diff --git a/pkg/index/indextest/tests.go b/pkg/index/indextest/tests.go
index 048f9f06f..610cb965c 100644
--- a/pkg/index/indextest/tests.go
+++ b/pkg/index/indextest/tests.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
+	"log"
 
 	"camlistore.org/pkg/blobref"
 	"camlistore.org/pkg/index"
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ import (
 	"camlistore.org/pkg/test"
 )
 
+// An IndexDeps is a helper for populating and querying an Index for tests.
 type IndexDeps struct {
 	Index *index.Index
 
@@ -46,7 +48,17 @@ type IndexDeps struct {
 
 	now time.Time // fake clock, nanos since epoch
 
-	t *testing.T
+	Fataler // optional means of failing.
+}
+
+type Fataler interface {
+	Fatalf(format string, args ...interface{})
+}
+
+type logFataler struct{}
+
+func (logFataler) Fatalf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
+	log.Fatalf(format, args...)
 }
 
 func (id *IndexDeps) Get(key string) string {
@@ -70,7 +82,7 @@ func (id *IndexDeps) uploadAndSignMap(m schema.Map) *blobref.BlobRef {
 	m["camliSigner"] = id.SignerBlobRef
 	unsigned, err := m.JSON()
 	if err != nil {
-		id.t.Fatal("uploadAndSignMap: " + err.Error())
+		id.Fatalf("uploadAndSignMap: " + err.Error())
 	}
 	sr := &jsonsign.SignRequest{
 		UnsignedJSON:  unsigned,
@@ -79,12 +91,12 @@ func (id *IndexDeps) uploadAndSignMap(m schema.Map) *blobref.BlobRef {
 	}
 	signed, err := sr.Sign()
 	if err != nil {
-		id.t.Fatal("problem signing: " + err.Error())
+		id.Fatalf("problem signing: " + err.Error())
 	}
 	tb := &test.Blob{Contents: signed}
 	_, err = id.Index.ReceiveBlob(tb.BlobRef(), tb.Reader())
 	if err != nil {
-		id.t.Fatalf("problem indexing blob: %v\nblob was:\n%s", err, signed)
+		id.Fatalf("problem indexing blob: %v\nblob was:\n%s", err, signed)
 	}
 	return tb.BlobRef()
 }
@@ -123,7 +135,7 @@ func (id *IndexDeps) UploadFile(fileName string, contents string) (fileRef, whol
 	wholeRef = cb.BlobRef()
 	_, err := id.Index.ReceiveBlob(wholeRef, cb.Reader())
 	if err != nil {
-		id.t.Fatal(err)
+		id.Fatalf("UploadFile.ReceiveBlob: %v", err)
 	}
 
 	m := schema.NewFileMap(fileName)
@@ -134,7 +146,7 @@ func (id *IndexDeps) UploadFile(fileName string, contents string) (fileRef, whol
 		}})
 	fjson, err := m.JSON()
 	if err != nil {
-		id.t.Fatal(err)
+		id.Fatalf("UploadFile.JSON: %v", err)
 	}
 	fb := &test.Blob{Contents: fjson}
 	id.BlobSource.AddBlob(fb)
@@ -170,7 +182,9 @@ func findGoPathPackage(pkg string) string {
 	panic(fmt.Sprintf("package %q not found in GOPATH(s) of %q", pkg, gp))
 }
 
-func NewIndexDeps(t *testing.T, index *index.Index) *IndexDeps {
+// NewIndexDeps returns an IndexDeps helper for populating and working
+// with the provided index for tests.
+func NewIndexDeps(index *index.Index) *IndexDeps {
 	secretRingFile := filepath.Join(findGoPathPackage("camlistore.org"), "pkg", "jsonsign", "testdata", "test-secring.gpg")
 	pubKey := &test.Blob{Contents: `-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
 
@@ -192,12 +206,12 @@ Enpn/oOOfYFa5h0AFndZd1blMvruXfdAobjVABEBAAE=
 		},
 		SignerBlobRef: pubKey.BlobRef(),
 		now:           time.Unix(1322443956, 123456),
-		t:             t,
+		Fataler:       logFataler{},
 	}
 	// Add dev-camput's test key public key, keyid 26F5ABDA,
 	// blobref sha1-ad87ca5c78bd0ce1195c46f7c98e6025abbaf007
 	if g, w := id.SignerBlobRef.String(), "sha1-ad87ca5c78bd0ce1195c46f7c98e6025abbaf007"; g != w {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected signer blobref; got signer = %q; want %q", g, w)
+		id.Fatalf("unexpected signer blobref; got signer = %q; want %q", g, w)
 	}
 	id.PublicKeyFetcher.AddBlob(pubKey)
 	id.Index.KeyFetcher = id.PublicKeyFetcher
@@ -206,7 +220,8 @@ Enpn/oOOfYFa5h0AFndZd1blMvruXfdAobjVABEBAAE=
 }
 
 func Index(t *testing.T, initIdx func() *index.Index) {
-	id := NewIndexDeps(t, initIdx())
+	id := NewIndexDeps(initIdx())
+	id.Fataler = t
 	pn := id.NewPermanode()
 	t.Logf("uploaded permanode %q", pn)
 	br1 := id.SetAttribute(pn, "foo", "foo1")
@@ -369,7 +384,8 @@ func Index(t *testing.T, initIdx func() *index.Index) {
 }
 
 func PathsOfSignerTarget(t *testing.T, initIdx func() *index.Index) {
-	id := NewIndexDeps(t, initIdx())
+	id := NewIndexDeps(initIdx())
+	id.Fataler = t
 	pn := id.NewPermanode()
 	t.Logf("uploaded permanode %q", pn)
 
@@ -419,7 +435,8 @@ func PathsOfSignerTarget(t *testing.T, initIdx func() *index.Index) {
 }
 
 func Files(t *testing.T, initIdx func() *index.Index) {
-	id := NewIndexDeps(t, initIdx())
+	id := NewIndexDeps(initIdx())
+	id.Fataler = t
 	fileRef, wholeRef := id.UploadFile("foo.html", "<html>I am an html file.</html>")
 	t.Logf("uploaded fileref %q, wholeRef %q", fileRef, wholeRef)
 	id.dumpIndex(t)