diff --git a/travis-test.sh b/travis-test.sh
index b37044d..8e6bdea 100755
--- a/travis-test.sh
+++ b/travis-test.sh
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ UTILS_UNITTEST=1
 readlinkf() { perl -MCwd -e 'print Cwd::abs_path shift' "$1"; }
 
 # test utilities
-die() {
-  echo "${ANSI_RED}$1${ANSI_RESET}"
+fail() {
+  echo -e "${ANSI_RED}$1${ANSI_RESET}"
   exit 1
 }
 
@@ -44,63 +44,63 @@ CACHEDIR=${CACHEDIR:-${HOME}/.cache}
 
 echo "Testing contents of utils.sh"
 
-[ -d "$SCRIPTDIR" ] || die "SCRIPTDIR does not exist"
-[ -e "$SCRIPTDIR/utils.sh" ] || die "SCRIPTDIR/utils.sh does not exist"
+[ -d "$SCRIPTDIR" ] || fail "SCRIPTDIR does not exist"
+[ -e "$SCRIPTDIR/utils.sh" ] || fail "SCRIPTDIR/utils.sh does not exist"
 
 # source functions
 . $SCRIPTDIR/utils.sh
 
 # check for functions
-fn_exists fold_start || die "function fold_start missing from SCRIPTDIR/utils.sh"
-fn_exists fold_end || die "function fold_end missing from SCRIPTDIR/utils.sh"
-fn_exists source_set || die "function source_set missing from SCRIPTDIR/utils.sh"
-fn_exists update_release_local || die "function update_release_local missing from SCRIPTDIR/utils.sh"
-fn_exists add_dependency || die "function add_dependency missing from SCRIPTDIR/utils.sh"
+fn_exists fold_start || fail "function fold_start missing from SCRIPTDIR/utils.sh"
+fn_exists fold_end || fail "function fold_end missing from SCRIPTDIR/utils.sh"
+fn_exists source_set || fail "function source_set missing from SCRIPTDIR/utils.sh"
+fn_exists update_release_local || fail "function update_release_local missing from SCRIPTDIR/utils.sh"
+fn_exists add_dependency || fail "function add_dependency missing from SCRIPTDIR/utils.sh"
 
 # test source_set()
 ######################################################################
 
-SETUP_DIRS= source_set test01 | grep -q "(SETUP_PATH) is empty" || die "empty search path not detected"
-source_set xxdoesnotexistxx | grep -q "does not exist" || die "missing setup file not detected"
-source_set test01 | grep -q "Loading setup file" || die "test01 setup file not found"
+SETUP_DIRS= source_set test01 | grep -q "(SETUP_PATH) is empty" || fail "empty search path not detected"
+source_set xxdoesnotexistxx | grep -q "does not exist" || fail "missing setup file not detected"
+source_set test01 | grep -q "Loading setup file" || fail "test01 setup file not found"
 unset SEEN_SETUPS
 export BASE=foo
 source_set test01
-[ "$BASE" = "foo" ] || die "preset module BASE version does not override test01 setup file (expected foo got $BASE)"
+[ "$BASE" = "foo" ] || fail "preset module BASE version does not override test01 setup file (expected foo got $BASE)"
 unset SEEN_SETUPS
 BASE=
 source_set test02
-[ "$BASE" = "foo" ] || die "BASE set in test02 does not override included test01 setup file (expected foo got $BASE)"
-[ "$FOO" = "bar" ] || die "Setting of single word does not work"
-[ "$FOO2" = "bar bar2" ] || die "Setting of multiple words does not work"
-[ "$FOO3" = "bar bar2" ] || die "Indented setting of multiple words does not work"
-[ "$SNCSEQ" = "R2-2-7" ] || die "Setup test01 was not included"
+[ "$BASE" = "foo" ] || fail "BASE set in test02 does not override included test01 setup file (expected foo got $BASE)"
+[ "$FOO" = "bar" ] || fail "Setting of single word does not work"
+[ "$FOO2" = "bar bar2" ] || fail "Setting of multiple words does not work"
+[ "$FOO3" = "bar bar2" ] || fail "Indented setting of multiple words does not work"
+[ "$SNCSEQ" = "R2-2-7" ] || fail "Setup test01 was not included"
 unset SEEN_SETUPS
-source_set test03 | grep -q "Ignoring already included setup file" || die "test01 setup file included twice"
+source_set test03 | grep -q "Ignoring already included setup file" || fail "test01 setup file included twice"
 
