diff --git a/src/test/cli.ts b/src/test/cli.ts
index b4cfdae229..1aa604e4d6 100644
--- a/src/test/cli.ts
+++ b/src/test/cli.ts
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ export function addTestCommand(program: commander.CommanderStatic) {
     try {
       await runTests(args, opts);
     } catch (e) {
-      console.error(e.toString());
+      console.error(e);
       process.exit(1);
     }
   });
diff --git a/src/test/fixtures.ts b/src/test/fixtures.ts
index dd018a3696..bd95657291 100644
--- a/src/test/fixtures.ts
+++ b/src/test/fixtures.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import { errorWithCallLocation, formatLocation, prependErrorMessage, wrapInPromise } from './util';
+import { wrapInPromise } from './util';
 import * as crypto from 'crypto';
 import { FixturesWithLocation, Location } from './types';
 
@@ -56,9 +56,7 @@ class Fixture {
 
     const params: { [key: string]: any } = {};
     for (const name of this.registration.deps) {
-      const registration = this.runner.pool!.resolveDependency(this.registration, name);
-      if (!registration)
-        throw errorWithCallLocation(`Unknown fixture "${name}"`);
+      const registration = this.runner.pool!.resolveDependency(this.registration, name)!;
       const dep = await this.runner.setupFixtureForRegistration(registration, info);
       dep.usages.add(this);
       params[name] = dep.value;
@@ -71,7 +69,7 @@ class Fixture {
     const teardownFence = new Promise(f => this._teardownFenceCallback = f);
     this._tearDownComplete = wrapInPromise(this.registration.fn(params, async (value: any) => {
       if (called)
-        throw errorWithCallLocation(`Cannot provide fixture value for the second time`);
+        throw new Error(`Cannot provide fixture value for the second time`);
       called = true;
       this.value = value;
       setupFenceFulfill();
@@ -111,40 +109,35 @@ export class FixturePool {
     this.registrations = new Map(parentPool ? parentPool.registrations : []);
 
     for (const { fixtures, location } of fixturesList) {
-      try {
-        for (const entry of Object.entries(fixtures)) {
-          const name = entry[0];
-          let value = entry[1];
-          let options: { auto: boolean, scope: FixtureScope } | undefined;
-          if (Array.isArray(value) && typeof value[1] === 'object' && ('scope' in value[1] || 'auto' in value[1])) {
-            options = {
-              auto: !!value[1].auto,
-              scope: value[1].scope || 'test'
-            };
-            value = value[0];
-          }
-          const fn = value as (Function | any);
-
-          const previous = this.registrations.get(name);
-          if (previous && options) {
-            if (previous.scope !== options.scope)
-              throw errorWithLocations(`Fixture "${name}" has already been registered as a { scope: '${previous.scope}' } fixture.`, { location, name}, previous);
-            if (previous.auto !== options.auto)
-              throw errorWithLocations(`Fixture "${name}" has already been registered as a { auto: '${previous.scope}' } fixture.`, { location, name }, previous);
-          } else if (previous) {
-            options = { auto: previous.auto, scope: previous.scope };
-          } else if (!options) {
-            options = { auto: false, scope: 'test' };
-          }
-
-          const deps = fixtureParameterNames(fn, location);
-          const registration: FixtureRegistration = { id: '', name, location, scope: options.scope, fn, auto: options.auto, deps, super: previous };
-          registrationId(registration);
-          this.registrations.set(name, registration);
+      for (const entry of Object.entries(fixtures)) {
+        const name = entry[0];
+        let value = entry[1];
+        let options: { auto: boolean, scope: FixtureScope } | undefined;
+        if (Array.isArray(value) && typeof value[1] === 'object' && ('scope' in value[1] || 'auto' in value[1])) {
+          options = {
+            auto: !!value[1].auto,
+            scope: value[1].scope || 'test'
+          };
+          value = value[0];
         }
-      } catch (e) {
-        prependErrorMessage(e, `Error processing fixtures at ${formatLocation(location)}:\n`);
-        throw e;
+        const fn = value as (Function | any);
+
+        const previous = this.registrations.get(name);
+        if (previous && options) {
+          if (previous.scope !== options.scope)
+            throw errorWithLocations(`Fixture "${name}" has already been registered as a { scope: '${previous.scope}' } fixture.`, { location, name }, previous);
+          if (previous.auto !== options.auto)
+            throw errorWithLocations(`Fixture "${name}" has already been registered as a { auto: '${previous.scope}' } fixture.`, { location, name }, previous);
+        } else if (previous) {
+          options = { auto: previous.auto, scope: previous.scope };
+        } else if (!options) {
+          options = { auto: false, scope: 'test' };
+        }
+
+        const deps = fixtureParameterNames(fn, location);
+        const registration: FixtureRegistration = { id: '', name, location, scope: options.scope, fn, auto: options.auto, deps, super: previous };
+        registrationId(registration);
+        this.registrations.set(name, registration);
       }
     }
 
