diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/annota1.exp b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/annota1.exp
index 3d379f0fd49..96b0fce5cf7 100644
--- a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/annota1.exp
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/annota1.exp
@@ -97,11 +97,11 @@ gdb_expect {
 #
 gdb_test_multiple "info break" "breakpoint info" {
     -re "\r\n\032\032post-prompt\r\n\r\n\032\032breakpoints-headers\r\n\r\n\032\032field 0\r\nNum     \r\n\032\032field 1\r\nType           \r\n\032\032field 2\r\nDisp \r\n\032\032field 3\r\nEnb \r\n\032\032field 4\r\nAddress    +\r\n\032\032field 5\r\nWhat\r\n\r\n\032\032breakpoints-table\r\n\r\n\032\032record\r\n\r\n\032\032field 0\r\n1       \r\n\032\032field 1\r\nbreakpoint     \r\n\032\032field 2\r\nkeep \r\n\032\032field 3\r\ny   \r\n\032\032field 4\r\n$hex +\r\n\032\032field 5\r\nin main at ${escapedsrcfile}:$main_line\r\n\r\n\032\032breakpoints-table-end\r\n$gdb_prompt$" {
-	pass "breakpoint info"
+	pass $gdb_test_multiple_name
     }
     -re "\r\n\032\032post-prompt\r\n\r\n\032\032breakpoints-headers\r\n\r\n\032\032field 0\r\nNum     \r\n\032\032field 1\r\nType           \r\n\032\032field 2\r\nDisp \r\n\032\032field 3\r\nEnb \r\n\032\032field 4\r\nAddress    +\r\n\032\032field 5\r\nWhat\r\n\r\n\032\032breakpoints-table\r\n\r\n\032\032record\r\n\r\n\032\032field 0\r\n1       \r\n\032\032field 1\r\nbreakpoint     \r\n\032\032field 2\r\nkeep \r\n\032\032field 3\r\ny   \r\n\032\032field 4\r\n$hex +\r\n\032\032field 5\r\nin main at .*${srcfile}:$main_line\r\n\r\n\032\032breakpoints-table-end\r\n$gdb_prompt$" {
 	setup_xfail "*-*-*" 1270
-	fail "breakpoint info"
+	fail $gdb_test_multiple_name
     }
 }
 
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ gdb_test_multiple "run" "run until main breakpoint" {
 		    "\032\032source.*$srcfile:$main_line:.*:beg:$hex\r\n\r\n" \
 		    "\032\032frame-end\r\n\r\n" \
 		    "\032\032stopped.*$gdb_prompt$" } ] {
-	pass "run until main breakpoint"
+	pass $gdb_test_multiple_name
     }
 }
 #exp_internal 0
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ gdb_test_multiple "run" "run until main breakpoint" {
 #
 gdb_test_multiple "next" "go after array init line" {
     -re "source .*annota1.c.*$gdb_prompt$" {
-	pass "go after array init line"
+	pass $gdb_test_multiple_name
     }
 }
 
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ gdb_test_multiple "next" "go after array init line" {
 #
 gdb_test_multiple "print my_array" "print array" {
     -re "\r\n\032\032post-prompt\r\n\r\n\032\032value-history-begin 1 -\r\n.*= \r\n\032\032value-history-value\r\n.\r\n\032\032array-section-begin 0 -\r\n1\r\n\032\032elt\r\n, 2\r\n\032\032elt\r\n, 3\r\n\032\032elt\r\n\r\n\032\032array-section-end\r\n.\r\n\r\n\032\032value-history-end\r\n$gdb_prompt$" {
-	pass "print array"
+	pass $gdb_test_multiple_name
     }
 }
 
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ gdb_test_multiple "print my_array" "print array" {
 #exp_internal 1
 gdb_test_multiple "print non_existent_value" "print non_existent_value" {
     -re "\r\n\032\032post-prompt\r\n\r\n\032\032error-begin\r\nNo symbol \"non_existent_value\" in current context.\r\n\r\n\032\032error\r\n$gdb_prompt$" {
-	pass "print non_existent_value"
+	pass $gdb_test_multiple_name
     }
 }
 
