diff --git a/Tools/autotest/vehicle_test_suite.py b/Tools/autotest/vehicle_test_suite.py
index 0d21fe890f..dddd4019d8 100644
--- a/Tools/autotest/vehicle_test_suite.py
+++ b/Tools/autotest/vehicle_test_suite.py
@@ -12313,6 +12313,7 @@ switch value'''
         expected_count = 0
         seen_ids = {}
         self.progress("Downloading parameters")
+        debug = False
         while True:
             now = self.get_sim_time_cached()
             if not start_done or now - last_parameter_received > 10:
@@ -12323,6 +12324,7 @@ switch value'''
                 elif attempt_count != 0:
                     self.progress("Download failed; retrying")
                     self.delay_sim_time(1)
+                    debug = True
                 self.drain_mav()
                 self.mav.mav.param_request_list_send(target_system, target_component)
                 attempt_count += 1
@@ -12337,8 +12339,8 @@ switch value'''
             if m.param_index == 65535:
                 self.progress("volunteered parameter: %s" % str(m))
                 continue
-            if False:
-                self.progress("  received (%4u/%4u %s=%f" %
+            if debug:
+                self.progress("  received id=%4u param_count=%4u %s=%f" %
                               (m.param_index, m.param_count, m.param_id, m.param_value))
             if m.param_index >= m.param_count:
                 raise ValueError("parameter index (%u) gte parameter count (%u)" %