diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/mptcp/mptcp_join.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/net/mptcp/mptcp_join.sh
index 1640749750d4..6da3a6c98ba7 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/mptcp/mptcp_join.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/net/mptcp/mptcp_join.sh
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ declare -a only_tests_names
 declare -A failed_tests
 TEST_COUNT=0
 TEST_NAME=""
-nr_blank=40
+nr_blank=6
 
 # These var are used only in some tests, make sure they are not already set
 unset FAILING_LINKS
@@ -187,8 +187,8 @@ init() {
 
 	trap cleanup EXIT
 
-	make_file "$cin" "client" 1
-	make_file "$sin" "server" 1
+	make_file "$cin" "client" 1 >/dev/null
+	make_file "$sin" "server" 1 >/dev/null
 }
 
 cleanup()
@@ -200,10 +200,37 @@ cleanup()
 	cleanup_partial
 }
 
-# $1: msg
 print_title()
 {
-	printf "%03u %-36s %s" "${TEST_COUNT}" "${TEST_NAME}" "${1}"
+	printf "%03u %s\n" "${TEST_COUNT}" "${TEST_NAME}"
+}
+
+print_check()
+{
+	printf "%-${nr_blank}s%-36s" " " "${*}"
+}
+
+print_info()
+{
+	# It can be empty, no need to print anything then
+	[ -z "${1}" ] && return
+
+	printf "%-${nr_blank}sInfo: %s\n" " " "${*}"
+}
+
+print_ok()
+{
+	echo "[ ok ]${1:+ ${*}}"
+}
+
+print_fail()
+{
+	echo "[fail]${1:+ ${*}}"
+}
+
+print_skip()
+{
+	echo "[skip]${1:+ ${*}}"
 }
 
 # [ $1: fail msg ]
@@ -213,8 +240,8 @@ mark_as_skipped()
 
 	mptcp_lib_fail_if_expected_feature "${msg}"
 
-	print_title "[ skip ] ${msg}"
-	printf "\n"
+	print_check "${msg}"
+	print_skip
 
 	last_test_skipped=1
 }
@@ -278,6 +305,8 @@ reset()
 		return 1
 	fi
 
+	print_title
+
 	if [ "${init}" != "1" ]; then
 		init
 	else
@@ -458,10 +487,13 @@ reset_with_tcp_filter()
 	fi
 }
 
+# $1: err msg
 fail_test()
 {
 	ret=1
 
+	print_fail "${@}"
+
 	# just in case a test is marked twice as failed
 	if [ ${last_test_failed} -eq 0 ]; then
 		failed_tests[${TEST_COUNT}]="${TEST_NAME}"
@@ -482,7 +514,7 @@ get_failed_tests_ids()
 print_file_err()
 {
 	ls -l "$1" 1>&2
-	echo "Trailing bytes are: "
+	echo -n "Trailing bytes are: "
 	tail -c 27 "$1"
 }
 
@@ -500,8 +532,7 @@ check_transfer()
 		# when truncating we must check the size explicitly
 		out_size=$(wc -c $out | awk '{print $1}')
 		if [ $out_size -ne $bytes ]; then
-			echo "[ FAIL ] $what output file has wrong size ($out_size, $bytes)"
-			fail_test
+			fail_test "$what output file has wrong size ($out_size, $bytes)"
 			return 1
 		fi
 
@@ -516,14 +547,13 @@ check_transfer()
 	cmp -l "$in" "$out" | while read -r i a b; do
 		local sum=$((0${a} + 0${b}))
 		if [ $check_invert -eq 0 ] || [ $sum -ne $((0xff)) ]; then
-			echo "[ FAIL ] $what does not match (in, out):"
+			fail_test "$what does not match (in, out):"
 			print_file_err "$in"
 			print_file_err "$out"
-			fail_test
 
 			return 1
 		else
-			echo "$what has inverted byte at ${i}"
+			print_info "$what has inverted byte at ${i}"
 		fi
 	done
 
@@ -537,8 +567,7 @@ do_ping()
 	local connect_addr="$3"
 
 	if ! ip netns exec ${connector_ns} ping -q -c 1 $connect_addr >/dev/null; then
-		echo "$listener_ns -> $connect_addr connectivity [ FAIL ]" 1>&2
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "$listener_ns -> $connect_addr connectivity"
 	fi
 }
 