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ gdb_test_multiple "print non_existent_value" "print non_existent_value" {
 #
 gdb_test_multiple "break handle_USR1" "break handle_USR1" {
     -re  "\r\n\032\032post-prompt\r\nBreakpoint.*at $hex: file.*$srcfile, line.*\r\n\032\032breakpoints-invalid\r\n.*$gdb_prompt$" {
-	pass "break handle_USR1"
+	pass $gdb_test_multiple_name
     }
 }
 
@@ -213,10 +213,10 @@ gdb_test_multiple "break handle_USR1" "break handle_USR1" {
 #
 gdb_test_multiple "break printf" "break printf" {
     -re  "\r\n\032\032post-prompt\r\nBreakpoint.*at $hex.*\032\032breakpoints-invalid\r\n.*$gdb_prompt$" {
-	pass "break printf" 
+	pass $gdb_test_multiple_name
     }
     -re  "\r\n\032\032post-prompt\r\nwarning: Breakpoint address adjusted from $hex to $hex.\r\n\r\n\032\032breakpoints-invalid\r\nBreakpoint.*at $hex.*$gdb_prompt$" {
-	pass "break printf"
+	pass $gdb_test_multiple_name
     }
 }
 
@@ -229,9 +229,9 @@ set pat_end "\r\n\032\032breakpoint 3\r\n\r\nBreakpoint 3, \r\n\032\032frame-beg
 
 gdb_test_multiple "continue" "continue to printf" {
     -re "${pat_begin}($pat_adjust)?$pat_end" {
-	pass "continue to printf"
+	pass $gdb_test_multiple_name
     }
-    -re ".*$gdb_prompt$"     { fail "continue to printf" }
+    -re ".*$gdb_prompt$"     { fail $gdb_test_multiple_name }
 }
 
 #
@@ -246,11 +246,11 @@ set pat_end "\r\n\032\032frame-source-file-end\r\n:\r\n\032\032frame-source-line
 
 gdb_test_multiple "backtrace" "backtrace from shlibrary" {
     -re "$pat_begin$escapedsrcfile$pat_end" {
-	pass "backtrace from shlibrary"
+	pass $gdb_test_multiple_name
     }
     -re "$pat_begin.*$srcfile$pat_end" {
 	setup_xfail "*-*-*" 1270
-	fail "backtrace from shlibrary"
+	fail $gdb_test_multiple_name
     }
 }
 
@@ -269,11 +269,11 @@ if [target_info exists gdb,nosignals] {
 } else {
     gdb_test_multiple "signal SIGUSR1" "send SIGUSR1" {
 	-re "\r\n\032\032post-prompt\r\nContinuing with signal SIGUSR1.\r\n\r\n\032\032starting\(\(\r\n\r\n\032\032frames-invalid\)|\(\r\n\r\n\032\032breakpoints-invalid\)\)+\r\n\r\n\032\032breakpoint 2\r\n\r\nBreakpoint 2, \r\n\032\032frame-begin 0 $hex\r\n\r\n\032\032frame-function-name\r\nhandle_USR1\r\n\032\032frame-args\r\n \\(\r\n\032\032arg-begin\r\nsig\r\n\032\032arg-name-end\r\n=\r\n\032\032arg-value -\r\n$decimal\r\n\032\032arg-end\r\n\\)\r\n\032\032frame-source-begin\r\n at \r\n\032\032frame-source-file\r\n${escapedsrcfile}\r\n\032\032frame-source-file-end\r\n:\r\n\032\032frame-source-line\r\n.*\r\n\032\032frame-source-end\r\n\r\n\r\n\032\032source.*annota1.c:.*:.*:beg:$hex\r\n$decimal\[^\r\n\]+\r\n\r\n\032\032frame-end\r\n\r\n\032\032stopped\r\n$gdb_prompt$" {
-	    pass "send SIGUSR1"
+	    pass $gdb_test_multiple_name
 	}
 	-re "\r\n\032\032post-prompt\r\nContinuing with signal SIGUSR1.\r\n\r\n\032\032starting\(\(\r\n\r\n\032\032frames-invalid\)|\(\r\n\r\n\032\032breakpoints-invalid\)\)+\r\n\r\n\032\032breakpoint 2\r\n\r\nBreakpoint 2, \r\n\032\032frame-begin 0 $hex\r\n\r\n\032\032frame-function-name\r\nhandle_USR1\r\n\032\032frame-args\r\n \\(\r\n\032\032arg-begin\r\nsig\r\n\032\032arg-name-end\r\n=\r\n\032\032arg-value -\r\n$decimal\r\n\032\032arg-end\r\n\\)\r\n\032\032frame-source-begin\r\n at \r\n\032\032frame-source-file\r\n.*${srcfile}\r\n\032\032frame-source-file-end\r\n:\r\n\032\032frame-source-line\r\n.*\r\n\032\032frame-source-end\r\n\r\n\r\n\032\032source.*annota1.c:.*:.*:beg:$hex\r\n$decimal\[^\r\n\]+\r\n\r\n\032\032frame-end\r\n\r\n\032\032stopped\r\n$gdb_prompt$" {
 	    setup_xfail "*-*-*" 1270
-	    fail "send SIGUSR1"
+	    fail $gdb_test_multiple_name
 	}
     }
 
