diff --git a/.config/dictionary.txt b/.config/dictionary.txt
index 0817cbff81..b3d785e0cb 100644
--- a/.config/dictionary.txt
+++ b/.config/dictionary.txt
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ templated
 templating
 testhost
 testname
+testsfailed
 topbar
 tracebacks
 truecolor
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 7b63776a61..a0d440f33f 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -78,9 +78,7 @@ incremental = false
 
 [[tool.mypy.overrides]]
 # https://github.com/ansible/ansible-runner/issues/1340
-module = [
-  "ansible_runner"
-]
+module = ["ansible_runner"]
 ignore_missing_imports = true
 
 [tool.pydoclint]
@@ -111,6 +109,7 @@ ignore = [
 good-names = "i,j,k,ex,Run,_,f,fh"
 jobs = 0
 no-docstring-rgx = "__.*__"
+max-args = 6 # default of 5 too low
 
 [tool.pylint.messages_control]
 disable = [
diff --git a/src/ansible_navigator/ui_framework/menu_builder.py b/src/ansible_navigator/ui_framework/menu_builder.py
index eb707e469f..7cf905a2e4 100644
--- a/src/ansible_navigator/ui_framework/menu_builder.py
+++ b/src/ansible_navigator/ui_framework/menu_builder.py
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ def __init__(
         :param color_menu_item: The callback for adding color to menu entries
         :param ui_config: The current user interface configuration
         """
-        # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
         self._number_colors = number_colors
         self._progress_bar_width = progress_bar_width
         self._screen_width = screen_width
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 46e81631b2..1597db4c41 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@
 from .defaults import FIXTURES_DIR
 
 
+# implicit verbosity, updated at runtime
+VERBOSITY = 0
+
+
 def valid_ce() -> str:
     """Return an available container engine.
 
@@ -199,7 +203,8 @@ def pull_image(valid_container_engine: str, image_name: str) -> None:
         pull_policy="missing",
     )
     image_puller.assess()
-    image_puller.prologue_stdout()
+    if VERBOSITY > 0:
+        image_puller.prologue_stdout()
     if image_puller.assessment.exit_messages:
         print(
             msg.to_lines(color=False, width=console_width(), with_prefix=True)
@@ -313,6 +318,14 @@ def pytest_sessionstart(session: pytest.Session) -> None:
     if getattr(session.config, "workerinput", None) is not None:
         return
     container_engine = valid_ce()
+    # fail fast if engine is not working properly, macos podman machine have
+    # the habit of getting stuck.
+    try:
+        cmd = [container_engine, "info"]
+        subprocess.check_output(cmd, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT, timeout=6)
+    except (subprocess.CalledProcessError, subprocess.TimeoutExpired) as exc:
+        pytest.exit(f"Container engine is broken, fail to run: {' '.join(cmd)}: {exc}")
+
     pull_image(
         valid_container_engine=container_engine,
         image_name=default_ee_image_name(),
@@ -331,6 +344,8 @@ def pytest_configure(config: pytest.Config) -> None:
 
     :param config: The pytest config object
     """
+    global VERBOSITY
+    VERBOSITY = config.option.verbose
     # limit an environment variables that may conflict with tests
     allow = ("ANSIBLE_NAVIGATOR_UPDATE_TEST_FIXTURES",)
     for k in os.environ:
@@ -371,3 +386,18 @@ def pytest_unconfigure(config: pytest.Config) -> None:
     """
     for key, value in USER_ENVIRONMENT.items():
         os.environ[key] = value
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope="function")
+def skip_if_already_failed(
+    request: pytest.FixtureRequest, failed=set()
+) -> Generator[None, None, None]:
+    """Fixture that stops parametrized tests running on first failure."""
+    key = request.node.name.split("[")[0]
+    failed_before = request.session.testsfailed
+    if key in failed:
+        pytest.skip(f"previous test {key} failed")
+    yield
+    failed_after = request.session.testsfailed
+    if failed_before != failed_after:
+        failed.add(key)
diff --git a/tests/integration/actions/builder/base.py b/tests/integration/actions/builder/base.py
index 38ca1a0632..c481929919 100644
--- a/tests/integration/actions/builder/base.py
+++ b/tests/integration/actions/builder/base.py
@@ -45,7 +45,11 @@ def fixture_tmux_session(
             yield tmux_session
 
