diff --git a/v2/test/BoostBuild.py b/v2/test/BoostBuild.py
index 4e9e39f8a..db76c6953 100644
--- a/v2/test/BoostBuild.py
+++ b/v2/test/BoostBuild.py
@@ -572,11 +572,12 @@ class Tester(TestCmd.TestCmd):
         else:
             return result
 
-    def fail_test(self, condition, dump_stdio=True, dump_stack=True):
+    def fail_test(self, condition, dump_difference=True, dump_stdio=True,
+        dump_stack=True):
         if not condition:
             return
 
-        if hasattr(self, 'difference'):
+        if dump_difference and hasattr(self, 'difference'):
             f = StringIO.StringIO()
             self.difference.pprint(f)
             annotation("changes caused by the last build command", f.getvalue())
diff --git a/v2/test/collect_debug_info.py b/v2/test/collect_debug_info.py
index d4fc57bf7..b8feb86df 100755
--- a/v2/test/collect_debug_info.py
+++ b/v2/test/collect_debug_info.py
@@ -187,12 +187,8 @@ def collectDebugInfo():
     except:
         _info_exc()
 
-    # Avoid the 'changes caused by the last build command' report.
-    if hasattr(t, 'difference'):
-        del t.difference
-
     # Report prepared annotations.
-    t.fail_test(1, dump_stdio=False, dump_stack=False)
+    t.fail_test(1, dump_difference=False, dump_stdio=False, dump_stack=False)
 
 
 ###############################################################################