diff --git a/nselib/unittest.lua b/nselib/unittest.lua
index b22de0569..c3043fbc0 100644
--- a/nselib/unittest.lua
+++ b/nselib/unittest.lua
@@ -289,7 +289,11 @@ make_test = function(test, fmt)
     local nargs = select("#", ...)
     return function(suite)
       if not test(table.unpack(args,1,nargs)) then
-        return false, string.format(fmt, table.unpack(listop.map(nsedebug.tostr, args),1,nargs))
+        local dbgargs = {}
+        for i = 1, nargs do
+          dbgargs[i] = nsedebug.tostr(args[i]):gsub("\n*$", '')
+        end
+        return false, string.format(fmt, table.unpack(dbgargs,1,nargs))
       end
       return true
     end