diff --git a/examples/debugging/multi_nested_subactors_error_up_through_nurseries.py b/examples/debugging/multi_nested_subactors_error_up_through_nurseries.py
index f9adb25..348a5ee 100644
--- a/examples/debugging/multi_nested_subactors_error_up_through_nurseries.py
+++ b/examples/debugging/multi_nested_subactors_error_up_through_nurseries.py
@@ -12,18 +12,31 @@ async def breakpoint_forever():
     while True:
         await tractor.breakpoint()
 
+        # NOTE: if the test never sent 'q'/'quit' commands
+        # on the pdb repl, without this checkpoint line the
+        # repl would spin in this actor forever.
+        # await trio.sleep(0)
+
 
 async def spawn_until(depth=0):
     """"A nested nursery that triggers another ``NameError``.
     """
     async with tractor.open_nursery() as n:
         if depth < 1:
-            # await n.run_in_actor('breakpoint_forever', breakpoint_forever)
-            await n.run_in_actor(
+
+            await n.run_in_actor(breakpoint_forever)
+
+            p = await n.run_in_actor(
                 name_error,
                 name='name_error'
             )
+            await trio.sleep(0.5)
+            # rx and propagate error from child
+            await p.result()
+
         else:
+            # recusrive call to spawn another process branching layer of
+            # the tree
             depth -= 1
             await n.run_in_actor(
                 spawn_until,
@@ -53,6 +66,7 @@ async def main():
     """
     async with tractor.open_nursery(
         debug_mode=True,
+        # loglevel='cancel',
     ) as n:
 
         # spawn both actors
@@ -67,8 +81,16 @@ async def main():
             name='spawner1',
         )
 
+        # TODO: test this case as well where the parent don't see
+        # the sub-actor errors by default and instead expect a user
+        # ctrl-c to kill the root.
+        with trio.move_on_after(3):
+            await trio.sleep_forever()
+
         # gah still an issue here.
         await portal.result()
+
+        # should never get here
         await portal1.result()
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_debugger.py b/tests/test_debugger.py
index aa972d7..8704bb1 100644
--- a/tests/test_debugger.py
+++ b/tests/test_debugger.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ TODO:
     - wonder if any of it'll work on OS X?
 
 """
+import itertools
 from os import path
 from typing import Optional
 import platform
@@ -783,24 +784,31 @@ def test_multi_nested_subactors_error_through_nurseries(
 
     timed_out_early: bool = False
 
-    for i in range(12):
+    for send_char in itertools.cycle(['c', 'q']):
         try:
             child.expect(r"\(Pdb\+\+\)")
-            child.sendline('c')
-            time.sleep(0.1)
+            child.sendline(send_char)
+            time.sleep(0.01)
 
         except EOF:
-
-            # race conditions on how fast the continue is sent?
-            print(f"Failed early on {i}?")
-            timed_out_early = True
             break
-    else:
-        child.expect(pexpect.EOF)
 
-    if not timed_out_early:
-        before = str(child.before.decode())
-        assert "NameError" in before
+    assert_before(child, [
+
+        # boxed source errors
+        "NameError: name 'doggypants' is not defined",
+        "tractor._exceptions.RemoteActorError: ('name_error'",
+        "bdb.BdbQuit",
+
+        # first level subtrees
+        "tractor._exceptions.RemoteActorError: ('spawner0'",
+        # "tractor._exceptions.RemoteActorError: ('spawner1'",
+
+        # propagation of errors up through nested subtrees
+        "tractor._exceptions.RemoteActorError: ('spawn_until_0'",
+        "tractor._exceptions.RemoteActorError: ('spawn_until_1'",
+        "tractor._exceptions.RemoteActorError: ('spawn_until_2'",
+    ])
 
 
 @pytest.mark.timeout(15)