     def test(
-        self, request: pytest.FixtureRequest, tmux_session: TmuxSession, step: UiTestStep
+        self,
+        request: pytest.FixtureRequest,
+        tmux_session: TmuxSession,
+        step: UiTestStep,
+        skip_if_already_failed: None,
     ) -> None:
         """Run the tests for ``builder``, mode and ``ee`` set in child class.
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/actions/collections/base.py b/tests/integration/actions/collections/base.py
index b205de1593..76dfae9a1a 100644
--- a/tests/integration/actions/collections/base.py
+++ b/tests/integration/actions/collections/base.py
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ def test(
         request: pytest.FixtureRequest,
         step: UiTestStep,
         tmux_session: TmuxSession,
+        skip_if_already_failed: None,
     ) -> None:
         """Run the tests for ``collections``, mode and ``ee`` set in child class.
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/actions/config/base.py b/tests/integration/actions/config/base.py
index 0f834fd7fc..aca4de4f1f 100644
--- a/tests/integration/actions/config/base.py
+++ b/tests/integration/actions/config/base.py
@@ -66,7 +66,11 @@ def fixture_tmux_session(
             yield tmux_session
 
     def test(
-        self, request: pytest.FixtureRequest, tmux_session: TmuxSession, step: UiTestStep
+        self,
+        request: pytest.FixtureRequest,
+        tmux_session: TmuxSession,
+        step: UiTestStep,
+        skip_if_already_failed: None,
     ) -> None:
         # pylint: disable=too-many-locals
         """Run the tests for ``config``, mode and ``ee`` set in child class.
diff --git a/tests/integration/actions/doc/base.py b/tests/integration/actions/doc/base.py
index b9d55c10ea..05e5ffc638 100644
--- a/tests/integration/actions/doc/base.py
+++ b/tests/integration/actions/doc/base.py
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ def test(
         comment: str,
         testname: str,
         expected_in_output: list[str] | None,
+        skip_if_already_failed: None,
     ) -> None:
         # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
         # pylint: disable=too-many-locals
diff --git a/tests/integration/actions/doc/test_stdout_subprocess.py b/tests/integration/actions/doc/test_stdout_subprocess.py
index 83d215a24c..5514c856f1 100644
--- a/tests/integration/actions/doc/test_stdout_subprocess.py
+++ b/tests/integration/actions/doc/test_stdout_subprocess.py
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ def test(
     data: StdoutCliTest,
     exec_env: bool,
     cmd_in_tty: TCmdInTty,
+    skip_if_already_failed: None,
 ) -> None:
     """Test doc using subcommand.
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/actions/exec/base.py b/tests/integration/actions/exec/base.py
index b55eda22db..4eed4c8c7b 100644
--- a/tests/integration/actions/exec/base.py
+++ b/tests/integration/actions/exec/base.py
@@ -54,7 +54,11 @@ def fixture_tmux_session(
             yield tmux_session
 
     def test(
-        self, request: pytest.FixtureRequest, tmux_session: TmuxSession, step: UiTestStep
+        self,
+        request: pytest.FixtureRequest,
+        tmux_session: TmuxSession,
+        step: UiTestStep,
+        skip_if_already_failed: None,
     ) -> None:
         """Test interactive/stdout exec.
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/actions/images/base.py b/tests/integration/actions/images/base.py
index 533f2a5310..75d33493e6 100644
--- a/tests/integration/actions/images/base.py
+++ b/tests/integration/actions/images/base.py
@@ -74,7 +74,11 @@ def fixture_tmux_session(request: pytest.FixtureRequest) -> Generator[TmuxSessio
             yield tmux_session
 