@@ -776,10 +805,9 @@ pm_nl_change_endpoint()
 pm_nl_check_endpoint()
 {
 	local line expected_line
-	local need_title=$1
-	local msg="$2"
-	local ns=$3
-	local addr=$4
+	local msg="$1"
+	local ns=$2
+	local addr=$3
 	local _flags=""
 	local flags
 	local _port
@@ -788,13 +816,9 @@ pm_nl_check_endpoint()
 	local _id
 	local id
 
-	if [ "${need_title}" = 1 ]; then
-		printf "%03u %-36s %s" "${TEST_COUNT}" "${TEST_NAME}" "${msg}"
-	else
-		printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "${msg}"
-	fi
+	print_check "${msg}"
 
-	shift 4
+	shift 3
 	while [ -n "$1" ]; do
 		if [ $1 = "flags" ]; then
 			_flags=$2
@@ -817,7 +841,7 @@ pm_nl_check_endpoint()
 	done
 
 	if [ -z "$id" ]; then
-		echo "[skip] bad test - missing endpoint id"
+		test_fail "bad test - missing endpoint id"
 		return
 	fi
 
@@ -840,10 +864,9 @@ pm_nl_check_endpoint()
 		[ -n "$_port" ] && expected_line="$expected_line $_port"
 	fi
 	if [ "$line" = "$expected_line" ]; then
-		echo "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	else
-		echo "[fail] expected '$expected_line' found '$line'"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "expected '$expected_line' found '$line'"
 	fi
 }
 
@@ -1058,8 +1081,7 @@ do_transfer()
 	local trunc_size=""
 	if [ -n "${fastclose}" ]; then
 		if [ ${test_linkfail} -le 1 ]; then
-			echo "fastclose tests need test_linkfail argument"
-			fail_test
+			fail_test "fastclose tests need test_linkfail argument"
 			return 1
 		fi
 
@@ -1074,8 +1096,7 @@ do_transfer()
 			extra_srv_args="-f ${test_linkfail}"
 			extra_cl_args="-f -1"
 		else
-			echo "wrong/unknown fastclose spec ${side}"
-			fail_test
+			fail_test "wrong/unknown fastclose spec ${side}"
 			return 1
 		fi
 	fi
@@ -1136,7 +1157,7 @@ do_transfer()
 		nstat | grep Tcp > /tmp/${connector_ns}.out
 
 	if [ ${rets} -ne 0 ] || [ ${retc} -ne 0 ]; then
-		echo " client exit code $retc, server $rets" 1>&2
+		fail_test "client exit code $retc, server $rets"
 		echo -e "\nnetns ${listener_ns} socket stat for ${port}:" 1>&2
 		ip netns exec ${listener_ns} ss -Menita 1>&2 -o "sport = :$port"
 		cat /tmp/${listener_ns}.out
@@ -1145,7 +1166,6 @@ do_transfer()
 		cat /tmp/${connector_ns}.out
 
 		cat "$capout"
-		fail_test
 		return 1
 	fi
 
@@ -1180,7 +1200,7 @@ make_file()
 	dd if=/dev/urandom of="$name" bs=1024 count=$size 2> /dev/null
 	echo -e "\nMPTCP_TEST_FILE_END_MARKER" >> "$name"
 
-	echo "Created $name (size $size KB) containing data sent by $who"
+	print_info "Test file (size $size KB) for $who"
 }
 
