diff --git a/test/test-core.lisp b/test/test-core.lisp
index d4c52d0..7752870 100644
--- a/test/test-core.lisp
+++ b/test/test-core.lisp
@@ -19,10 +19,12 @@
 
 (defclass test-rcvr (core:context)
   ((core:name :initform :test-rcvr)
-   (core:actions :initform
-            (list (make-instance 'core:action-spec
-                                 :handlers (list #'check-message))))
-   (expected :accessor expected :initform (make-hash-table :test #'equalp))))
+   (core:actions 
+     :initform (list 
+                 (make-instance 'core:action-spec
+                                :handlers (list #'check-message))))
+   (expected :accessor expected 
+             :initform (make-hash-table :test #'equalp))))
 
 (defun check-message (ctx msg)
   (let ((key (message:as-list (message:head msg))))
@@ -30,11 +32,9 @@
       (if found
         (progn
           (if (not (equalp (message:data msg) val))
-            (push (format nil "no matchhing data: ~s, expected: ~s" msg val)
-                  (t:errors t:*test-suite*)))
+            (t:failure "data mismatch: ~s, expected: ~s" msg val))
           (remhash key (expected ctx)))
-        (push (format nil "unexpected: ~s" msg)
-              (t:errors t:*test-suite*))))))
+       (t:failure "unexpected: ~s" msg)))))
 
 (defun expect (ctx msg)
   (setf (gethash (message:as-list (message:head msg)) (expected ctx))
@@ -43,8 +43,7 @@
 (defun check-expected ()
   (let ((exp (alx:hash-table-keys (expected (receiver t:*test-suite*)))))
     (if exp
-      (push (format nil "unused messages: ~s" exp) 
-            (t:errors t:*test-suite*)))))
+      (t:failure "unused messages: ~s" exp))))
 
 ;;;; test runner
 
diff --git a/testing.lisp b/testing.lisp
index e8b3399..370d92f 100644
--- a/testing.lisp
+++ b/testing.lisp
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   (:use :common-lisp)
   (:export #:*test-suite*
            #:test-suite #:deftest #:show-result
-           #:errors #:test #:==
+           #:failure #:errors #:test #:==
            #:test-path #:*current-system*))
 
 (in-package :scopes/testing)
@@ -32,12 +32,15 @@
       (format t "*** errors: ~a~%" (reverse (errors suite)))))
   (values))
 
+(defun failure (fmt &rest vals)
+  (push (apply #'format nil fmt vals) (errors *test-suite*)))
+
 (defun == (have wanted)
   (let ((suite *test-suite*)
         (is-ok (equalp have wanted)))
     (push is-ok (car (result suite)))
     (unless is-ok
-      (push (format nil "~a!=~a" have wanted) (errors suite)))))
+      (failure "~s!=~s" have wanted))))
 
 (defmacro deftest (name args &body body)
   `(defun ,name ,args