 # test default settings file
 ######################################################################
 
 echo "Testing default settings for completeness and valid git repo settings"
 
-[ -e ./defaults.set ] || die "defaults.set does not exist"
+[ -e ./defaults.set ] || fail "defaults.set does not exist"
 source_set defaults
 
-repo_exists BASE || die "Defaults for BASE do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
-repo_exists PVDATA || die "Defaults for PVDATA do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
-repo_exists PVACCESS || die "Defaults for PVACCESS do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
-repo_exists NTYPES || die "Defaults for NTYPES do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
-repo_exists SNCSEQ || die "Defaults for SNCSEQ do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
-repo_exists STREAM || die "Defaults for STREAM do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
-repo_exists ASYN || die "Defaults for ASYN do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
-repo_exists STD || die "Defaults for STD do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
-repo_exists CALC || die "Defaults for CALC do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
-repo_exists AUTOSAVE || die "Defaults for AUTOSAVE do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
-repo_exists BUSY || die "Defaults for BUSY do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
-repo_exists SSCAN || die "Defaults for SSCAN do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
-repo_exists IOCSTATS || die "Defaults for IOCSTATS do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
-repo_exists MOTOR || die "Defaults for MOTOR do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
-repo_exists IPAC || die "Defaults for IPAC do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
+repo_exists BASE || fail "Defaults for BASE do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
+repo_exists PVDATA || fail "Defaults for PVDATA do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
+repo_exists PVACCESS || fail "Defaults for PVACCESS do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
+repo_exists NTYPES || fail "Defaults for NTYPES do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
+repo_exists SNCSEQ || fail "Defaults for SNCSEQ do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
+repo_exists STREAM || fail "Defaults for STREAM do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
+repo_exists ASYN || fail "Defaults for ASYN do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
+repo_exists STD || fail "Defaults for STD do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
+repo_exists CALC || fail "Defaults for CALC do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
+repo_exists AUTOSAVE || fail "Defaults for AUTOSAVE do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
+repo_exists BUSY || fail "Defaults for BUSY do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
+repo_exists SSCAN || fail "Defaults for SSCAN do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
+repo_exists IOCSTATS || fail "Defaults for IOCSTATS do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
+repo_exists MOTOR || fail "Defaults for MOTOR do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
+repo_exists IPAC || fail "Defaults for IPAC do not point to a valid git repository at $repourl"
 
 # test update_release_local()
 ######################################################################
@@ -114,34 +114,34 @@ rm -f $release_local
 # Set a module
 update_release_local MOD1 /tmp/mod1
 updated_line="MOD1=/tmp/mod1"
-grep -q "MOD1=" $release_local || die "Line for MOD1 not added to RELEASE.local"
+grep -q "MOD1=" $release_local || fail "Line for MOD1 not added to RELEASE.local"
 existing_line=$(grep "MOD1=" $release_local)
-[ "${existing_line}" = "${updated_line}" ] || die "Wrong line for MOD1 in RELEASE.local (expected=\"$updated_line\" found=\"$existing_line\")"
+[ "${existing_line}" = "${updated_line}" ] || fail "Wrong line for MOD1 in RELEASE.local (expected=\"$updated_line\" found=\"$existing_line\")"
 
 # Set base
 update_release_local EPICS_BASE /tmp/base
 updated_line="EPICS_BASE=/tmp/base"
-grep -q "EPICS_BASE=" $release_local || die "Line for EPICS_BASE not added to RELEASE.local"
+grep -q "EPICS_BASE=" $release_local || fail "Line for EPICS_BASE not added to RELEASE.local"
 