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ if [target_info exists gdb,nosignals] {
     #
     gdb_test_multiple "backtrace" "backtrace @ signal handler" {
 	-re "frame-begin 0 $hex\r\n#0.*frame-end.*frame-begin 1 $hex\r\n#1.*(\032\032signal-handler-caller\r\n.signal handler called.\r\n\r\n)+\032\032frame-end\r\n\r\n\032\032frame-begin 2 $hex\r\n#2.*(frame-begin 3 $hex\r\n#3.*)*frame-end.*$gdb_prompt$" {
-	    pass "backtrace @ signal handler"
+	    pass $gdb_test_multiple_name
 	}
     }
 }
@@ -293,19 +293,19 @@ if [target_info exists gdb,nosignals] {
 #
 gdb_test_multiple "delete 1" "delete bp 1" {
     -re "\r\n\032\032post-prompt\r\n${breakpoints_invalid}$gdb_prompt$" {
-	pass "delete bp 1"
+	pass $gdb_test_multiple_name
     }
 }
 
 gdb_test_multiple "delete 2" "delete bp 2" {
     -re "\r\n\032\032post-prompt\r\n${breakpoints_invalid}$gdb_prompt$" {
-	pass "delete bp 2"
+	pass $gdb_test_multiple_name
     }
 }
 
 gdb_test_multiple "delete 3" "delete bp 3" {
     -re "\r\n\032\032post-prompt\r\n${breakpoints_invalid}$gdb_prompt$" {
-	pass "delete bp 3"
+	pass $gdb_test_multiple_name
     }
 }
 
@@ -313,14 +313,13 @@ gdb_test_multiple "delete 3" "delete bp 3" {
 # break in main, after value is initialized. This is in preparation
 # to test the annotate output for the display command.
 #
-set test "break in main"
-gdb_test_multiple "break ${srcfile}:${main_line}" $test {
+gdb_test_multiple "break ${srcfile}:${main_line}" "break in main" {
     -re "post-prompt.*Breakpoint 4 at $hex: file ${escapedsrcfile}, line $main_line.*\032\032breakpoints-invalid.*$gdb_prompt$" {
-	pass $test
+	pass $gdb_test_multiple_name
     }
     -re "post-prompt.*Breakpoint 4 at $hex: file .*${srcfile}, line $main_line.*\032\032breakpoints-invalid.*$gdb_prompt$" {
 	setup_xfail "*-*-*" 1270
-	fail $test
+	fail $gdb_test_multiple_name
     }
 }
 
@@ -405,12 +404,11 @@ gdb_test_multiple "next" "breakpoint ignore count" {
 
 # Get the inferior's PID for later.
 
-set test "get inferior pid"
 set pid -1
-gdb_test_multiple "info inferior 1" "$test" {
+gdb_test_multiple "info inferior 1" "get inferior pid" {
     -re "process (\[0-9\]*).*$gdb_prompt$" {
 	set pid $expect_out(1,string)
-	pass "$test"
+	pass $gdb_test_multiple_name
     }
 }
 