     def test(
-        self, request: pytest.FixtureRequest, tmux_session: TmuxSession, step: UiTestStep
+        self,
+        request: pytest.FixtureRequest,
+        tmux_session: TmuxSession,
+        step: UiTestStep,
+        skip_if_already_failed: None,
     ) -> None:
         """Run the tests for images, mode and ``ee`` set in child class.
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/actions/inventory/base.py b/tests/integration/actions/inventory/base.py
index 909666d94a..8c39e027c0 100644
--- a/tests/integration/actions/inventory/base.py
+++ b/tests/integration/actions/inventory/base.py
@@ -79,7 +79,11 @@ def fixture_tmux_session(request: pytest.FixtureRequest) -> Generator[TmuxSessio
             yield tmux_session
 
     def test(
-        self, request: pytest.FixtureRequest, tmux_session: TmuxSession, step: UiTestStep
+        self,
+        request: pytest.FixtureRequest,
+        tmux_session: TmuxSession,
+        step: UiTestStep,
+        skip_if_already_failed: None,
     ) -> None:
         """Run the tests for inventory, mode and ``ee`` set in child class.
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/actions/lint/base.py b/tests/integration/actions/lint/base.py
index d4283ab422..2e0c0b05c5 100644
--- a/tests/integration/actions/lint/base.py
+++ b/tests/integration/actions/lint/base.py
@@ -46,7 +46,11 @@ def fixture_tmux_session(request: pytest.FixtureRequest) -> Generator[TmuxSessio
             yield tmux_session
 
     def test(
-        self, request: pytest.FixtureRequest, tmux_session: TmuxSession, step: UiTestStep
+        self,
+        request: pytest.FixtureRequest,
+        tmux_session: TmuxSession,
+        step: UiTestStep,
+        skip_if_already_failed: None,
     ) -> None:
         """Run the tests for lint, mode and ``ee`` set in child class.
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/actions/run/base.py b/tests/integration/actions/run/base.py
index 939a564bb4..4ab9763981 100644
--- a/tests/integration/actions/run/base.py
+++ b/tests/integration/actions/run/base.py
@@ -70,7 +70,11 @@ def fixture_tmux_session(request: pytest.FixtureRequest) -> Generator[TmuxSessio
             yield tmux_session
 
     def test(
-        self, request: pytest.FixtureRequest, tmux_session: TmuxSession, step: UiTestStep
+        self,
+        request: pytest.FixtureRequest,
+        tmux_session: TmuxSession,
+        step: UiTestStep,
+        skip_if_already_failed: None,
     ) -> None:
         """Run the tests for run, mode and ``ee`` set in child class.
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/actions/run_unicode/base.py b/tests/integration/actions/run_unicode/base.py
index c6f501c3df..179e7f6ab2 100644
--- a/tests/integration/actions/run_unicode/base.py
+++ b/tests/integration/actions/run_unicode/base.py
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ def test(
         request: pytest.FixtureRequest,
         tmux_session: TmuxSession,
         step: UiTestStep,
+        skip_if_already_failed: None,
     ) -> None:
         """Run the tests for run, mode and ``ee`` set in child class.
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/actions/settings/base.py b/tests/integration/actions/settings/base.py
index 4721ae9ca9..4a5937d0fe 100644
--- a/tests/integration/actions/settings/base.py
+++ b/tests/integration/actions/settings/base.py
@@ -67,7 +67,11 @@ def fixture_tmux_session(
             yield tmux_session
 
