diff --git a/com.oracle.truffle.r.test.cran/r/install.cran.packages.R b/com.oracle.truffle.r.test.cran/r/install.cran.packages.R
index 6f6ac20367fb943b12546ca5e3f58b01cbf8d7c8..a92c95ff4a23de6e5b9ec66b9e0a38d7e6d14ade 100644
--- a/com.oracle.truffle.r.test.cran/r/install.cran.packages.R
+++ b/com.oracle.truffle.r.test.cran/r/install.cran.packages.R
@@ -537,6 +537,15 @@ install.suggests <- function(pkgnames) {
 	for (pkgname in pkgnames) {
 		suggests <- install.order(avail.pkgs, avail.pkgs[pkgname, ], "suggests")
 		if (length(suggests) > 0) {
+			if (is.fastr() && !ignore.blacklist) {
+				# no point in trying to install blacklisted packages (which are likely)
+				blacklist <- get.blacklist()
+				nsuggests <- suggests[!suggests %in% blacklist]
+				if (length(nsuggests) != length(suggests)) {
+					cat("not installing Suggests of:", pkgname, ", one or more is blacklisted", "\n")
+					return()
+				}
+			}
 			dep.status <- install.status[suggests]
 			# three cases:
 			# 1. all TRUE: nothing to do all already installed ok
diff --git a/mx.fastr/mx_fastr_pkgs.py b/mx.fastr/mx_fastr_pkgs.py
index 25bb29517c7e5affbf052eb4790a71b5df0c4033..874dbf5e651d0f7df036a77780e047dc0dff5cec 100644
--- a/mx.fastr/mx_fastr_pkgs.py
+++ b/mx.fastr/mx_fastr_pkgs.py
@@ -235,11 +235,27 @@ def pkgtest(args):
     return rc
 
 def tar_tests(testdir):
-    test_tar = join(_fastr_suite_dir, testdir + '.tar')
-    subprocess.call(['tar', 'cf', test_tar, os.path.basename(testdir)])
-    if os.path.exists(test_tar + '.gz'):
-        os.remove(test_tar + '.gz')
-    subprocess.call(['gzip', test_tar])
+    if os.environ.has_key('FASTR_TEST_GZIP'):
+        test_tar = testdir + '.tar'
+        subprocess.call(['tar', 'cf', test_tar, os.path.basename(testdir)])
+        if os.path.exists(test_tar + '.gz'):
+            os.remove(test_tar + '.gz')
+        subprocess.call(['gzip', test_tar])
+    else:
+        # workaround for lack of support for accessing gz files
+        with open(testdir + '.agg', 'w') as o:
+            for root, _, files in os.walk(testdir):
+                for f in files:
+                    ext = os.path.splitext(f)[1]
+                    if f == 'test_time' or f == 'testfile_status' or ext == '.pdf' or ext == '.prev' or ext == '.save':
+                        continue
+                    absfile = join(root, f)
+                    relfile = relpath(absfile, _fastr_suite_dir())
+                    o.write('#### ' + relfile + '\n')
+                    with open(absfile) as inp:
+                        text = inp.read()
+                        o.write(text)
+
 
 class TestFileStatus:
     '''