diff --git a/qa/rpc-tests/test_framework/util.py b/qa/rpc-tests/test_framework/util.py
index 92e1b3996..20267521f 100644
--- a/qa/rpc-tests/test_framework/util.py
+++ b/qa/rpc-tests/test_framework/util.py
@@ -389,10 +389,12 @@ def wait_and_assert_operationid_status(node, myopid, in_status='success', in_err
             elif status == "success":
                 txid = results[0]['result']['txid']
             break
-    print('...returned status: {}'.format(status))
     assert_equal(in_status, status)
     if errormsg is not None:
         assert(in_errormsg is not None)
         assert_equal(in_errormsg in errormsg, True)
-        print('...returned error: {}'.format(errormsg))
+    if os.getenv("PYTHON_DEBUG", ""):
+        print('...returned status: {}'.format(status))
+        if errormsg is not None:
+            print('...returned error: {}'.format(errormsg))
     return txid