@@ -247,9 +240,7 @@ export class FixtureRunner {
     const names = fixtureParameterNames(fn, { file: '<unused>', line: 1, column: 1 });
     const params: { [key: string]: any } = {};
     for (const name of names) {
-      const registration = this.pool!.registrations.get(name);
-      if (!registration)
-        throw errorWithCallLocation('Unknown fixture: ' + name);
+      const registration = this.pool!.registrations.get(name)!;
       const fixture = await this.setupFixtureForRegistration(registration, info);
       params[name] = fixture.value;
     }
@@ -355,7 +346,9 @@ function errorWithLocations(message: string, ...defined: { location: Location, n
       prefix = `"${name}" `;
     message += `\n  ${prefix}defined at ${formatLocation(location)}`;
   }
-  const error = new Error(message);
-  error.stack = 'Error: ' + message + '\n';
-  return error;
+  return new Error(message);
+}
+
+function formatLocation(location: Location) {
+  return location.file + ':' + location.line + ':' + location.column;
 }
diff --git a/src/test/loader.ts b/src/test/loader.ts
index 2c44b0c40a..9b99e29975 100644
--- a/src/test/loader.ts
+++ b/src/test/loader.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 import { installTransform } from './transform';
 import type { FullConfig, Config, FullProject, Project, ReporterDescription, PreserveOutput } from './types';
-import { errorWithCallLocation, isRegExp, mergeObjects, prependErrorMessage } from './util';
+import { isRegExp, mergeObjects } from './util';
 import { setCurrentlyLoadingFileSuite } from './globals';
 import { Suite } from './test';
 import { SerializedLoaderData } from './ipc';
@@ -61,9 +61,6 @@ export class Loader {
       const rawConfig = { ...config };
       this._processConfigObject(path.dirname(file));
       return rawConfig;
-    } catch (e) {
-      prependErrorMessage(e, `Error while reading ${file}:\n`);
-      throw e;
     } finally {
       revertBabelRequire();
     }
@@ -75,7 +72,7 @@ export class Loader {
   }
 
   private _processConfigObject(rootDir: string) {
-    validateConfig(this._config);
+    validateConfig(this._configFile || '<default config>', this._config);
 
     // Resolve script hooks relative to the root dir.
     if (this._config.globalSetup)
@@ -123,9 +120,6 @@ export class Loader {
       require(file);
       this._fileSuites.set(file, suite);
       return suite;
-    } catch (e) {
-      prependErrorMessage(e, `Error while reading ${file}:\n`);
-      throw e;
     } finally {
       revertBabelRequire();
       setCurrentlyLoadingFileSuite(undefined);
@@ -139,11 +133,8 @@ export class Loader {
       if (hook && typeof hook === 'object' && ('default' in hook))
         hook = hook['default'];
       if (typeof hook !== 'function')
-        throw errorWithCallLocation(`${name} file must export a single function.`);
+        throw errorWithFile(file, `${name} file must export a single function.`);
       return hook;
-    } catch (e) {
-      prependErrorMessage(e, `Error while reading ${file}:\n`);
-      throw e;
     } finally {
       revertBabelRequire();
     }
@@ -156,11 +147,8 @@ export class Loader {
       if (func && typeof func === 'object' && ('default' in func))
         func = func['default'];
       if (typeof func !== 'function')
-        throw errorWithCallLocation(`Reporter file "${file}" must export a single class.`);
+        throw errorWithFile(file, `reporter file must export a single class.`);
       return func;
-    } catch (e) {
-      prependErrorMessage(e, `Error while reading ${file}:\n`);
-      throw e;
     } finally {
       revertBabelRequire();
     }
@@ -227,40 +215,44 @@ function toReporters(reporters: 'dot' | 'line' | 'list' | 'junit' | 'json' | 'nu
   return reporters;
 }
 
-function validateConfig(config: Config) {
-  if (typeof config !== 'object' || !config)
-    throw new Error(`Configuration file must export a single object`);
+function errorWithFile(file: string, message: string) {
+  return new Error(`${file}: ${message}`);
+}
 
-  validateProject(config, 'config');
+function validateConfig(file: string, config: Config) {
+  if (typeof config !== 'object' || !config)
+    throw errorWithFile(file, `Configuration file must export a single object`);
+
+  validateProject(file, config, 'config');
 
   if ('forbidOnly' in config && config.forbidOnly !== undefined) {
     if (typeof config.forbidOnly !== 'boolean')
-      throw new Error(`config.forbidOnly must be a boolean`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `config.forbidOnly must be a boolean`);
   }
 
   if ('globalSetup' in config && config.globalSetup !== undefined) {
     if (typeof config.globalSetup !== 'string')
-      throw new Error(`config.globalSetup must be a string`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `config.globalSetup must be a string`);
   }
 