 # Set another module
 update_release_local MOD2 /tmp/mod2
 updated_line="MOD2=/tmp/mod2"
-grep -q "MOD2=" $release_local || die "Line for MOD2 not added to RELEASE.local"
+grep -q "MOD2=" $release_local || fail "Line for MOD2 not added to RELEASE.local"
 existing_line=$(grep "MOD2=" $release_local)
-[ "${existing_line}" = "${updated_line}" ] || die "Wrong line for MOD2 in RELEASE.local (expected=\"$updated_line\" found=\"$existing_line\")"
-tail -n 1 $release_local | grep -q "EPICS_BASE=" || die "Line for EPICS_BASE not moved to the end of RELEASE.local"
+[ "${existing_line}" = "${updated_line}" ] || fail "Wrong line for MOD2 in RELEASE.local (expected=\"$updated_line\" found=\"$existing_line\")"
+tail -n 1 $release_local | grep -q "EPICS_BASE=" || fail "Line for EPICS_BASE not moved to the end of RELEASE.local"
 
 # Update a module
 update_release_local MOD1 /tmp/mod1b
 updated_line="MOD1=/tmp/mod1b"
-grep -q "MOD1=" $release_local || die "Line for MOD1 not present in RELEASE.local"
+grep -q "MOD1=" $release_local || fail "Line for MOD1 not present in RELEASE.local"
 existing_line=$(grep "MOD1=" $release_local)
-[ "${existing_line}" = "${updated_line}" ] || die "Wrong line for MOD1 in RELEASE.local (expected=\"$updated_line\" found=\"$existing_line\")"
-head -n 1 $release_local | grep -q "MOD1=" || die "Line for MOD1 not at the top of RELEASE.local"
-tail -n 1 $release_local | grep -q "EPICS_BASE=" || die "Line for EPICS_BASE not moved to the end of RELEASE.local"
+[ "${existing_line}" = "${updated_line}" ] || fail "Wrong line for MOD1 in RELEASE.local (expected=\"$updated_line\" found=\"$existing_line\")"
+head -n 1 $release_local | grep -q "MOD1=" || fail "Line for MOD1 not at the top of RELEASE.local"
+tail -n 1 $release_local | grep -q "EPICS_BASE=" || fail "Line for EPICS_BASE not moved to the end of RELEASE.local"
 
 # Check that RELEASE.local only contains variable settings
-[ $(grep -v -c '[^ =]*=.*' $release_local) -ne 0 ] && die "RELEASE.local contains invalid lines"
+[ $(grep -v -c '[^ =]*=.*' $release_local) -ne 0 ] && fail "RELEASE.local contains invalid lines"
 
 rm -f $release_local
 
@@ -158,63 +158,63 @@ location=$CACHEDIR/base-R3.15.6
 # dependency does not exist in the cache
 rm -fr $location; modules_to_compile=
 add_dependency BASE R3.15.6
-[ -e $location/LICENSE ] || die "Missing dependency was not checked out"
+[ -e $location/LICENSE ] || fail "Missing dependency was not checked out"
 BUILT=$(cat "$location/built")
-[ "$BUILT" != "$hash_3_15_6" ] && die "Wrong commit of dependency checked out (expected=\"$hash_3_15_6\" found=\"$BUILT\")"
-grep -q "include \$(TOP)/../RELEASE.local" $location/configure/RELEASE && die "RELEASE in Base includes RELEASE.local"
-[ "$do_recompile" ] || die "do_recompile flag was not set for missing dependency"
-echo "$modules_to_compile" | grep -q "$location" || die "Missing dependency was not set to compile"
+[ "$BUILT" != "$hash_3_15_6" ] && fail "Wrong commit of dependency checked out (expected=\"$hash_3_15_6\" found=\"$BUILT\")"
+grep -q "include \$(TOP)/../RELEASE.local" $location/configure/RELEASE && fail "RELEASE in Base includes RELEASE.local"
+[ "$do_recompile" ] || fail "do_recompile flag was not set for missing dependency"
+echo "$modules_to_compile" | grep -q "$location" || fail "Missing dependency was not set to compile"
 
 # up-to-date dependency does exist in the cache
 ( cd $CACHEDIR; git clone --quiet --depth 5 --recursive --branch R3.15.6 https://github.com/epics-base/epics-base.git base-R3.15.6 )
 rm -f $location/LICENSE
 unset do_recompile; modules_to_compile=
 add_dependency BASE R3.15.6
-[ -e $location/LICENSE ] && die "Existing correct dependency was checked out on top"
-[ "$do_recompile" ] && die "do_recompile flag was set for up-to-date dependency"
-echo "$modules_to_compile" | grep -q "$location" && die "Up-to-date dependency was set to compile"
+[ -e $location/LICENSE ] && fail "Existing correct dependency was checked out on top"
+[ "$do_recompile" ] && fail "do_recompile flag was set for up-to-date dependency"
+echo "$modules_to_compile" | grep -q "$location" && fail "Up-to-date dependency was set to compile"
 
 do_recompile=yes
 add_dependency BASE R3.15.6
-echo "$modules_to_compile" | grep -q "$location" || die "Up-to-date module was not set to compile wile do_recompile=yes"
+echo "$modules_to_compile" | grep -q "$location" || fail "Up-to-date module was not set to compile wile do_recompile=yes"
 
