diff --git a/cli/test_pack_python3.bats b/cli/test_pack_python3.bats
index f2ffa07..c35593d 100644
--- a/cli/test_pack_python3.bats
+++ b/cli/test_pack_python3.bats
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 load '../test_helpers/bats-support/load'
 load '../test_helpers/bats-assert/load'
+load '../test_helpers/common'
 
 setup() {
 	if [[ ! -d /opt/stackstorm/packs/examples ]]; then
@@ -42,20 +43,15 @@ skip_tests_if_python3_is_not_available_or_if_already_running_under_python3() {
 @test "packs.setup_virtualenv without python3 flags works and defaults to Python 2" {
 	skip_tests_if_python3_is_not_available_or_if_already_running_under_python3
 
-	SETUP_VENV_RESULTS=$(st2 run packs.setup_virtualenv packs=examples -j)
+	SETUP_VENV_RESULTS=$(run_command_and_log_output st2 run packs.setup_virtualenv packs=examples -j)
 	run eval "echo '$SETUP_VENV_RESULTS' | jq -r '.result.result'"
 	assert_success
-
 	assert_output "Successfully set up virtualenv for the following packs: examples"
 
 	run eval "echo '$SETUP_VENV_RESULTS' | jq -r '.status'"
 	assert_success
-
 	assert_output "succeeded"
 
-	run st2-register-content --register-pack /opt/stackstorm/packs/examples/ --register-all
-	assert_success
-
 	run /opt/stackstorm/virtualenvs/examples/bin/python --version
 	assert_output --partial "Python 2.7"
 
@@ -66,7 +62,7 @@ skip_tests_if_python3_is_not_available_or_if_already_running_under_python3() {
 @test "packs.setup_virtualenv with python3 flag works" {
 	skip_tests_if_python3_is_not_available_or_if_already_running_under_python3
 
-	SETUP_VENV_RESULTS=$(st2 run packs.setup_virtualenv packs=examples python3=true -j)
+	SETUP_VENV_RESULTS=$(run_command_and_log_output st2 run packs.setup_virtualenv packs=examples python3=true -j)
 	run eval "echo '$SETUP_VENV_RESULTS' | jq -r '.result.result'"
 	assert_success
 
@@ -81,7 +77,7 @@ skip_tests_if_python3_is_not_available_or_if_already_running_under_python3() {
 
 	assert_output --partial "Python 3."
 
-	RESULT=$(st2 run examples.python_runner_print_python_version -j)
+	RESULT=$(run_command_and_log_output st2 run examples.python_runner_print_python_version -j)
 	assert_success
 
 	run eval "echo '$RESULT' | jq -r '.result.stdout'"
@@ -99,7 +95,7 @@ skip_tests_if_python3_is_not_available_or_if_already_running_under_python3() {
 
 	run eval "echo '$RESULT' | jq -r '.result.stdout'"
 	assert_success
-	assert_output --regexp ".*PYTHONPATH: /usr/(local/)?lib/python3.*"
+	assert_output --regexp ".*PYTHONPATH: .*/usr/(local/)?lib/python3.*"
 }
 
 @test "python3 imports work correctly" {
@@ -108,7 +104,7 @@ skip_tests_if_python3_is_not_available_or_if_already_running_under_python3() {
 	run st2 pack install python3_test --python3 -j
 	assert_success
 
-	RESULT=$(st2 run python3_test.test_stdlib_import -j)
+	RESULT=$(run_command_and_log_output st2 run python3_test.test_stdlib_import -j)
 	assert_success
 
 	run eval "echo '$RESULT' | jq -r '.result.result'"
diff --git a/test_helpers/common.sh b/test_helpers/common.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..05b72e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test_helpers/common.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+# Copyright 2019 Extreme Networks, Inc.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+# Common bash utility functions used by test code
+
+run_command_and_log_output() {
+    # Utility function which runs a bash command and logs the command output (stdout) and exit
+    # code.
+    #
+    # This comes in handy in scenarios where you want to save command stdout in a variable, but you
+    # also want to output the command stdout to make troubleshooting / debugging in test failures
+    # easier.
+    #
+    # Example usage:
+    #
+    # RESULT=$(run_command_and_log_output st2 run pack install packs=examples)
+    #
+    # 1. Run the command and capture the outputs
+    eval "$({ stderr=$({ stdout=$($@); exit_code=$?; } 2>&1; declare -p stdout exit_code >&2); declare -p stderr ; } 2>&1)"
+
+    # 2. Log the output to stderr
+    >&2 echo "=========="
+    >&2 echo "Ran command: ${@}"
+    >&2 echo "stdout: ${stdout}"
+    >&2 echo "stderr: ${stderr}"
+    >&2 echo "exit code: ${exit_code}"
+    >&2 echo "=========="
+
+    # 3. Return original command value
+    echo "${stdout}"
+}
+
+run_command_and_log_output_get_stderr() {
+    # Utility function which runs a bash command and logs the command output (stdout) and exit
+    # code.
+    #
+    # This comes in handy in scenarios where you want to save command stdout in a variable, but you
+    # also want to output the command stdout to make troubleshooting / debugging in test failures
+    # easier.
+    #
+    # Example usage:
+    #
+    # RESULT=$(run_command_and_log_output_get_stderr st2 run pack install packs=examples)
+    #
+    # 1. Run the command and capture the outputs
+    eval "$({ stderr=$({ stdout=$($@); exit_code=$?; } 2>&1; declare -p stdout exit_code >&2); declare -p stderr ; } 2>&1)"
+
+    # 2. Log the output to stderr
+    >&2 echo "=========="
+    >&2 echo "Ran command: ${@}"
+    >&2 echo "stdout: ${stdout}"
+    >&2 echo "stderr: ${stderr}"
+    >&2 echo "exit code: ${exit_code}"
+    >&2 echo "=========="
+
+    # 3. Return original command error
+    echo "${stderr}"
+}