   if ('globalTeardown' in config && config.globalTeardown !== undefined) {
     if (typeof config.globalTeardown !== 'string')
-      throw new Error(`config.globalTeardown must be a string`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `config.globalTeardown must be a string`);
   }
 
   if ('globalTimeout' in config && config.globalTimeout !== undefined) {
     if (typeof config.globalTimeout !== 'number' || config.globalTimeout < 0)
-      throw new Error(`config.globalTimeout must be a non-negative number`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `config.globalTimeout must be a non-negative number`);
   }
 
   if ('grep' in config && config.grep !== undefined) {
     if (Array.isArray(config.grep)) {
       config.grep.forEach((item, index) => {
         if (!isRegExp(item))
-          throw new Error(`config.grep[${index}] must be a RegExp`);
+          throw errorWithFile(file, `config.grep[${index}] must be a RegExp`);
       });
     } else if (!isRegExp(config.grep)) {
-      throw new Error(`config.grep must be a RegExp`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `config.grep must be a RegExp`);
     }
   }
 
@@ -268,115 +260,115 @@ function validateConfig(config: Config) {
     if (Array.isArray(config.grepInvert)) {
       config.grepInvert.forEach((item, index) => {
         if (!isRegExp(item))
-          throw new Error(`config.grepInvert[${index}] must be a RegExp`);
+          throw errorWithFile(file, `config.grepInvert[${index}] must be a RegExp`);
       });
     } else if (!isRegExp(config.grepInvert)) {
-      throw new Error(`config.grep must be a RegExp`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `config.grep must be a RegExp`);
     }
   }
 
   if ('maxFailures' in config && config.maxFailures !== undefined) {
     if (typeof config.maxFailures !== 'number' || config.maxFailures < 0)
-      throw new Error(`config.maxFailures must be a non-negative number`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `config.maxFailures must be a non-negative number`);
   }
 
   if ('preserveOutput' in config && config.preserveOutput !== undefined) {
     if (typeof config.preserveOutput !== 'string' || !['always', 'never', 'failures-only'].includes(config.preserveOutput))
-      throw new Error(`config.preserveOutput must be one of "always", "never" or "failures-only"`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `config.preserveOutput must be one of "always", "never" or "failures-only"`);
   }
 
   if ('projects' in config && config.projects !== undefined) {
     if (!Array.isArray(config.projects))
-      throw new Error(`config.projects must be an array`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `config.projects must be an array`);
     config.projects.forEach((project, index) => {
-      validateProject(project, `config.projects[${index}]`);
+      validateProject(file, project, `config.projects[${index}]`);
     });
   }
 
   if ('quiet' in config && config.quiet !== undefined) {
     if (typeof config.quiet !== 'boolean')
-      throw new Error(`config.quiet must be a boolean`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `config.quiet must be a boolean`);
   }
 
   if ('reporter' in config && config.reporter !== undefined) {
     if (Array.isArray(config.reporter)) {
       config.reporter.forEach((item, index) => {
         if (!Array.isArray(item) || item.length <= 0 || item.length > 2 || typeof item[0] !== 'string')
-          throw new Error(`config.reporter[${index}] must be a tuple [name, optionalArgument]`);
+          throw errorWithFile(file, `config.reporter[${index}] must be a tuple [name, optionalArgument]`);
       });
     } else {
       const builtinReporters = ['dot', 'line', 'list', 'junit', 'json', 'null'];
       if (typeof config.reporter !== 'string' || !builtinReporters.includes(config.reporter))
-        throw new Error(`config.reporter must be one of ${builtinReporters.map(name => `"${name}"`).join(', ')}`);
+        throw errorWithFile(file, `config.reporter must be one of ${builtinReporters.map(name => `"${name}"`).join(', ')}`);
     }
   }
 
   if ('reportSlowTests' in config && config.reportSlowTests !== undefined && config.reportSlowTests !== null) {
     if (!config.reportSlowTests || typeof config.reportSlowTests !== 'object')
-      throw new Error(`config.reportSlowTests must be an object`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `config.reportSlowTests must be an object`);
     if (!('max' in config.reportSlowTests) || typeof config.reportSlowTests.max !== 'number' || config.reportSlowTests.max < 0)
-      throw new Error(`config.reportSlowTests.max must be a non-negative number`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `config.reportSlowTests.max must be a non-negative number`);
     if (!('threshold' in config.reportSlowTests) || typeof config.reportSlowTests.threshold !== 'number' || config.reportSlowTests.threshold < 0)
-      throw new Error(`config.reportSlowTests.threshold must be a non-negative number`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `config.reportSlowTests.threshold must be a non-negative number`);
   }
 