 # dependency in the cache is outdated
 echo "nottherighthash" > "$location/built"
 unset do_recompile
 add_dependency BASE R3.15.6
-[ -e $location/LICENSE ] || die "Outdated dependency was not checked out"
+[ -e $location/LICENSE ] || fail "Outdated dependency was not checked out"
 BUILT=$(cat "$location/built")
-[ "$BUILT" != "$hash_3_15_6" ] && die "Wrong commit of dependency checked out (expected=\"$hash_3_15_6\" found=\"$BUILT\")"
-[ "$do_recompile" ] || die "do_recompile flag was not set for outdated dependency"
-echo "$modules_to_compile" | grep -q "$location" || die "Outdated dependency was not set to compile"
+[ "$BUILT" != "$hash_3_15_6" ] && fail "Wrong commit of dependency checked out (expected=\"$hash_3_15_6\" found=\"$BUILT\")"
+[ "$do_recompile" ] || fail "do_recompile flag was not set for outdated dependency"
+echo "$modules_to_compile" | grep -q "$location" || fail "Outdated dependency was not set to compile"
 
 # msi is automatically added to 3.14
 rm -fr $location; modules_to_compile=
 location=$CACHEDIR/base-R3.14.12.1
 rm -fr $location;
 add_dependency BASE R3.14.12.1
-[ -e $location/src/dbtools/msi.c ] || die "MSI was not added to Base 3.14"
+[ -e $location/src/dbtools/msi.c ] || fail "MSI was not added to Base 3.14"
 
 rm -fr $CACHEDIR/*; modules_to_compile=
 
 # missing inclusion of RELEASE.local in configure/RELEASE
 location=$CACHEDIR/std-R3-4
 add_dependency STD R3-4
-grep -q "include \$(TOP)/../RELEASE.local" $location/configure/RELEASE || die "Inclusion of RELEASE.local not added to configure/RELEASE"
+grep -q "include \$(TOP)/../RELEASE.local" $location/configure/RELEASE || fail "Inclusion of RELEASE.local not added to configure/RELEASE"
 rm -fr $location; modules_to_compile=
 
 # correct handling of FOO_RECURSIVE setting (https://github.com/epics-base/ci-scripts/issues/25 regression)
 export SSCAN_RECURSIVE=NO
 add_dependency SSCAN master
 add_dependency ASYN master
-[ -e $CACHEDIR/sscan-master/.ci/README.md ] && die "Sscan was checked out recursively despite SSCAN_RECURSIVE=NO"
-[ -e $CACHEDIR/asyn-master/.ci/README.md ] || die "Asyn was not checked out recursively"
+[ -e $CACHEDIR/sscan-master/.ci/README.md ] && fail "Sscan was checked out recursively despite SSCAN_RECURSIVE=NO"
+[ -e $CACHEDIR/asyn-master/.ci/README.md ] || fail "Asyn was not checked out recursively"
 rm -fr $CACHEDIR/*; modules_to_compile=
 
 unset SSCAN_RECURSIVE
 export ASYN_RECURSIVE=NO
 add_dependency SSCAN master
 add_dependency ASYN master
-[ -e $CACHEDIR/sscan-master/.ci/README.md ] || die "Sscan was not checked out recursively"
-[ -e $CACHEDIR/asyn-master/.ci/README.md ] && die "Asyn was checked out recursively despite ASYN_RECURSIVE=NO"
+[ -e $CACHEDIR/sscan-master/.ci/README.md ] || fail "Sscan was not checked out recursively"
+[ -e $CACHEDIR/asyn-master/.ci/README.md ] && fail "Asyn was checked out recursively despite ASYN_RECURSIVE=NO"
 rm -fr $CACHEDIR/*