diff --git a/test/run.go b/test/run.go
index 570768e680..4c01886560 100644
--- a/test/run.go
+++ b/test/run.go
@@ -725,7 +725,7 @@ func (t *test) run() {
 		// Fail if wantError is true and compilation was successful and vice versa.
 		// Match errors produced by gc against errors in comments.
 		// TODO(gri) remove need for -C (disable printing of columns in error messages)
-		cmdline := []string{goTool(), "tool", "compile", "-C", "-e", "-o", "a.o"}
+		cmdline := []string{goTool(), "tool", "compile", "-d=panic", "-C", "-e", "-o", "a.o"}
 		// No need to add -dynlink even if linkshared if we're just checking for errors...
 		cmdline = append(cmdline, flags...)
 		cmdline = append(cmdline, long)
@@ -830,6 +830,7 @@ func (t *test) run() {
 		}
 
 	case "errorcheckdir", "errorcheckandrundir":
+		flags = append(flags, "-d=panic")
 		// Compile and errorCheck all files in the directory as packages in lexicographic order.
 		// If errorcheckdir and wantError, compilation of the last package must fail.
 		// If errorcheckandrundir and wantError, compilation of the package prior the last must fail.
@@ -1179,7 +1180,7 @@ func (t *test) run() {
 			t.err = fmt.Errorf("write tempfile:%s", err)
 			return
 		}
-		cmdline := []string{goTool(), "tool", "compile", "-e", "-o", "a.o"}
+		cmdline := []string{goTool(), "tool", "compile", "-d=panic", "-e", "-o", "a.o"}
 		cmdline = append(cmdline, flags...)
 		cmdline = append(cmdline, tfile)
 		out, err = runcmd(cmdline...)