diff --git a/debian/tests/libsdl2-mixer-dev b/debian/tests/libsdl2-mixer-dev
index 1b69b04..812483c 100755
--- a/debian/tests/libsdl2-mixer-dev
+++ b/debian/tests/libsdl2-mixer-dev
@@ -18,7 +18,13 @@
     CROSS_COMPILE=
 fi
 
-export SDL_AUDIODRIVER=dummy
+# For a manual test, set this to a non-empty value
+if [ -z "${TEST_REALLY_PLAY_AUDIO-}" ]; then
+    set +x
+    echo "Silencing output: run with TEST_REALLY_PLAY_AUDIO=yes to hear audio"
+    set -x
+    export SDL_AUDIODRIVER=dummy
+fi
 
 cp playmus.c "$WORKDIR"
 cp playwave.c "$WORKDIR"