@@ -429,7 +427,7 @@ if [target_info exists gdb,nosignals] {
 } else {
     gdb_test_multiple "signal SIGTRAP" "signal sent" {
 	-re ".*\032\032post-prompt\r\nContinuing with signal SIGTRAP.\r\n\r\n\032\032starting\(\r\n\r\n\032\032frames-invalid\)+\r\n\r\n\032\032signalled\r\n\r\nProgram terminated with signal \r\n\032\032signal-name\r\nSIGTRAP\r\n\032\032signal-name-end\r\n, \r\n\032\032signal-string\r\nTrace.breakpoint trap\r\n\032\032signal-string-end\r\n.\r\nThe program no longer exists.\r\n\r\n\032\032thread-exited,id=\"${decimal}\",group-id=\"i${decimal}\"\r\n\r\n\032\032stopped\r\n$gdb_prompt$" {
-	    pass "signal sent"
+	    pass $gdb_test_multiple_name
 	}
     }
 }
@@ -482,13 +480,13 @@ proc thread_test {} {
 
 	gdb_test_multiple "continue" "new thread" {
 	    -re "\032\032new-thread.*\r\n$gdb_prompt$" {
-		pass "new thread"
+		pass $gdb_test_multiple_name
 	    }
 	}
 
     gdb_test_multiple "continue" "thread exit" {
 	    -re "\032\032thread-exited,id=\"${decimal}\",group-id=\"i${decimal}\".*\r\n$gdb_prompt$" {
-		pass "thread exit"
+		pass $gdb_test_multiple_name
 	    }
     }
     }
@@ -497,7 +495,7 @@ proc thread_test {} {
 proc thread_switch {} {
     gdb_test_multiple "thread 1" "thread switch" {
 	-re ".*\032\032thread-changed" {
-	    pass "thread switch"
+	    pass $gdb_test_multiple_name
 	}
     }
 }
diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/lib/gdb.exp b/gdb/testsuite/lib/gdb.exp
index 3a1f053cf8a..a472650cc75 100644
--- a/gdb/testsuite/lib/gdb.exp
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/lib/gdb.exp
@@ -719,10 +719,24 @@ proc gdb_internal_error_resync {} {
 #
 # gdb_test_multiple "print foo" "test foo" {
 #    -re "expected output 1" {
-#        pass "print foo"
+#        pass "test foo"
 #    }
 #    -re "expected output 2" {
-#        fail "print foo"
+#        fail "test foo"
+#    }
+# }
+#
+# Within action elements you can also make use of the variable
+# gdb_test_multiple_name, this variable is setup automatically by
+# gdb_test_multiple, and contains the value of MESSAGE.  You can then
+# write this, which is equivalent to the above:
+#
+# gdb_test_multiple "print foo" "test foo" {
+#    -re "expected output 1" {
+#        pass $gdb_test_multiple_name
+#    }
+#    -re "expected output 2" {
+#        fail $gdb_test_multiple_name
 #    }
 # }
 #
@@ -1038,8 +1052,28 @@ proc gdb_test_multiple { command message user_code { prompt_regexp "" } } {
 	}
     }
 
+    # Create gdb_test_multiple_name in the parent scope.  If this
+    # variable already exists, which is might if we have nested calls
+    # to gdb_test_multiple, then preserve the old value, otherwise,
+    # create a new variable in the parent scope.
+    upvar gdb_test_multiple_name gdb_test_multiple_name
+    if { [info exists gdb_test_multiple_name] } {
+	set gdb_test_multiple_name_old "$gdb_test_multiple_name"
+    }
+    set gdb_test_multiple_name "$message"
+
     set result 0
     set code [catch {gdb_expect $code} string]
+
+    # Clean up the gdb_test_multiple_name variable.  If we had a
+    # previous value then restore it, otherwise, delete the variable
+    # from the parent scope.
+    if { [info exists gdb_test_multiple_name_old] } {
+	set gdb_test_multiple_name "$gdb_test_multiple_name_old"
+    } else {
+	unset gdb_test_multiple_name
+    }
+
     if {$code == 1} {
 	global errorInfo errorCode
 	return -code error -errorinfo $errorInfo -errorcode $errorCode $string
