diff --git a/tools/pretty_tox.sh b/tools/pretty_tox.sh
index ac7604586aeb..799ac1848755 100755
--- a/tools/pretty_tox.sh
+++ b/tools/pretty_tox.sh
@@ -3,4 +3,14 @@
 set -o pipefail
 
 TESTRARGS=$1
-python setup.py testr --slowest --testr-args="--subunit $TESTRARGS" | subunit-trace -f
+
+# --until-failure is not compatible with --subunit see:
+#
+# https://bugs.launchpad.net/testrepository/+bug/1411804
+#
+# this work around exists until that is addressed
+if [[ "$TESTARGS" =~ "until-failure" ]]; then
+    python setup.py testr --slowest --testr-args="$TESTRARGS"
+else
+    python setup.py testr --slowest --testr-args="--subunit $TESTRARGS" | subunit-trace -f
+fi