diff --git a/python/qemu/aqmp/protocol.py b/python/qemu/aqmp/protocol.py
index ae1df24026..5190b33b13 100644
--- a/python/qemu/aqmp/protocol.py
+++ b/python/qemu/aqmp/protocol.py
@@ -79,7 +79,11 @@ class ConnectError(AQMPError):
         self.exc: Exception = exc
 
     def __str__(self) -> str:
-        return f"{self.error_message}: {self.exc!s}"
+        cause = str(self.exc)
+        if not cause:
+            # If there's no error string, use the exception name.
+            cause = exception_summary(self.exc)
+        return f"{self.error_message}: {cause}"
 
 
 class StateError(AQMPError):
@@ -623,13 +627,21 @@ class AsyncProtocol(Generic[T]):
         def _done(task: Optional['asyncio.Future[Any]']) -> bool:
             return task is not None and task.done()
 
-        # NB: We can't rely on _bh_tasks being done() here, it may not
-        #     yet have had a chance to run and gather itself.
+        # Are we already in an error pathway? If either of the tasks are
+        # already done, or if we have no tasks but a reader/writer; we
+        # must be.
+        #
+        # NB: We can't use _bh_tasks to check for premature task
+        # completion, because it may not yet have had a chance to run
+        # and gather itself.
         tasks = tuple(filter(None, (self._writer_task, self._reader_task)))
         error_pathway = _done(self._reader_task) or _done(self._writer_task)
+        if not tasks:
+            error_pathway |= bool(self._reader) or bool(self._writer)
 
         try:
-            # Try to flush the writer, if possible:
+            # Try to flush the writer, if possible.
+            # This *may* cause an error and force us over into the error path.
             if not error_pathway:
                 await self._bh_flush_writer()
         except BaseException as err:
@@ -639,7 +651,7 @@ class AsyncProtocol(Generic[T]):
             self.logger.debug("%s:\n%s\n", emsg, pretty_traceback())
             raise
         finally:
-            # Cancel any still-running tasks:
+            # Cancel any still-running tasks (Won't raise):
             if self._writer_task is not None and not self._writer_task.done():
                 self.logger.debug("Cancelling writer task.")
                 self._writer_task.cancel()
@@ -652,7 +664,7 @@ class AsyncProtocol(Generic[T]):
                 self.logger.debug("Waiting for tasks to complete ...")
                 await asyncio.wait(tasks)
 
-            # Lastly, close the stream itself. (May raise):
+            # Lastly, close the stream itself. (*May raise*!):
             await self._bh_close_stream(error_pathway)
             self.logger.debug("Disconnected.")
 
diff --git a/scripts/device-crash-test b/scripts/device-crash-test
index 8331c057b8..3db0ffe5b8 100755
--- a/scripts/device-crash-test
+++ b/scripts/device-crash-test
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ from itertools import chain
 
 sys.path.append(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), '..', 'python'))
 from qemu.machine import QEMUMachine
+from qemu.aqmp import ConnectError
 
 logger = logging.getLogger('device-crash-test')
 dbg = logger.debug
@@ -317,9 +318,7 @@ class QemuBinaryInfo(object):
         try:
             vm.launch()
             mi['runnable'] = True
-        except KeyboardInterrupt:
-            raise
-        except:
+        except Exception:
             dbg("exception trying to run binary=%s machine=%s", self.binary, machine, exc_info=sys.exc_info())
             dbg("log: %r", vm.get_log())
             mi['runnable'] = False
@@ -357,12 +356,12 @@ def checkOneCase(args, testcase):
     dbg("will launch QEMU: %s", cmdline)
     vm = QEMUMachine(binary=binary, args=args)
 
+    exc = None
     exc_traceback = None
     try:
         vm.launch()
-    except KeyboardInterrupt:
-        raise
-    except:
+    except Exception as this_exc:
+        exc = this_exc
         exc_traceback = traceback.format_exc()
         dbg("Exception while running test case")
     finally:
@@ -370,8 +369,9 @@ def checkOneCase(args, testcase):
         ec = vm.exitcode()
         log = vm.get_log()
 
-    if exc_traceback is not None or ec != 0:
-        return {'exc_traceback':exc_traceback,
+    if exc is not None or ec != 0:
+        return {'exc': exc,
+                'exc_traceback':exc_traceback,
                 'exitcode':ec,
                 'log':log,
                 'testcase':testcase,
@@ -459,6 +459,17 @@ def logFailure(f, level):
     for l in f['log'].strip().split('\n'):
         logger.log(level, "log: %s", l)
     logger.log(level, "exit code: %r", f['exitcode'])
+
+    # If the Exception is merely a QMP connect error,
+    # reduce the logging level for its traceback to
+    # improve visual clarity.
+    if isinstance(f.get('exc'), ConnectError):
+        logger.log(level, "%s.%s: %s",
+                   type(f['exc']).__module__,
+                   type(f['exc']).__qualname__,
+                   str(f['exc']))
+        level = logging.DEBUG
+
     if f['exc_traceback']:
         logger.log(level, "exception:")
         for l in f['exc_traceback'].split('\n'):
@@ -503,6 +514,12 @@ def main():
         lvl = logging.WARN
     logging.basicConfig(stream=sys.stdout, level=lvl, format='%(levelname)s: %(message)s')
 
+    if not args.debug:
+        # Async QMP, when in use, is chatty about connection failures.
+        # This script knowingly generates a ton of connection errors.
+        # Silence this logger.
+        logging.getLogger('qemu.aqmp.qmp_client').setLevel(logging.CRITICAL)
+
     fatal_failures = []
     wl_stats = {}
     skipped = 0