diff --git a/verify/test.sh b/verify/test.sh
index 67f05be..d9a82e8 100755
--- a/verify/test.sh
+++ b/verify/test.sh
@@ -56,13 +56,17 @@ fi
 if [[ 0 -eq 1 ]]; then
   >&2 echo -e "# ---\n# TEST: create sops cfg in curdir: ${PWD}"
   echo "ERROR: failing right now"
+  set -x
   # note: fail if for any reason sops config defined at top level; this repo should not have this!
   test ! -e "${repo_root}/.sops.yaml"
   rm "${PWD}/.sops.yaml" || :
   ../bin/update_sops.sh -c "${PWD}" -s "${secrets_file}"
   test -e "${PWD}/.sops.yaml"
   test ! -e "${repo_root}/.sops.yaml"
-  echo $?
+  set +x
+  echo "TEST RC: $?"
+  # teardown
+  # not necessary, all tracked in git
 else
   >&2 echo "# INFO: skipping ...."
 fi