 run_tests()
@@ -1261,36 +1281,34 @@ chk_csum_nr()
 		csum_ns2=${csum_ns2:1}
 	fi
 
-	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "sum"
+	print_check "sum"
 	count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtDataCsumErr")
 	if [ "$count" != "$csum_ns1" ]; then
 		extra_msg="$extra_msg ns1=$count"
 	fi
 	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-		echo -n "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	elif { [ "$count" != $csum_ns1 ] && [ $allow_multi_errors_ns1 -eq 0 ]; } ||
 	   { [ "$count" -lt $csum_ns1 ] && [ $allow_multi_errors_ns1 -eq 1 ]; }; then
-		echo "[fail] got $count data checksum error[s] expected $csum_ns1"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $count data checksum error[s] expected $csum_ns1"
 	else
-		echo -n "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
-	echo -n " - csum  "
+	print_check "csum"
 	count=$(get_counter ${ns2} "MPTcpExtDataCsumErr")
 	if [ "$count" != "$csum_ns2" ]; then
 		extra_msg="$extra_msg ns2=$count"
 	fi
 	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-		echo -n "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	elif { [ "$count" != $csum_ns2 ] && [ $allow_multi_errors_ns2 -eq 0 ]; } ||
 	   { [ "$count" -lt $csum_ns2 ] && [ $allow_multi_errors_ns2 -eq 1 ]; }; then
-		echo "[fail] got $count data checksum error[s] expected $csum_ns2"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $count data checksum error[s] expected $csum_ns2"
 	else
-		echo -n "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 
-	echo "$extra_msg"
+	print_info "$extra_msg"
 }
 
 chk_fail_nr()
@@ -1308,7 +1326,7 @@ chk_fail_nr()
 	if [[ $ns_invert = "invert" ]]; then
 		ns_tx=$ns2
 		ns_rx=$ns1
-		extra_msg=" invert"
+		extra_msg="invert"
 	fi
 
 	if [[ "${fail_tx}" = "-"* ]]; then
@@ -1320,37 +1338,35 @@ chk_fail_nr()
 		fail_rx=${fail_rx:1}
 	fi
 
-	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "ftx"
+	print_check "ftx"
 	count=$(get_counter ${ns_tx} "MPTcpExtMPFailTx")
 	if [ "$count" != "$fail_tx" ]; then
 		extra_msg="$extra_msg,tx=$count"
 	fi
 	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-		echo -n "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	elif { [ "$count" != "$fail_tx" ] && [ $allow_tx_lost -eq 0 ]; } ||
 	   { [ "$count" -gt "$fail_tx" ] && [ $allow_tx_lost -eq 1 ]; }; then
-		echo "[fail] got $count MP_FAIL[s] TX expected $fail_tx"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $count MP_FAIL[s] TX expected $fail_tx"
 	else
-		echo -n "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 
-	echo -n " - failrx"
+	print_check "failrx"
 	count=$(get_counter ${ns_rx} "MPTcpExtMPFailRx")
 	if [ "$count" != "$fail_rx" ]; then
 		extra_msg="$extra_msg,rx=$count"
 	fi
 	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-		echo -n "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	elif { [ "$count" != "$fail_rx" ] && [ $allow_rx_lost -eq 0 ]; } ||
 	   { [ "$count" -gt "$fail_rx" ] && [ $allow_rx_lost -eq 1 ]; }; then
-		echo "[fail] got $count MP_FAIL[s] RX expected $fail_rx"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $count MP_FAIL[s] RX expected $fail_rx"
 	else
-		echo -n "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 
-	echo "$extra_msg"
+	print_info "$extra_msg"
 }
 
 chk_fclose_nr()
@@ -1361,39 +1377,37 @@ chk_fclose_nr()
 	local count
 	local ns_tx=$ns2
 	local ns_rx=$ns1
-	local extra_msg="   "
+	local extra_msg=""
 
 	if [[ $ns_invert = "invert" ]]; then
 		ns_tx=$ns1
 		ns_rx=$ns2
-		extra_msg=${extra_msg}"invert"
+		extra_msg="invert"
 	fi
 
-	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "ctx"
+	print_check "ctx"
 	count=$(get_counter ${ns_tx} "MPTcpExtMPFastcloseTx")
 	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-		echo -n "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	elif [ "$count" != "$fclose_tx" ]; then
 		extra_msg="$extra_msg,tx=$count"
-		echo "[fail] got $count MP_FASTCLOSE[s] TX expected $fclose_tx"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $count MP_FASTCLOSE[s] TX expected $fclose_tx"
 	else
-		echo -n "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 
-	echo -n " - fclzrx"
+	print_check "fclzrx"
 	count=$(get_counter ${ns_rx} "MPTcpExtMPFastcloseRx")
 	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-		echo -n "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	elif [ "$count" != "$fclose_rx" ]; then
 		extra_msg="$extra_msg,rx=$count"
-		echo "[fail] got $count MP_FASTCLOSE[s] RX expected $fclose_rx"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $count MP_FASTCLOSE[s] RX expected $fclose_rx"
 	else
-		echo -n "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 
-	echo "$extra_msg"
+	print_info "$extra_msg"
 }
 
 chk_rst_nr()
@@ -1409,32 +1423,30 @@ chk_rst_nr()
 	if [[ $ns_invert = "invert" ]]; then
 		ns_tx=$ns2
 		ns_rx=$ns1
-		extra_msg="   invert"
+		extra_msg="invert"
 	fi
 