   if ('shard' in config && config.shard !== undefined && config.shard !== null) {
     if (!config.shard || typeof config.shard !== 'object')
-      throw new Error(`config.shard must be an object`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `config.shard must be an object`);
     if (!('total' in config.shard) || typeof config.shard.total !== 'number' || config.shard.total < 1)
-      throw new Error(`config.shard.total must be a positive number`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `config.shard.total must be a positive number`);
     if (!('current' in config.shard) || typeof config.shard.current !== 'number' || config.shard.current < 1 || config.shard.current > config.shard.total)
-      throw new Error(`config.shard.current must be a positive number, not greater than config.shard.total`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `config.shard.current must be a positive number, not greater than config.shard.total`);
   }
 
   if ('updateSnapshots' in config && config.updateSnapshots !== undefined) {
     if (typeof config.updateSnapshots !== 'string' || !['all', 'none', 'missing'].includes(config.updateSnapshots))
-      throw new Error(`config.updateSnapshots must be one of "all", "none" or "missing"`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `config.updateSnapshots must be one of "all", "none" or "missing"`);
   }
 
   if ('workers' in config && config.workers !== undefined) {
     if (typeof config.workers !== 'number' || config.workers <= 0)
-      throw new Error(`config.workers must be a positive number`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `config.workers must be a positive number`);
   }
 }
 
-function validateProject(project: Project, title: string) {
+function validateProject(file: string, project: Project, title: string) {
   if (typeof project !== 'object' || !project)
-    throw new Error(`${title} must be an object`);
+    throw errorWithFile(file, `${title} must be an object`);
 
   if ('define' in project && project.define !== undefined) {
     if (Array.isArray(project.define)) {
       project.define.forEach((item, index) => {
-        validateDefine(item, `${title}.define[${index}]`);
+        validateDefine(file, item, `${title}.define[${index}]`);
       });
     } else {
-      validateDefine(project.define, `${title}.define`);
+      validateDefine(file, project.define, `${title}.define`);
     }
   }
 
   if ('name' in project && project.name !== undefined) {
     if (typeof project.name !== 'string')
-      throw new Error(`${title}.name must be a string`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `${title}.name must be a string`);
   }
 
   if ('outputDir' in project && project.outputDir !== undefined) {
     if (typeof project.outputDir !== 'string')
-      throw new Error(`${title}.outputDir must be a string`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `${title}.outputDir must be a string`);
   }
 
   if ('repeatEach' in project && project.repeatEach !== undefined) {
     if (typeof project.repeatEach !== 'number' || project.repeatEach < 0)
-      throw new Error(`${title}.repeatEach must be a non-negative number`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `${title}.repeatEach must be a non-negative number`);
   }
 
   if ('retries' in project && project.retries !== undefined) {
     if (typeof project.retries !== 'number' || project.retries < 0)
-      throw new Error(`${title}.retries must be a non-negative number`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `${title}.retries must be a non-negative number`);
   }
 
   if ('testDir' in project && project.testDir !== undefined) {
     if (typeof project.testDir !== 'string')
-      throw new Error(`${title}.testDir must be a string`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `${title}.testDir must be a string`);
   }
 
   for (const prop of ['testIgnore', 'testMatch'] as const) {
@@ -385,28 +377,28 @@ function validateProject(project: Project, title: string) {
       if (Array.isArray(value)) {
         value.forEach((item, index) => {
           if (typeof item !== 'string' && !isRegExp(item))
-            throw new Error(`${title}.${prop}[${index}] must be a string or a RegExp`);
+            throw errorWithFile(file, `${title}.${prop}[${index}] must be a string or a RegExp`);
         });
       } else if (typeof value !== 'string' && !isRegExp(value)) {
-        throw new Error(`${title}.${prop} must be a string or a RegExp`);
+        throw errorWithFile(file, `${title}.${prop} must be a string or a RegExp`);
       }
     }
   }
 
   if ('timeout' in project && project.timeout !== undefined) {
     if (typeof project.timeout !== 'number' || project.timeout < 0)
-      throw new Error(`${title}.timeout must be a non-negative number`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `${title}.timeout must be a non-negative number`);
   }
 
   if ('use' in project && project.use !== undefined) {
     if (!project.use || typeof project.use !== 'object')
-      throw new Error(`${title}.use must be an object`);
+      throw errorWithFile(file, `${title}.use must be an object`);
   }
 }
 
-function validateDefine(define: any, title: string) {
+function validateDefine(file: string, define: any, title: string) {
   if (!define || typeof define !== 'object' || !define.test || !define.fixtures)
-    throw new Error(`${title} must be an object with "test" and "fixtures" properties`);
+    throw errorWithFile(file, `${title} must be an object with "test" and "fixtures" properties`);
 }
 
 const baseFullConfig: FullConfig = {
diff --git a/src/test/testType.ts b/src/test/testType.ts
index a496f4541f..bbd1745e92 100644
--- a/src/test/testType.ts
+++ b/src/test/testType.ts
@@ -17,12 +17,10 @@
 import { expect } from './expect';
 import { currentlyLoadingFileSuite, currentTestInfo, setCurrentlyLoadingFileSuite } from './globals';
 import { Spec, Suite } from './test';
-import { callLocation, errorWithCallLocation } from './util';
+import { wrapFunctionWithLocation } from './transform';
 import { Fixtures, FixturesWithLocation, Location, TestInfo, TestType } from './types';
 import { inheritFixtureParameterNames } from './fixtures';
 
