diff --git a/config/environments/test.rb b/config/environments/test.rb
index 4cb00ebe24..e7388b07af 100644
--- a/config/environments/test.rb
+++ b/config/environments/test.rb
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
   # recommended that you enable it in continuous integration systems to ensure eager
   # loading is working properly before deploying your code.
   config.eager_load = ENV["CI"].present?
+  # cache classes on CI, but enable reloading for local work (bin/rspec)
+  config.enable_reloading = ENV["CI"].blank?
 
   # Configure public file server for tests with Cache-Control for performance.
   config.public_file_server.enabled = true
diff --git a/spec/rails_helper.rb b/spec/rails_helper.rb
index f347fcf3d5..8243e8f03f 100644
--- a/spec/rails_helper.rb
+++ b/spec/rails_helper.rb
@@ -65,7 +65,13 @@
 
   config.example_status_persistence_file_path = "#{::Rails.root}/tmp/persistent_examples.txt"
 
+  # Filter backtraces to gems that are not under our control.
+  # Can override using `--backtrace` option to rspec to see full backtraces.
   config.filter_rails_from_backtrace!
+  config.filter_gems_from_backtrace(*%w[
+    bootsnap capybara factory_bot puma rack railties shoulda-matchers
+    sprockets-rails pundit
+  ])
 
   config.disable_monkey_patching!