diff --git a/Lib/test/support.py b/Lib/test/support.py
index 611d48fe9b1..0f3e2ee9b6f 100644
--- a/Lib/test/support.py
+++ b/Lib/test/support.py
@@ -889,7 +889,8 @@ def _run_suite(suite):
         elif len(result.failures) == 1 and not result.errors:
             err = result.failures[0][1]
         else:
-            err = "errors occurred; run in verbose mode for details"
+            err = "multiple errors occurred"
+            if not verbose: err += "; run in verbose mode for details"
         raise TestFailed(err)