diff --git a/tests/Exceptions.cpp b/tests/Exceptions.cpp
index 2ac00625a..78953d47a 100644
--- a/tests/Exceptions.cpp
+++ b/tests/Exceptions.cpp
@@ -5,18 +5,23 @@ using namespace ncpp;
 
 TEST_CASE("Exceptions") {
 
+  notcurses_options nopts{};
+  nopts.flags = NCOPTION_SUPPRESS_BANNERS |
+                NCOPTION_INHIBIT_SETLOCALE;
+  nopts.loglevel = NCLOGLEVEL_VERBOSE;
+
   SUBCASE("GetInstance") {
     CHECK_THROWS_AS(NotCurses::get_instance(), invalid_state_error);
   }
 
   SUBCASE("ResetStats") {
-    NotCurses nc;
+    NotCurses nc{ nopts };
     CHECK_THROWS_AS(nc.reset_stats(nullptr), invalid_argument);
   }
 
   // ncpp only allows one notcurses object at a time (why?)
   SUBCASE("OnlyOneNotCurses") {
-    NotCurses nc;
+    NotCurses nc{ nopts };
     std::unique_ptr<NotCurses> nc2;
     // FIXME attempts to match ::init_error have failed thus far :/
     CHECK_THROWS(nc2.reset(new NotCurses()));
diff --git a/tests/Ncpp.cpp b/tests/Ncpp.cpp
index b4122822d..2aa8c1791 100644
--- a/tests/Ncpp.cpp
+++ b/tests/Ncpp.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ TEST_CASE("Ncpp"
   notcurses_options nopts{};
   nopts.flags = NCOPTION_SUPPRESS_BANNERS |
                 NCOPTION_INHIBIT_SETLOCALE;
+  nopts.loglevel = NCLOGLEVEL_VERBOSE;
 
   // we ought be able to construct a NotCurses object with a nullptr FILE
   // or even just no argument (decays to nullptr).