diff --git a/test/functional/test_framework/mininode.py b/test/functional/test_framework/mininode.py
index ebb846a237..d57d46f2ff 100755
--- a/test/functional/test_framework/mininode.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_framework/mininode.py
@@ -1749,7 +1749,7 @@ class NodeConn(asyncore.dispatcher):
     def send_message(self, message, pushbuf=False):
         if self.state != "connected" and not pushbuf:
             raise IOError('Not connected, no pushbuf')
-        logger.debug("Send message to %s:%d: %s" % (self.dstaddr, self.dstport, repr(message)))
+        self._log_message("send", message)
         command = message.command
         data = message.serialize()
         tmsg = self.MAGIC_BYTES[self.network]
@@ -1771,9 +1771,19 @@ class NodeConn(asyncore.dispatcher):
                 self.messagemap[b'ping'] = msg_ping_prebip31
         if self.last_sent + 30 * 60 < time.time():
             self.send_message(self.messagemap[b'ping']())
-        logger.debug("Received message from %s:%d: %s" % (self.dstaddr, self.dstport, repr(message)))
+        self._log_message("receive", message)
         self.cb.deliver(self, message)
 
+    def _log_message(self, direction, msg):
+        if direction == "send":
+            log_message = "Send message to "
+        elif direction == "receive":
+            log_message = "Received message from "
+        log_message += "%s:%d: %s" % (self.dstaddr, self.dstport, repr(msg)[:500])
+        if len(log_message) > 500:
+            log_message += "... (msg truncated)"
+        logger.debug(log_message)
+
     def disconnect_node(self):
         self.disconnect = True
 
diff --git a/test/functional/test_framework/util.py b/test/functional/test_framework/util.py
index 23ac324510..899b0b5a1b 100644
--- a/test/functional/test_framework/util.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_framework/util.py
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ def start_node(i, dirname, extra_args=None, rpchost=None, timewait=None, binary=
     datadir = os.path.join(dirname, "node"+str(i))
     if binary is None:
         binary = os.getenv("BITCOIND", "bitcoind")
-    args = [ binary, "-datadir="+datadir, "-server", "-keypool=1", "-discover=0", "-rest", "-logtimemicros", "-debug", "-mocktime="+str(get_mocktime()) ]
+    args = [binary, "-datadir=" + datadir, "-server", "-keypool=1", "-discover=0", "-rest", "-logtimemicros", "-debug", "-debugexclude=libevent", "-debugexclude=leveldb", "-mocktime=" + str(get_mocktime())]
     if extra_args is not None: args.extend(extra_args)
     bitcoind_processes[i] = subprocess.Popen(args, stderr=stderr)
     logger.debug("initialize_chain: bitcoind started, waiting for RPC to come up")