diff --git a/test/framework/output.py b/test/framework/output.py
index 174f8164d2..be5d4d5046 100644
--- a/test/framework/output.py
+++ b/test/framework/output.py
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ class OutputTest(EnhancedTestCase):
     def test_create_progress_bar(self):
         """Test create_progress_bar function."""
 
+        # restore default (was disabled in EnhancedTestCase.setUp to avoid messing up test output)
+        update_build_option('show_progress_bar', True)
+
         if HAVE_RICH:
             expected_progress_bar_class = rich.progress.Progress
         else:
diff --git a/test/framework/utilities.py b/test/framework/utilities.py
index 4a82aaf6a8..14248243d3 100644
--- a/test/framework/utilities.py
+++ b/test/framework/utilities.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
 from easybuild.framework.easyblock import EasyBlock
 from easybuild.main import main
 from easybuild.tools import config
-from easybuild.tools.config import GENERAL_CLASS, Singleton, module_classes
+from easybuild.tools.config import GENERAL_CLASS, Singleton, module_classes, update_build_option
 from easybuild.tools.configobj import ConfigObj
 from easybuild.tools.environment import modify_env
 from easybuild.tools.filetools import copy_dir, mkdir, read_file, which
@@ -137,6 +137,11 @@ def setUp(self):
 
         init_config()
 
+        # disable progress bars when running the tests,
+        # since it messes with test suite progress output when test installations are performed
+        os.environ['EASYBUILD_DISABLE_SHOW_PROGRESS_BAR'] = '1'
+        update_build_option('show_progress_bar', False)
+
         import easybuild
         # try to import easybuild.easyblocks(.generic) packages
         # it's OK if it fails here, but important to import first before fiddling with sys.path