-	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "rtx"
+	print_check "rtx"
 	count=$(get_counter ${ns_tx} "MPTcpExtMPRstTx")
 	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-		echo -n "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	elif [ $count -lt $rst_tx ]; then
-		echo "[fail] got $count MP_RST[s] TX expected $rst_tx"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $count MP_RST[s] TX expected $rst_tx"
 	else
-		echo -n "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 
-	echo -n " - rstrx "
+	print_check "rstrx"
 	count=$(get_counter ${ns_rx} "MPTcpExtMPRstRx")
 	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-		echo -n "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	elif [ "$count" -lt "$rst_rx" ]; then
-		echo "[fail] got $count MP_RST[s] RX expected $rst_rx"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $count MP_RST[s] RX expected $rst_rx"
 	else
-		echo -n "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 
-	echo "$extra_msg"
+	print_info "$extra_msg"
 }
 
 chk_infi_nr()
@@ -1443,26 +1455,24 @@ chk_infi_nr()
 	local infi_rx=$2
 	local count
 
-	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "itx"
+	print_check "itx"
 	count=$(get_counter ${ns2} "MPTcpExtInfiniteMapTx")
 	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-		echo -n "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	elif [ "$count" != "$infi_tx" ]; then
-		echo "[fail] got $count infinite map[s] TX expected $infi_tx"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $count infinite map[s] TX expected $infi_tx"
 	else
-		echo -n "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 
-	echo -n " - infirx"
+	print_check "infirx"
 	count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtInfiniteMapRx")
 	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-		echo "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	elif [ "$count" != "$infi_rx" ]; then
-		echo "[fail] got $count infinite map[s] RX expected $infi_rx"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $count infinite map[s] RX expected $infi_rx"
 	else
-		echo "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 }
 
@@ -1479,51 +1489,47 @@ chk_join_nr()
 	local corrupted_pkts=${9:-0}
 	local count
 	local with_cookie
-	local title="${TEST_NAME}"
 
 	if [ "${corrupted_pkts}" -gt 0 ]; then
-		title+=": ${corrupted_pkts} corrupted pkts"
+		print_info "${corrupted_pkts} corrupted pkts"
 	fi
 
-	printf "%03u %-36s %s" "${TEST_COUNT}" "${title}" "syn"
+	print_check "syn"
 	count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtMPJoinSynRx")
 	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-		echo -n "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	elif [ "$count" != "$syn_nr" ]; then
-		echo "[fail] got $count JOIN[s] syn expected $syn_nr"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $count JOIN[s] syn expected $syn_nr"
 	else
-		echo -n "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 
-	echo -n " - synack"
+	print_check "synack"
 	with_cookie=$(ip netns exec $ns2 sysctl -n net.ipv4.tcp_syncookies)
 	count=$(get_counter ${ns2} "MPTcpExtMPJoinSynAckRx")
 	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-		echo -n "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	elif [ "$count" != "$syn_ack_nr" ]; then
 		# simult connections exceeding the limit with cookie enabled could go up to
 		# synack validation as the conn limit can be enforced reliably only after
 		# the subflow creation
 		if [ "$with_cookie" = 2 ] && [ "$count" -gt "$syn_ack_nr" ] && [ "$count" -le "$syn_nr" ]; then
-			echo -n "[ ok ]"
+			print_ok
 		else
-			echo "[fail] got $count JOIN[s] synack expected $syn_ack_nr"
-			fail_test
+			fail_test "got $count JOIN[s] synack expected $syn_ack_nr"
 		fi
 	else
-		echo -n "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 
-	echo -n " - ack"
+	print_check "ack"
 	count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtMPJoinAckRx")
 	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-		echo "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	elif [ "$count" != "$ack_nr" ]; then
-		echo "[fail] got $count JOIN[s] ack expected $ack_nr"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $count JOIN[s] ack expected $ack_nr"
 	else
-		echo "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 	if [ $validate_checksum -eq 1 ]; then
 		chk_csum_nr $csum_ns1 $csum_ns2
@@ -1548,22 +1554,21 @@ chk_stale_nr()
 	local stale_nr
 	local recover_nr
 