-Error.stackTraceLimit = 15;
-
 const countByFile = new Map<string, number>();
 
 export class DeclaredFixtures {
@@ -37,31 +35,30 @@ export class TestTypeImpl {
   constructor(fixtures: (FixturesWithLocation | DeclaredFixtures)[]) {
     this.fixtures = fixtures;
 
-    const test: any = this._spec.bind(this, 'default');
+    const test: any = wrapFunctionWithLocation(this._spec.bind(this, 'default'));
     test.expect = expect;
-    test.only = this._spec.bind(this, 'only');
-    test.describe = this._describe.bind(this, 'default');
-    test.describe.only = this._describe.bind(this, 'only');
-    test.beforeEach = this._hook.bind(this, 'beforeEach');
-    test.afterEach = this._hook.bind(this, 'afterEach');
-    test.beforeAll = this._hook.bind(this, 'beforeAll');
-    test.afterAll = this._hook.bind(this, 'afterAll');
-    test.skip = this._modifier.bind(this, 'skip');
-    test.fixme = this._modifier.bind(this, 'fixme');
-    test.fail = this._modifier.bind(this, 'fail');
-    test.slow = this._modifier.bind(this, 'slow');
+    test.only = wrapFunctionWithLocation(this._spec.bind(this, 'only'));
+    test.describe = wrapFunctionWithLocation(this._describe.bind(this, 'default'));
+    test.describe.only = wrapFunctionWithLocation(this._describe.bind(this, 'only'));
+    test.beforeEach = wrapFunctionWithLocation(this._hook.bind(this, 'beforeEach'));
+    test.afterEach = wrapFunctionWithLocation(this._hook.bind(this, 'afterEach'));
+    test.beforeAll = wrapFunctionWithLocation(this._hook.bind(this, 'beforeAll'));
+    test.afterAll = wrapFunctionWithLocation(this._hook.bind(this, 'afterAll'));
+    test.skip = wrapFunctionWithLocation(this._modifier.bind(this, 'skip'));
+    test.fixme = wrapFunctionWithLocation(this._modifier.bind(this, 'fixme'));
+    test.fail = wrapFunctionWithLocation(this._modifier.bind(this, 'fail'));
+    test.slow = wrapFunctionWithLocation(this._modifier.bind(this, 'slow'));
     test.setTimeout = this._setTimeout.bind(this);
-    test.use = this._use.bind(this);
-    test.extend = this._extend.bind(this);
-    test.declare = this._declare.bind(this);
+    test.use = wrapFunctionWithLocation(this._use.bind(this));
+    test.extend = wrapFunctionWithLocation(this._extend.bind(this));
+    test.declare = wrapFunctionWithLocation(this._declare.bind(this));
     this.test = test;
   }
 
-  private _spec(type: 'default' | 'only', title: string, fn: Function) {
+  private _spec(type: 'default' | 'only', location: Location, title: string, fn: Function) {
     const suite = currentlyLoadingFileSuite();
     if (!suite)
-      throw errorWithCallLocation(`test() can only be called in a test file`);
-    const location = callLocation(suite.file);
+      throw new Error(`test() can only be called in a test file`);
 
     const ordinalInFile = countByFile.get(suite._requireFile) || 0;
     countByFile.set(suite._requireFile, ordinalInFile + 1);
@@ -77,11 +74,10 @@ export class TestTypeImpl {
       spec._only = true;
   }
 
-  private _describe(type: 'default' | 'only', title: string, fn: Function) {
+  private _describe(type: 'default' | 'only', location: Location, title: string, fn: Function) {
     const suite = currentlyLoadingFileSuite();
     if (!suite)
-      throw errorWithCallLocation(`describe() can only be called in a test file`);
-    const location = callLocation(suite.file);
+      throw new Error(`describe() can only be called in a test file`);
 
     const child = new Suite(title);
     child._requireFile = suite._requireFile;
@@ -98,17 +94,16 @@ export class TestTypeImpl {
     setCurrentlyLoadingFileSuite(suite);
   }
 
-  private _hook(name: 'beforeEach' | 'afterEach' | 'beforeAll' | 'afterAll', fn: Function) {
+  private _hook(name: 'beforeEach' | 'afterEach' | 'beforeAll' | 'afterAll', location: Location, fn: Function) {
     const suite = currentlyLoadingFileSuite();
     if (!suite)
-      throw errorWithCallLocation(`${name} hook can only be called in a test file`);
-    suite._hooks.push({ type: name, fn, location: callLocation() });
+      throw new Error(`${name} hook can only be called in a test file`);
+    suite._hooks.push({ type: name, fn, location });
   }
 
