diff --git a/util/test/rdtest/testcase.py b/util/test/rdtest/testcase.py
index c274d16cd..0a805e309 100644
--- a/util/test/rdtest/testcase.py
+++ b/util/test/rdtest/testcase.py
@@ -619,7 +619,7 @@ class TestCase:
 
         log.success("Backbuffer is identical to reference")
 
-    def process_trace(self, trace: rd.ShaderDebugTrace, validate: bool = False):
+    def process_trace(self, trace: rd.ShaderDebugTrace, validate: bool = True):
         variables = {}
         cycles = 0
         allChanges = []