-	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %-18s" " " "stale"
+	print_check "stale"
 
 	stale_nr=$(get_counter ${ns} "MPTcpExtSubflowStale")
 	recover_nr=$(get_counter ${ns} "MPTcpExtSubflowRecover")
 	if [ -z "$stale_nr" ] || [ -z "$recover_nr" ]; then
-		echo "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	elif [ $stale_nr -lt $stale_min ] ||
 	   { [ $stale_max -gt 0 ] && [ $stale_nr -gt $stale_max ]; } ||
 	   [ $((stale_nr - recover_nr)) -ne $stale_delta ]; then
-		echo "[fail] got $stale_nr stale[s] $recover_nr recover[s], " \
+		fail_test "got $stale_nr stale[s] $recover_nr recover[s], " \
 		     " expected stale in range [$stale_min..$stale_max]," \
-		     " stale-recover delta $stale_delta "
-		fail_test
+		     " stale-recover delta $stale_delta"
 		dump_stats=1
 	else
-		echo "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 
 	if [ "${dump_stats}" = 1 ]; then
@@ -1588,103 +1593,93 @@ chk_add_nr()
 
 	timeout=$(ip netns exec $ns1 sysctl -n net.mptcp.add_addr_timeout)
 
-	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "add"
+	print_check "add"
 	count=$(get_counter ${ns2} "MPTcpExtAddAddr")
 	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-		echo -n "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	# if the test configured a short timeout tolerate greater then expected
 	# add addrs options, due to retransmissions
 	elif [ "$count" != "$add_nr" ] && { [ "$timeout" -gt 1 ] || [ "$count" -lt "$add_nr" ]; }; then
-		echo "[fail] got $count ADD_ADDR[s] expected $add_nr"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $count ADD_ADDR[s] expected $add_nr"
 	else
-		echo -n "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 
-	echo -n " - echo  "
+	print_check "echo"
 	count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtEchoAdd")
 	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-		echo -n "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	elif [ "$count" != "$echo_nr" ]; then
-		echo "[fail] got $count ADD_ADDR echo[s] expected $echo_nr"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $count ADD_ADDR echo[s] expected $echo_nr"
 	else
-		echo -n "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 
 	if [ $port_nr -gt 0 ]; then
-		echo -n " - pt "
+		print_check "pt"
 		count=$(get_counter ${ns2} "MPTcpExtPortAdd")
 		if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-			echo "[skip]"
+			print_skip
 		elif [ "$count" != "$port_nr" ]; then
-			echo "[fail] got $count ADD_ADDR[s] with a port-number expected $port_nr"
-			fail_test
+			fail_test "got $count ADD_ADDR[s] with a port-number expected $port_nr"
 		else
-			echo "[ ok ]"
+			print_ok
 		fi
 
-		printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "syn"
+		print_check "syn"
 		count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtMPJoinPortSynRx")
 		if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-			echo -n "[skip]"
+			print_skip
 		elif [ "$count" != "$syn_nr" ]; then
-			echo "[fail] got $count JOIN[s] syn with a different \
-				port-number expected $syn_nr"
-			fail_test
+			fail_test "got $count JOIN[s] syn with a different \
+				   port-number expected $syn_nr"
 		else
-			echo -n "[ ok ]"
+			print_ok
 		fi
 
-		echo -n " - synack"
+		print_check "synack"
 		count=$(get_counter ${ns2} "MPTcpExtMPJoinPortSynAckRx")
 		if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-			echo -n "[skip]"
+			print_skip
 		elif [ "$count" != "$syn_ack_nr" ]; then
-			echo "[fail] got $count JOIN[s] synack with a different \
-				port-number expected $syn_ack_nr"
-			fail_test
+			fail_test "got $count JOIN[s] synack with a different \
+				   port-number expected $syn_ack_nr"
 		else
-			echo -n "[ ok ]"
+			print_ok
 		fi
 
