diff --git a/dist/pythonlibs/testrunner/spawn.py b/dist/pythonlibs/testrunner/spawn.py
index 7beab825d5..84164d1a1d 100644
--- a/dist/pythonlibs/testrunner/spawn.py
+++ b/dist/pythonlibs/testrunner/spawn.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ def find_exc_origin(exc_info):
 
 def setup_child(timeout=10, spawnclass=pexpect.spawnu, env=None, logfile=None):
     child = spawnclass("make term", env=env, timeout=timeout,
-                       codec_errors='replace')
+                       codec_errors='replace', echo=False)
 
     # on many platforms, the termprog needs a short while to be ready...
     time.sleep(MAKE_TERM_STARTED_DELAY)