-  private _modifier(type: 'skip' | 'fail' | 'fixme' | 'slow', ...modiferAgs: [arg?: any | Function, description?: string]) {
+  private _modifier(type: 'skip' | 'fail' | 'fixme' | 'slow', location: Location, ...modiferAgs: [arg?: any | Function, description?: string]) {
     const suite = currentlyLoadingFileSuite();
     if (suite) {
-      const location = callLocation();
       if (typeof modiferAgs[0] === 'function') {
         const [conditionFn, description] = modiferAgs;
         const fn = (args: any, testInfo: TestInfo) => testInfo[type](conditionFn(args), description!);
@@ -136,24 +131,21 @@ export class TestTypeImpl {
     testInfo.setTimeout(timeout);
   }
 
-  private _use(fixtures: Fixtures) {
+  private _use(location: Location, fixtures: Fixtures) {
     const suite = currentlyLoadingFileSuite();
     if (!suite)
-      throw errorWithCallLocation(`test.use() can only be called in a test file`);
+      throw new Error(`test.use() can only be called in a test file`);
     suite._fixtureOverrides = { ...suite._fixtureOverrides, ...fixtures };
   }
 
-  private _extend(fixtures: Fixtures) {
-    const fixturesWithLocation = {
-      fixtures,
-      location: callLocation(),
-    };
+  private _extend(location: Location, fixtures: Fixtures) {
+    const fixturesWithLocation = { fixtures, location };
     return new TestTypeImpl([...this.fixtures, fixturesWithLocation]).test;
   }
 
-  private _declare() {
+  private _declare(location: Location) {
     const declared = new DeclaredFixtures();
-    declared.location = callLocation();
+    declared.location = location;
     const child = new TestTypeImpl([...this.fixtures, declared]);
     declared.testType = child;
     return child.test;
diff --git a/src/test/transform.ts b/src/test/transform.ts
index 72ce0c6502..84ce9fc116 100644
--- a/src/test/transform.ts
+++ b/src/test/transform.ts
@@ -21,11 +21,15 @@ import * as fs from 'fs';
 import * as pirates from 'pirates';
 import * as babel from '@babel/core';
 import * as sourceMapSupport from 'source-map-support';
+import type { Location } from './types';
 
 const version = 4;
 const cacheDir = process.env.PWTEST_CACHE_DIR || path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'playwright-transform-cache');
 const sourceMaps: Map<string, string> = new Map();
 
+const kStackTraceLimit = 15;
+Error.stackTraceLimit = kStackTraceLimit;
+
 sourceMapSupport.install({
   environment: 'node',
   handleUncaughtExceptions: false,
@@ -97,3 +101,24 @@ export function installTransform(): () => void {
     exts: ['.ts']
   });
 }
+
+export function wrapFunctionWithLocation<A extends any[], R>(func: (location: Location, ...args: A) => R): (...args: A) => R {
+  return (...args) => {
+    const oldPrepareStackTrace = Error.prepareStackTrace;
+    Error.prepareStackTrace = (error, stackFrames) => {
+      const frame: NodeJS.CallSite = sourceMapSupport.wrapCallSite(stackFrames[1]);
+      return {
+        file: frame.getFileName(),
+        line: frame.getLineNumber(),
+        column: frame.getColumnNumber(),
+      };
+    };
+    Error.stackTraceLimit = 2;
+    const obj: { stack: Location } = {} as any;
+    Error.captureStackTrace(obj);
+    const location = obj.stack;
+    Error.stackTraceLimit = kStackTraceLimit;
+    Error.prepareStackTrace = oldPrepareStackTrace;
+    return func(location, ...args);
+  };
+}
diff --git a/src/test/util.ts b/src/test/util.ts
index 6937179d15..18190e758d 100644
--- a/src/test/util.ts
+++ b/src/test/util.ts
@@ -14,19 +14,10 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import path from 'path';
 import util from 'util';
-import StackUtils from 'stack-utils';
-import type { Location, TestError } from './types';
+import type { TestError } from './types';
 import { default as minimatch } from 'minimatch';
 
-const TEST_RUNNER_DIRS = [
-  path.join('@playwright', 'test', 'lib'),
-  path.join(__dirname, '..', '..', 'src', 'test'),
-];
-const cwd = process.cwd();
-const stackUtils = new StackUtils({ cwd });
-
 export class DeadlineRunner<T> {
   private _timer: NodeJS.Timer | undefined;
   private _done = false;
@@ -89,50 +80,11 @@ export function serializeError(error: Error | any): TestError {
   };
 }
 
