diff --git a/tools/regression-tests/run_tests.py b/tools/regression-tests/run_tests.py
index cb7c64308f..68a81ac260 100644
--- a/tools/regression-tests/run_tests.py
+++ b/tools/regression-tests/run_tests.py
@@ -639,35 +639,39 @@ def iterate(lmp_binary, input_folder, input_list, config, results, progress_file
             msg = f"     mismatched log files after the first run. Check both log files for more details."
             print(msg)
             logger.info(msg)
-            result.status = "thermo checks failed"
+            result.status = "thermo checks failed due to mismatched log files after the first run"
 
+        result.status = ""
         if num_abs_failed > 0:
-            msg = f"     {num_abs_failed} abs diff thermo checks failed."
+            msg = f"     {num_abs_failed} abs diff checks failed."
             print(msg)
             logger.info(msg)
-            result.status = f"{num_abs_failed} abs thermo checks failed"
+            #result.status = f"abs_diff_failed: {num_abs_failed}, "
             if verbose == True:
                 for out in failed_abs_output:
                     print(f"        - {out}")
+
         if num_rel_failed > 0:
-            msg = f"     {num_rel_failed} rel diff thermo checks failed."
+            msg = f"     {num_rel_failed} rel diff checks failed."
             print(msg)
             logger.info(msg)
-            result.status = f"{num_rel_failed} rel thermo checks failed"
+            #result.status += f"rel_diff_failed: {num_rel_failed}"
             if verbose == True:
                 for out in failed_rel_output:
                     print(f"        - {out}")
+
         if num_abs_failed == 0 and num_rel_failed == 0:
-            msg = f"     all {num_checks} thermo checks passed."
+            msg = f"     all {num_checks} checks passed."
             print(msg)
             logger.info(msg)
-            result.status = "thermo checks passed"
+            #result.status = f"all {num_checks} checks passed."
             num_passed = num_passed + 1
 
+        result.status = f"abs_diff_failed: {num_abs_failed}, rel_diff_failed: {num_rel_failed}"
         results.append(result)
 
         # check if memleak detects from valgrind run (need to replace "mpirun" -> valgrind --leak-check=yes mpirun")
-        msg = "completed, " + result.status
+        msg = "completed"
         if use_valgrind == True:
             if "All heap blocks were freed" in error:
                 msg += ", no memory leak"
@@ -675,12 +679,12 @@ def iterate(lmp_binary, input_folder, input_list, config, results, progress_file
                 msg += ", memory leaks detected"
                 num_memleak = num_memleak + 1
 
-        progress.write(f"{input}: {{ folder: {input_folder}, status: \"{msg}\", walltime: {walltime}, walltime_norm: {walltime_norm} }}\n")
+        progress.write(f"{input}: {{ folder: {input_folder}, status: \"{msg}\", failed_checks: {{ \"{result.status}\" }}, walltime: {walltime}, walltime_norm: {walltime_norm} }}\n")
         progress.close()
 
         # write to failure if there is any numerical failed check
         if num_abs_failed > 0 or num_rel_failed > 0:
-            failure.write(f"{input}: {{ folder: {input_folder}, status: \"{msg}\", walltime: {walltime}, walltime_norm: {walltime_norm} }}\n")
+            failure.write(f"{input}: {{ folder: {input_folder}, status: \"{msg}\", failed_checks: {{ \"{result.status}\" }}, walltime: {walltime}, walltime_norm: {walltime_norm} }}\n")
 
         # count the number of completed runs
         num_completed = num_completed + 1