped, $skipped_permitted skipped (permitted), $failed failed"
 
-
-if [ -n "$T_TRACE_GLOB" -o -n "$T_TRACE_PRINTK" ]; then
-	msg "saving traces and disabling tracing"
-	echo 0 > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/events/scoutfs/enable
-	echo 0 > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/options/trace_printk
-	cat /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/trace > "$T_RESULTS/traces"
-	if [ -n "$orig_trace_size" ]; then
-		echo $orig_trace_size > /sys/kernel/debug/tracing/buffer_size_kb
-	fi
-fi
-
 if [ "$skipped" == 0 -a "$failed" == 0 ]; then
 	msg "all tests passed"
 	unmount_all
diff --git a/tests/tests/srch-safe-merge-pos.sh b/tests/tests/srch-safe-merge-pos.sh
index bd388a18..b5cd340c 100644
--- a/tests/tests/srch-safe-merge-pos.sh
+++ b/tests/tests/srch-safe-merge-pos.sh
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ trap restore_compact_delay EXIT
 
 echo "== arm compaction triggers"
 for nr in $(t_fs_nrs); do
-	t_trigger_arm srch_compact_logs_pad_safe $nr
-	t_trigger_arm srch_merge_stop_safe $nr
+	t_trigger_arm_silent srch_compact_logs_pad_safe $nr
+	t_trigger_arm_silent srch_merge_stop_safe $nr
 done
 
 echo "== compact more often"
@@ -44,11 +44,12 @@ echo "== create padded sorted inputs by forcing log rotation"
 sv=$(t_server_nr)
 for i in $(seq 1 $COMPACT_NR); do
 	for j in $(seq 1 $COMPACT_NR); do
-		t_trigger_arm srch_force_log_rotate $sv
-
 		seq -f "f-$i-$j-$SEQF" 1 10 | \
 			bulk_create_paths -X "scoutfs.srch.t-srch-safe-merge-pos" -d "$T_D0" > \
 			/dev/null
+
+		t_trigger_arm_silent srch_force_log_rotate $sv
+
 		sync
 
 		test "$(t_trigger_get srch_force_log_rotate $sv)" == "0" || \
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ for i in $(seq 1 $COMPACT_NR); do
 	while test $padded == 0 && sleep .5; do
 		for nr in $(t_fs_nrs); do
 			if [ "$(t_trigger_get srch_compact_logs_pad_safe $nr)" == "0" ]; then
-				t_trigger_arm srch_compact_logs_pad_safe $nr
+				t_trigger_arm_silent srch_compact_logs_pad_safe $nr
 				padded=1
 				break
 			fi