-function callFrames(): string[] {
-  const obj = { stack: '' };
-  Error.captureStackTrace(obj);
-  const frames = obj.stack.split('\n').slice(1);
-  while (frames.length && TEST_RUNNER_DIRS.some(dir => frames[0].includes(dir)))
-    frames.shift();
-  return frames;
-}
-
-export function callLocation(fallbackFile?: string): Location {
-  const frames = callFrames();
-  if (!frames.length)
-    return {file: fallbackFile || '<unknown>', line: 1, column: 1};
-  const location = stackUtils.parseLine(frames[0])!;
-  return {
-    file: path.resolve(cwd, location.file || ''),
-    line: location.line || 0,
-    column: location.column || 0,
-  };
-}
-
-export function errorWithCallLocation(message: string): Error {
-  const frames = callFrames();
-  const error = new Error(message);
-  error.stack = 'Error: ' + message + '\n' + frames.join('\n');
-  return error;
-}
-
 export function monotonicTime(): number {
   const [seconds, nanoseconds] = process.hrtime();
   return seconds * 1000 + (nanoseconds / 1000000 | 0);
 }
 
-export function prependErrorMessage(e: Error, message: string) {
-  let stack = e.stack || '';
-  if (stack.includes(e.message))
-    stack = stack.substring(stack.indexOf(e.message) + e.message.length);
-  let m = e.message;
-  if (m.startsWith('Error:'))
-    m = m.substring('Error:'.length);
-  e.message = message + m;
-  e.stack = e.message + stack;
-}
-
 export function isRegExp(e: any): e is RegExp {
   return e && typeof e === 'object' && (e instanceof RegExp || Object.prototype.toString.call(e) === '[object RegExp]');
 }
@@ -184,10 +136,6 @@ export async function wrapInPromise(value: any) {
   return value;
 }
 
-export function formatLocation(location: Location) {
-  return location.file + ':' + location.line + ':' + location.column;
-}
-
 export function forceRegExp(pattern: string): RegExp {
   const match = pattern.match(/^\/(.*)\/([gi]*)$/);
   if (match)
diff --git a/src/utils/stackTrace.ts b/src/utils/stackTrace.ts
index 3adb05716b..faea322f41 100644
--- a/src/utils/stackTrace.ts
+++ b/src/utils/stackTrace.ts
@@ -21,11 +21,6 @@ import { isUnderTest } from './utils';
 
 const stackUtils = new StackUtils();
 
-export function getCallerFilePath(ignorePrefix: string): string | null {
-  const frame = captureStackTrace().frames.find(f => !f.file.startsWith(ignorePrefix));
-  return frame ? frame.file : null;
-}
-
 export function rewriteErrorMessage(e: Error, newMessage: string): Error {
   if (e.stack) {
     const index = e.stack.indexOf(e.message);
diff --git a/tests/playwright-test/config.spec.ts b/tests/playwright-test/config.spec.ts
index f27c9f2da8..84acfd3a8c 100644
--- a/tests/playwright-test/config.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/playwright-test/config.spec.ts
@@ -175,23 +175,6 @@ test('should support different testDirs', async ({ runInlineTest }) => {
   expect(result.report.suites[1].specs[0].title).toBe('runs twice');
 });
 
-test('should allow export default form the config file', async ({ runInlineTest }) => {
-  const result = await runInlineTest({
-    'playwright.config.ts': `
-      export default { timeout: 1000 };
-    `,
-    'a.test.ts': `
-      const { test } = pwt;
-      test('fails', async ({}, testInfo) => {
-        await new Promise(f => setTimeout(f, 2000));
-      });
-    `
-  });
-
-  expect(result.exitCode).toBe(1);
-  expect(result.failed).toBe(1);
-  expect(result.output).toContain('Timeout of 1000ms exceeded.');
-});
 
 test('should allow root testDir and use it for relative paths', async ({ runInlineTest }) => {
   const result = await runInlineTest({
diff --git a/tests/playwright-test/fixture-errors.spec.ts b/tests/playwright-test/fixture-errors.spec.ts
index ccf29cbd33..ea39a33933 100644
--- a/tests/playwright-test/fixture-errors.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/playwright-test/fixture-errors.spec.ts
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ test('should print nice error message for problematic fixtures', async ({ runInl
   });
   expect(result.exitCode).toBe(1);
   expect(result.output).toContain('oh my!');
-  expect(result.output).toContain('x.spec.ts:5:29');
+  expect(result.output).toContain('x.spec.ts:6:49');
 });
 
 test('should exit with timeout when fixture causes an exception in the test', async ({ runInlineTest }) => {
diff --git a/tests/playwright-test/global-setup.spec.ts b/tests/playwright-test/global-setup.spec.ts
index b8621e2a9a..ddbbad7ea4 100644
--- a/tests/playwright-test/global-setup.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/playwright-test/global-setup.spec.ts
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ test('globalSetup should throw when passed non-function', async ({ runInlineTest
       });
     `,
   });
-  expect(output).toContain(`globalSetup file must export a single function.`);
+  expect(output).toContain(`globalSetup.ts: globalSetup file must export a single function.`);
 });
 