-		echo -n " - ack"
+		print_check "ack"
 		count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtMPJoinPortAckRx")
 		if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-			echo "[skip]"
+			print_skip
 		elif [ "$count" != "$ack_nr" ]; then
-			echo "[fail] got $count JOIN[s] ack with a different \
-				port-number expected $ack_nr"
-			fail_test
+			fail_test "got $count JOIN[s] ack with a different \
+				   port-number expected $ack_nr"
 		else
-			echo "[ ok ]"
+			print_ok
 		fi
 
-		printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "syn"
+		print_check "syn"
 		count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtMismatchPortSynRx")
 		if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-			echo -n "[skip]"
+			print_skip
 		elif [ "$count" != "$mis_syn_nr" ]; then
-			echo "[fail] got $count JOIN[s] syn with a mismatched \
-				port-number expected $mis_syn_nr"
-			fail_test
+			fail_test "got $count JOIN[s] syn with a mismatched \
+				   port-number expected $mis_syn_nr"
 		else
-			echo -n "[ ok ]"
+			print_ok
 		fi
 
-		echo -n " - ack   "
+		print_check "ack"
 		count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtMismatchPortAckRx")
 		if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-			echo "[skip]"
+			print_skip
 		elif [ "$count" != "$mis_ack_nr" ]; then
-			echo "[fail] got $count JOIN[s] ack with a mismatched \
-				port-number expected $mis_ack_nr"
-			fail_test
+			fail_test "got $count JOIN[s] ack with a mismatched \
+				   port-number expected $mis_ack_nr"
 		else
-			echo "[ ok ]"
+			print_ok
 		fi
-	else
-		echo ""
 	fi
 }
 
@@ -1697,28 +1692,26 @@ chk_add_tx_nr()
 
 	timeout=$(ip netns exec $ns1 sysctl -n net.mptcp.add_addr_timeout)
 
-	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "add TX"
+	print_check "add TX"
 	count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtAddAddrTx")
 	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-		echo -n "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	# if the test configured a short timeout tolerate greater then expected
 	# add addrs options, due to retransmissions
 	elif [ "$count" != "$add_tx_nr" ] && { [ "$timeout" -gt 1 ] || [ "$count" -lt "$add_tx_nr" ]; }; then
-		echo "[fail] got $count ADD_ADDR[s] TX, expected $add_tx_nr"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $count ADD_ADDR[s] TX, expected $add_tx_nr"
 	else
-		echo -n "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 
-	echo -n " - echo TX "
+	print_check "echo TX"
 	count=$(get_counter ${ns2} "MPTcpExtEchoAddTx")
 	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-		echo "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	elif [ "$count" != "$echo_tx_nr" ]; then
-		echo "[fail] got $count ADD_ADDR echo[s] TX, expected $echo_tx_nr"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $count ADD_ADDR echo[s] TX, expected $echo_tx_nr"
 	else
-		echo "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 }
 
@@ -1746,24 +1739,23 @@ chk_rm_nr()
 	elif [ $invert = "true" ]; then
 		addr_ns=$ns2
 		subflow_ns=$ns1
-		extra_msg="   invert"
+		extra_msg="invert"
 	fi
 
-	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "rm "
+	print_check "rm"
 	count=$(get_counter ${addr_ns} "MPTcpExtRmAddr")
 	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-		echo -n "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	elif [ "$count" != "$rm_addr_nr" ]; then
-		echo "[fail] got $count RM_ADDR[s] expected $rm_addr_nr"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $count RM_ADDR[s] expected $rm_addr_nr"
 	else
-		echo -n "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 
-	echo -n " - rmsf  "
+	print_check "rmsf"
 	count=$(get_counter ${subflow_ns} "MPTcpExtRmSubflow")
 	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-		echo -n "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	elif [ -n "$simult" ]; then
 		local cnt suffix
 
