diff --git a/gio/tests/meson.build b/gio/tests/meson.build
index 13a1775ce..16478f69b 100644
--- a/gio/tests/meson.build
+++ b/gio/tests/meson.build
@@ -1035,6 +1035,7 @@ foreach test_name, extra_args : gio_tests
   endif
 
   test(test_name, exe,
+    protocol : extra_args.get('protocol', test_protocol),
     env : local_test_env,
     timeout : timeout,
     suite : suite,
@@ -1059,6 +1060,7 @@ foreach test_name, extra_args : python_tests
   test(
     test_name,
     python,
+    protocol : extra_args.get('protocol', test_protocol),
     depends: depends,
     args: ['-B', files(test_name)],
     env: test_env,
diff --git a/glib/tests/meson.build b/glib/tests/meson.build
index e1b12e368..16ba33492 100644
--- a/glib/tests/meson.build
+++ b/glib/tests/meson.build
@@ -398,6 +398,7 @@ foreach test_name, extra_args : glib_tests
   endforeach
 
   test(test_name, exe,
+    protocol : extra_args.get('protocol', test_protocol),
     depends : depends,
     env : test_env,
     timeout : timeout,
@@ -444,6 +445,7 @@ foreach test_name, extra_args : python_tests
   test(
     test_name,
     python,
+    protocol : extra_args.get('protocol', test_protocol),
     depends: depends,
     args: ['-B', files(test_name)],
     env: test_env,
diff --git a/gmodule/tests/meson.build b/gmodule/tests/meson.build
index a78887529..513ea4213 100644
--- a/gmodule/tests/meson.build
+++ b/gmodule/tests/meson.build
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ foreach test_name, extra_args : gmodule_tests
 
   test(test_name,
     exe,
+    protocol : extra_args.get('protocol', test_protocol),
     depends : depends,
     env : test_env,
     timeout : timeout,
diff --git a/gobject/tests/meson.build b/gobject/tests/meson.build
index a880dfb33..96a7b40d3 100644
--- a/gobject/tests/meson.build
+++ b/gobject/tests/meson.build
@@ -186,7 +186,13 @@ foreach test_name, extra_args : gobject_tests
     timeout = timeout * 10
   endif
 
-  test(test_name, exe, env : test_env, timeout : timeout, suite : suite)
+  test(test_name,
+    exe,
+    protocol : extra_args.get('protocol', test_protocol),
+    env : test_env,
+    timeout : timeout,
+    suite : suite,
+  )
 endforeach
 
 foreach test_name, extra_args : python_tests
@@ -200,6 +206,7 @@ foreach test_name, extra_args : python_tests
   test(
     test_name,
     python,
+    protocol : extra_args.get('protocol', test_protocol),
     depends: depends,
     args: ['-B', files(test_name)],
     env: test_env,
diff --git a/gthread/tests/meson.build b/gthread/tests/meson.build
index 86da67413..53fb78e18 100644
--- a/gthread/tests/meson.build
+++ b/gthread/tests/meson.build
@@ -44,5 +44,11 @@ foreach test_name, extra_args : gthread_tests
     suite += 'failing'
   endif
 
-  test(test_name, exe, env : test_env, timeout : timeout, suite : suite)
+  test(test_name,
+    exe,
+    protocol : extra_args.get('protocol', test_protocol),
+    env : test_env,
+    timeout : timeout,
+    suite : suite,
+  )
 endforeach
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 8d3500ad7..74173e060 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -151,6 +151,10 @@ common_test_env = [
   'MALLOC_CHECK_=2',
 ]
 
+# Note: this may cause the tests output not to be printed when running in
+# verbose mode, see https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/issues/11185
+# Can be changed it to 'exitcode' if required during development.
+test_protocol = 'tap'
 test_timeout = 30
 test_timeout_slow = 90