     def test(
-        self, request: pytest.FixtureRequest, tmux_session: TmuxSession, step: UiTestStep
+        self,
+        request: pytest.FixtureRequest,
+        tmux_session: TmuxSession,
+        step: UiTestStep,
+        skip_if_already_failed: None,
     ) -> None:
         # pylint: disable=too-many-locals
         """Run the tests for ``settings``, mode and ``ee`` set in child class.
diff --git a/tests/integration/actions/stdout/base.py b/tests/integration/actions/stdout/base.py
index 1a92f534ef..7b06d4cabf 100644
--- a/tests/integration/actions/stdout/base.py
+++ b/tests/integration/actions/stdout/base.py
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ def test(
         user_input: str,
         comment: str,
         search_within_response: str,
+        skip_if_already_failed: None,
     ) -> None:
         # pylint:disable=too-many-arguments
         """Run the tests for stdout, mode and EE set in child class.
diff --git a/tests/integration/actions/templar/base.py b/tests/integration/actions/templar/base.py
index 71dff871e6..5aea573720 100644
--- a/tests/integration/actions/templar/base.py
+++ b/tests/integration/actions/templar/base.py
@@ -86,7 +86,11 @@ def fixture_tmux_session(request: pytest.FixtureRequest) -> Generator[TmuxSessio
             yield tmux_session
 
     def test(
-        self, request: pytest.FixtureRequest, tmux_session: TmuxSession, step: UiTestStep
+        self,
+        request: pytest.FixtureRequest,
+        tmux_session: TmuxSession,
+        step: UiTestStep,
+        skip_if_already_failed: None,
     ) -> None:
         """Test interactive and ``stdout`` mode ``config``.
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/diagnostics/test_from_cli.py b/tests/integration/diagnostics/test_from_cli.py
index cc850512f1..4ae04c9f92 100644
--- a/tests/integration/diagnostics/test_from_cli.py
+++ b/tests/integration/diagnostics/test_from_cli.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ def test(
     monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
     settings_env_var_to_full: tuple[Path, SettingsFileType],
     tmp_path: Path,
+    skip_if_already_failed: None,
 ) -> None:
     """Test diagnostics generation.
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/configuration_subsystem/test_posix_message_queue.py b/tests/unit/configuration_subsystem/test_posix_message_queue.py
index 3d3d7269ef..dc881e21ae 100644
--- a/tests/unit/configuration_subsystem/test_posix_message_queue.py
+++ b/tests/unit/configuration_subsystem/test_posix_message_queue.py
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ def test_posix_message_queue_ee(
     :param platform: The system platform to mock
     :param generate_config: The configuration generator fixture
     """
-    # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
     message_queue_msg = (
         "Execution environment support while using podman requires a '/dev/mqueue/' directory."
     )
diff --git a/tests/unit/utils/test_functions.py b/tests/unit/utils/test_functions.py
index 08f2b010a0..8253bc5cf8 100644
--- a/tests/unit/utils/test_functions.py
+++ b/tests/unit/utils/test_functions.py
@@ -287,3 +287,18 @@ def test_now_iso(caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture, time_zone: str) -> None:
     if time_zone == "bogus":
         assert matched["timezone"] == "+00:00"
         assert "The time zone 'bogus' could not be found. Using UTC." in caplog.text
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "data,output",
+    (
+        pytest.param({}, {}, id="0"),
+        pytest.param(None, None, id="1"),
+        pytest.param([], [], id="2"),
+        pytest.param("foo", "foo", id="3"),
+    ),
+)
+def test_unescape_moustaches(data: Any, output: Any) -> None:
+    """Tests unescape_moustaches."""
+    result = functions.unescape_moustaches(data)
+    assert result == output
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index ed99778647..0b78a38137 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ commands =
   # pytest params are kept in pyproject.toml
   # if one wants to control parallelism define PYTEST_XDIST_AUTO_NUM_WORKERS
   coverage run -m pytest {posargs:-n=auto --dist=loadfile}
-  sh -c "coverage combine -q .tox/.coverage.* && coverage xml || true && coverage report"
+  sh -c "coverage combine -q {toxworkdir}/.coverage.* && coverage xml || true && coverage report"
 setenv =
   COVERAGE_FILE = {env:COVERAGE_FILE:{toxworkdir}/.coverage.{envname}}
   COVERAGE_PROCESS_START={toxinidir}/pyproject.toml