diff --git a/ietf/utils/test_runner.py b/ietf/utils/test_runner.py
index b64cdae85..53b0be420 100644
--- a/ietf/utils/test_runner.py
+++ b/ietf/utils/test_runner.py
@@ -217,10 +217,12 @@ class CoverageTest(TestCase):
             test_missing = [ k for k,v in test_data["covered"].items() if not v ]
             test_coverage = test_data["coverage"]
 
+            # Assert coverage failure only if we're running the full test suite -- if we're
+            # only running some tests, then of course the coverage is going to be low.
             if self.runner.run_full_test_suite:
-                # Assert coverage failure only if we're running the full test suite -- if we're
-                # only running some tests, then of course the coverage is going to be low
-                self.assertGreaterEqual(test_coverage, master_coverage,
+                # Permit 0.02% variation in results -- otherwise small code changes become a pain
+                fudge_factor = 0.0002   # 0.02% -- a small change in the last digit we show
+                self.assertGreaterEqual(test_coverage, master_coverage-fudge_factor,
                     msg = "The %s coverage percentage is now lower (%.2f%%) than for version %s (%.2f%%)" %
                         ( test, test_coverage*100, latest_coverage_version, master_coverage*100, ))
                 self.assertLessEqual(len(test_missing), len(master_missing),