 test('globalSetup should work with default export and run the returned fn', async ({ runInlineTest }) => {
diff --git a/tests/playwright-test/loader.spec.ts b/tests/playwright-test/loader.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..97c27f692e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/playwright-test/loader.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { test, expect } from './playwright-test-fixtures';
+
+test('should return the location of a syntax error', async ({ runInlineTest }) => {
+  const result = await runInlineTest({
+    'error.spec.js': `
+      const x = {
+        foo: 'bar';
+      };
+    `
+  });
+  expect(result.exitCode).toBe(1);
+  expect(result.passed).toBe(0);
+  expect(result.failed).toBe(0);
+  expect(result.output).toContain('error.spec.js:6');
+});
+
+test('should print an improper error', async ({ runInlineTest }) => {
+  const result = await runInlineTest({
+    'error.spec.js': `
+      throw 123;
+    `
+  });
+  expect(result.exitCode).toBe(1);
+  expect(result.passed).toBe(0);
+  expect(result.failed).toBe(0);
+  expect(result.output).toContain('123');
+});
+
+test('should print a null error', async ({ runInlineTest }) => {
+  const result = await runInlineTest({
+    'error.spec.js': `
+      throw null;
+    `
+  });
+  expect(result.exitCode).toBe(1);
+  expect(result.passed).toBe(0);
+  expect(result.failed).toBe(0);
+  expect(result.output).toContain('null');
+});
+
+test('should return the location of a syntax error in typescript', async ({ runInlineTest }) => {
+  const result = await runInlineTest({
+    'error.spec.ts': `
+      const x = {
+        foo: 'bar';
+      };
+    `
+  }, {}, {
+    FORCE_COLOR: '0'
+  });
+  expect(result.exitCode).toBe(1);
+  expect(result.passed).toBe(0);
+  expect(result.failed).toBe(0);
+  expect(result.output).toContain('error.spec.ts');
+  expect(result.output).toContain(`'bar';`);
+});
+
+test('should allow export default form the config file', async ({ runInlineTest }) => {
+  const result = await runInlineTest({
+    'playwright.config.ts': `
+      export default { timeout: 1000 };
+    `,
+    'a.test.ts': `
+      const { test } = pwt;
+      test('fails', async ({}, testInfo) => {
+        await new Promise(f => setTimeout(f, 2000));
+      });
+    `
+  });
+
+  expect(result.exitCode).toBe(1);
+  expect(result.failed).toBe(1);
+  expect(result.output).toContain('Timeout of 1000ms exceeded.');
+});
+
+test('should validate configuration object', async ({ runInlineTest }) => {
+  const result = await runInlineTest({
+    'playwright.config.ts': `
+      export default { timeout: '1000' };
+    `,
+    'a.test.ts': `
+      const { test } = pwt;
+      test('works', () => {});
+    `
+  });
+
+  expect(result.exitCode).toBe(1);
+  expect(result.failed).toBe(0);
+  expect(result.output).toContain('playwright.config.ts: config.timeout must be a non-negative number');
+});
diff --git a/tests/playwright-test/playwright-test-fixtures.ts b/tests/playwright-test/playwright-test-fixtures.ts
index e04282bb71..ad9ea9d834 100644
--- a/tests/playwright-test/playwright-test-fixtures.ts
+++ b/tests/playwright-test/playwright-test-fixtures.ts
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ export const test = base.extend<Fixtures>({
       runResult = await runPlaywrightTest(baseDir, params, env);
       return runResult;
     });
-    if (testInfo.status !== testInfo.expectedStatus && runResult)
+    if (testInfo.status !== testInfo.expectedStatus && runResult && !process.env.PW_RUNNER_DEBUG)
       console.log(runResult.output);
   },
 
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ export const test = base.extend<Fixtures>({
       tscResult = await runTSC(baseDir);
       return tscResult;
     });
-    if (testInfo.status !== testInfo.expectedStatus && tscResult)
+    if (testInfo.status !== testInfo.expectedStatus && tscResult && !process.env.PW_RUNNER_DEBUG)
       console.log(tscResult.output);
   },
 });
diff --git a/tests/stack-trace.spec.ts b/tests/stack-trace.spec.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 58ecc3ca35..0000000000
--- a/tests/stack-trace.spec.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,30 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Copyright 2019 Google Inc. All rights reserved.
- * Modifications copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation.
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-import { playwrightTest as test, expect } from './config/browserTest';
-import path from 'path';
-import * as stackTrace from '../src/utils/stackTrace';
-import { setUnderTest } from '../src/utils/utils';
-
-test('caller file path', async ({}) => {
-  setUnderTest();
-  const callme = require('./assets/callback');
-  const filePath = callme(() => {
-    return stackTrace.getCallerFilePath(path.join(__dirname, 'assets') + path.sep);
-  });
-  expect(filePath).toBe(__filename);
-});