diff --git a/CIME/hist_utils.py b/CIME/hist_utils.py
index 83f738dda95..ac9f985f774 100644
--- a/CIME/hist_utils.py
+++ b/CIME/hist_utils.py
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@ def copy_histfiles(case, suffix, match_suffix=None):
     num_copied = 0
     for model in _iter_model_file_substrs(case):
         if case.get_value("TEST") and archive.exclude_testing(model):
+            logger.info("Case is a test and component %r is excluded from comparison")
+
             continue
         comments += "  Copying hist files for model '{}'\n".format(model)
         test_hists = archive.get_latest_hist_files(
@@ -289,6 +291,10 @@ def _compare_hists(
     archive = case.get_env("archive")
     ref_case = case.get_value("RUN_REFCASE")
     for model in _iter_model_file_substrs(case):
+        if case.get_value("TEST") and archive.exclude_testing(model):
+            logger.info("Case is a test and component %r is excluded from comparison")
+
+            continue
         if model == "cpl" and suffix2 == "multiinst":
             multiinst_driver_compare = True
         comments += "  comparing model '{}'\n".format(model)