@@ -1775,34 +1767,31 @@ chk_rm_nr()
 		[ "$count" != "$rm_subflow_nr" ] && suffix="$count in [$rm_subflow_nr:$((rm_subflow_nr*2))]"
 		if [ $count -ge "$rm_subflow_nr" ] && \
 		   [ "$count" -le "$((rm_subflow_nr *2 ))" ]; then
-			echo -n "[ ok ] $suffix"
+			print_ok "$suffix"
 		else
-			echo "[fail] got $count RM_SUBFLOW[s] expected in range [$rm_subflow_nr:$((rm_subflow_nr*2))]"
-			fail_test
+			fail_test "got $count RM_SUBFLOW[s] expected in range [$rm_subflow_nr:$((rm_subflow_nr*2))]"
 		fi
 	elif [ "$count" != "$rm_subflow_nr" ]; then
-		echo "[fail] got $count RM_SUBFLOW[s] expected $rm_subflow_nr"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $count RM_SUBFLOW[s] expected $rm_subflow_nr"
 	else
-		echo -n "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 
-	echo "$extra_msg"
+	print_info "$extra_msg"
 }
 
 chk_rm_tx_nr()
 {
 	local rm_addr_tx_nr=$1
 
-	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "rm TX "
+	print_check "rm TX"
 	count=$(get_counter ${ns2} "MPTcpExtRmAddrTx")
 	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-		echo "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	elif [ "$count" != "$rm_addr_tx_nr" ]; then
-		echo "[fail] got $count RM_ADDR[s] expected $rm_addr_tx_nr"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $count RM_ADDR[s] expected $rm_addr_tx_nr"
 	else
-		echo "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 }
 
@@ -1812,52 +1801,44 @@ chk_prio_nr()
 	local mp_prio_nr_rx=$2
 	local count
 
-	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "ptx"
+	print_check "ptx"
 	count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtMPPrioTx")
 	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-		echo -n "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	elif [ "$count" != "$mp_prio_nr_tx" ]; then
-		echo "[fail] got $count MP_PRIO[s] TX expected $mp_prio_nr_tx"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $count MP_PRIO[s] TX expected $mp_prio_nr_tx"
 	else
-		echo -n "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 
-	echo -n " - prx   "
+	print_check "prx"
 	count=$(get_counter ${ns1} "MPTcpExtMPPrioRx")
 	if [ -z "$count" ]; then
-		echo "[skip]"
+		print_skip
 	elif [ "$count" != "$mp_prio_nr_rx" ]; then
-		echo "[fail] got $count MP_PRIO[s] RX expected $mp_prio_nr_rx"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $count MP_PRIO[s] RX expected $mp_prio_nr_rx"
 	else
-		echo "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 }
 
 chk_subflow_nr()
 {
-	local need_title="$1"
-	local msg="$2"
-	local subflow_nr=$3
+	local msg="$1"
+	local subflow_nr=$2
 	local cnt1
 	local cnt2
 	local dump_stats
 
-	if [ -n "${need_title}" ]; then
-		printf "%03u %-36s %s" "${TEST_COUNT}" "${TEST_NAME}" "${msg}"
-	else
-		printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s" " " "${msg}"
-	fi
+	print_check "${msg}"
 
 	cnt1=$(ss -N $ns1 -tOni | grep -c token)
 	cnt2=$(ss -N $ns2 -tOni | grep -c token)
 	if [ "$cnt1" != "$subflow_nr" ] || [ "$cnt2" != "$subflow_nr" ]; then
-		echo "[fail] got $cnt1:$cnt2 subflows expected $subflow_nr"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $cnt1:$cnt2 subflows expected $subflow_nr"
 		dump_stats=1
 	else
-		echo "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 
 	if [ "${dump_stats}" = 1 ]; then
@@ -1877,7 +1858,7 @@ chk_mptcp_info()
 	local cnt2
 	local dump_stats
 
-	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %-30s" " " "mptcp_info $info1:$info2=$exp1:$exp2"
+	print_check "mptcp_info ${info1:0:8}=$exp1:$exp2"
 
 	cnt1=$(ss -N $ns1 -inmHM | grep "$info1:" |
 	       sed -n 's/.*\('"$info1"':\)\([[:digit:]]*\).*$/\2/p;q')
@@ -1888,11 +1869,10 @@ chk_mptcp_info()
 	[ -z "$cnt2" ] && cnt2=0
 
 	if [ "$cnt1" != "$exp1" ] || [ "$cnt2" != "$exp2" ]; then
-		echo "[fail] got $cnt1:$cnt2 $info1:$info2 expected $exp1:$exp2"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $cnt1:$cnt2 $info1:$info2 expected $exp1:$exp2"
 		dump_stats=1
 	else
-		echo "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 
 	if [ "$dump_stats" = 1 ]; then
@@ -1914,13 +1894,12 @@ chk_link_usage()
 	local tx_rate=$((tx_link * 100 / tx_total))
 	local tolerance=5
 
