diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/installer.py b/lib/spack/spack/installer.py
index c19ee9aff8..4ee56db26d 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/installer.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/installer.py
@@ -1276,8 +1276,8 @@ def _requeue_task(self, task):
             task (BuildTask): the installation build task for a package
         """
         if task.status not in [STATUS_INSTALLED, STATUS_INSTALLING]:
-            tty.msg('{0} {1}'.format(install_msg(task.pkg_id, self.pid),
-                                     'in progress by another process'))
+            tty.debug('{0} {1}'.format(install_msg(task.pkg_id, self.pid),
+                                       'in progress by another process'))
 
         new_task = task.next_attempt(self.installed)
         new_task.status = STATUS_INSTALLING
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/installer.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/installer.py
index 840d4bfa7d..861b0db8df 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/installer.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/installer.py
@@ -777,7 +777,11 @@ def test_requeue_task(install_mockery, capfd):
     installer = create_installer(const_arg)
     task = create_build_task(installer.build_requests[0].pkg)
 
+    # temporarily set tty debug messages on so we can test output
+    current_debug_level = tty.debug_level()
+    tty.set_debug(1)
     installer._requeue_task(task)
+    tty.set_debug(current_debug_level)
 
     ids = list(installer.build_tasks)
     assert len(ids) == 1
@@ -786,7 +790,7 @@ def test_requeue_task(install_mockery, capfd):
     assert qtask.sequence > task.sequence
     assert qtask.attempts == task.attempts + 1
 
-    out = capfd.readouterr()[0]
+    out = capfd.readouterr()[1]
     assert 'Installing a' in out
     assert ' in progress by another process' in out