diff --git a/xos/tosca/tests/observerComputeTest.py b/xos/tosca/tests/observerComputeTest.py
index 144f8cb..0a803be 100644
--- a/xos/tosca/tests/observerComputeTest.py
+++ b/xos/tosca/tests/observerComputeTest.py
@@ -29,17 +29,17 @@
         instance = self.assert_obj(Instance, "test_compute1")
         assert(instance.flavor.name == "m1.small")
 
-        self.run_model_policy()
+        self.run_model_policy(save_output="/tmp/instancetest:create_instance:model_policy")
 
         # first observer pass should make any necessary networks or ports
-        self.run_observer()
+        self.run_observer(save_output="/tmp/instancetest:create_instance:observer_first")
 
         # reset the exponential backoff
         instance = self.assert_obj(Instance, "test_compute1")
         instance.backend_register="{}"
 
         # second observer pass should instantiate the instance
-        self.run_observer()
+        self.run_observer(save_output="/tmp/instancetest:create_instance:observer_second")
 
         instance = self.assert_obj(Instance, "test_compute1")
 
diff --git a/xos/tosca/tests/observerImageTest.py b/xos/tosca/tests/observerImageTest.py
index 65b2c69..3588b04 100644
--- a/xos/tosca/tests/observerImageTest.py
+++ b/xos/tosca/tests/observerImageTest.py
@@ -25,14 +25,14 @@
                                             props={"path": "/tmp/testimg"}))
         image = self.assert_obj(Image, "testimg")
 
-        self.run_model_policy()
+        self.run_model_policy(save_output="/tmp/imagetest:create_image:model_policy")
 
         # make sure a ControllerImages object was created
         cims = ControllerImages.objects.filter(image=image)
         assert(len(cims) == 1)
 
         # first observer pass should make any necessary networks or ports
-        self.run_observer()
+        self.run_observer(save_output="/tmp/imagetest:create_image:observer")
 
         # reset the exponential backoff
         image = self.assert_obj(Image, "testimg")
diff --git a/xos/tosca/tests/observertest.py b/xos/tosca/tests/observertest.py
index 687a9db..f714045 100644
--- a/xos/tosca/tests/observertest.py
+++ b/xos/tosca/tests/observertest.py
@@ -57,10 +57,14 @@
         sys.stdout = sys.__stdout__
         sys.stderr = sys.__stderr__
 
-        #if not self.hide_observer_output:
-        print self.logStream.getvalue()
+        if not self.hide_observer_output:
+            print self.logStream.getvalue()
 
-    def run_model_policy(self):
+    def save_output(self, what, fn):
+        file(fn,"w").write(self.logStream.getvalue())
+        print >> sys.__stdout__,"   (%s log saved to %s)" % (what, fn)
+
+    def run_model_policy(self, save_output=None):
         self.ensure_observer_not_running()
 
         self.hide_output()
@@ -68,10 +72,12 @@
             print ">>>>> run model_policies"
             run_policy_once()
             print ">>>>> done model_policies"
+            if save_output:
+                self.save_output("model_policy",save_output)
         finally:
             self.restore_output()
 
-    def run_observer(self):
+    def run_observer(self, save_output=None):
         self.ensure_observer_not_running()
         self.log_to_memory()
 
@@ -81,6 +87,8 @@
             observer = XOSObserver()
             observer.run_once()
             print ">>>>> done observer"
+            if save_output:
+                self.save_output("observer",save_output)
         finally:
             self.restore_output()