-	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %-18s" " " "link usage"
+	print_check "link usage"
 	if [ $tx_rate -lt $((expected_rate - tolerance)) ] || \
 	   [ $tx_rate -gt $((expected_rate + tolerance)) ]; then
-		echo "[fail] got $tx_rate% usage, expected $expected_rate%"
-		fail_test
+		fail_test "got $tx_rate% usage, expected $expected_rate%"
 	else
-		echo "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 	fi
 }
 
@@ -2835,15 +2814,15 @@ verify_listener_events()
 	if [ $e_type = $LISTENER_CREATED ]; then
 		name="LISTENER_CREATED"
 	elif [ $e_type = $LISTENER_CLOSED ]; then
-		name="LISTENER_CLOSED"
+		name="LISTENER_CLOSED "
 	else
 		name="$e_type"
 	fi
 
-	printf "%-${nr_blank}s %s %s:%s " " " "$name" "$e_saddr" "$e_sport"
+	print_check "$name $e_saddr:$e_sport"
 
 	if ! mptcp_lib_kallsyms_has "mptcp_event_pm_listener$"; then
-		printf "[skip]: event not supported\n"
+		print_skip "event not supported"
 		return
 	fi
 
@@ -2860,11 +2839,10 @@ verify_listener_events()
 	   [ $family ] && [ $family = $e_family ] &&
 	   [ $saddr ] && [ $saddr = $e_saddr ] &&
 	   [ $sport ] && [ $sport = $e_sport ]; then
-		echo "[ ok ]"
+		print_ok
 		return 0
 	fi
-	fail_test
-	echo "[fail]"
+	fail_test "$e_type:$type $e_family:$family $e_saddr:$saddr $e_sport:$sport"
 }
 
 add_addr_ports_tests()
@@ -3469,17 +3447,17 @@ endpoint_tests()
 			run_tests $ns1 $ns2 10.0.1.1 2>/dev/null &
 
 		wait_mpj $ns1
-		pm_nl_check_endpoint 1 "creation" \
+		pm_nl_check_endpoint "creation" \
 			$ns2 10.0.2.2 id 1 flags implicit
 		chk_mptcp_info subflows 1 subflows 1
 		chk_mptcp_info add_addr_signal 1 add_addr_accepted 1
 
 		pm_nl_add_endpoint $ns2 10.0.2.2 id 33
-		pm_nl_check_endpoint 0 "ID change is prevented" \
+		pm_nl_check_endpoint "ID change is prevented" \
 			$ns2 10.0.2.2 id 1 flags implicit
 
 		pm_nl_add_endpoint $ns2 10.0.2.2 flags signal
-		pm_nl_check_endpoint 0 "modif is allowed" \
+		pm_nl_check_endpoint "modif is allowed" \
 			$ns2 10.0.2.2 id 1 flags signal
 		kill_tests_wait
 	fi
@@ -3493,17 +3471,17 @@ endpoint_tests()
 			run_tests $ns1 $ns2 10.0.1.1 2>/dev/null &
 
 		wait_mpj $ns2
-		chk_subflow_nr needtitle "before delete" 2
+		chk_subflow_nr "before delete" 2
 		chk_mptcp_info subflows 1 subflows 1
 
 		pm_nl_del_endpoint $ns2 2 10.0.2.2
 		sleep 0.5
-		chk_subflow_nr "" "after delete" 1
+		chk_subflow_nr "after delete" 1
 		chk_mptcp_info subflows 0 subflows 0
 
 		pm_nl_add_endpoint $ns2 10.0.2.2 dev ns2eth2 flags subflow
 		wait_mpj $ns2
-		chk_subflow_nr "" "after re-add" 2
+		chk_subflow_nr "after re-add" 2
 		chk_mptcp_info subflows 1 subflows 1
 		kill_tests_wait
 	fi