diff --git a/test/external/process_replay/diff_schedule.py b/test/external/process_replay/diff_schedule.py
index f7cf3b78..7a511c48 100644
--- a/test/external/process_replay/diff_schedule.py
+++ b/test/external/process_replay/diff_schedule.py
@@ -4,11 +4,13 @@ from collections import defaultdict
 from typing import DefaultDict, Dict, List, Set, Tuple
 from test.external.process_replay.utils import print_diff
 from tinygrad.engine.schedule import LBScheduleItem, ScheduleItem
-from tinygrad.helpers import CI, DEBUG, Context, colored, diskcache_put, fetch, getenv
+from tinygrad.helpers import CI, DEBUG, Context, ContextVar, colored, diskcache_put, fetch, getenv
 from tinygrad.lazy import LazyBuffer
 from tinygrad.engine.realize import CompiledRunner, lower_schedule_item
 from tinygrad.ops import UOp
 
+CAPTURING_PROCESS_REPLAY = ContextVar("CAPTURING_PROCESS_REPLAY", getenv("RUN_PROCESS_REPLAY"))
+
 def process_replay(outs:List[LazyBuffer], graph:DefaultDict[LBScheduleItem, List[LBScheduleItem]], in_degree:DefaultDict[LBScheduleItem, int]):
   # copy the reference module
   ref_schedule = getenv("REF_COMMIT_HASH", "master")
@@ -35,7 +37,7 @@ def diff_schedule(s:List[Tuple[DefaultDict[LBScheduleItem, List[LBScheduleItem]]
     if (cache_key:=tuple(asts)) in seen_diffs: continue
     seen_diffs.add(cache_key)
     changed += 1
-    if getenv("RUN_PROCESS_REPLAY"): diskcache_put("schedule_diff", str(uuid.uuid4()), (str(buf), list(asts.values())))
+    if CAPTURING_PROCESS_REPLAY: diskcache_put("schedule_diff", str(uuid.uuid4()), (str(buf), list(asts.values())))
     if not CI: print_si_diff(si[0], si[1])
   if DEBUG >= 1: print(f"*** process replay: {changed} unique kernel{'s' if changed>1 else ''} changed")
   return changed
diff --git a/test/external/process_replay/process_replay.py b/test/external/process_replay/process_replay.py
index 2603f86b..f43a9c98 100755
--- a/test/external/process_replay/process_replay.py
+++ b/test/external/process_replay/process_replay.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ MAX_DIFF_PCT = getenv("PROCESS_REPLAY_MAX_DIFF_PCT", 20)
 RUN_ID = os.getenv("GITHUB_RUN_ID", "HEAD")
 TABLE_NAME = f"process_replay_{RUN_ID}_{getenv('GITHUB_RUN_ATTEMPT')}_{VERSION}"
 ASSERT_DIFF = getenv("ASSERT_PROCESS_REPLAY", int((k:="[run_process_replay]") in os.getenv("COMMIT_MESSAGE", k) or k in os.getenv("PR_TITLE", k)))
-COMPARE_SCHEDULE = getenv("COMPARE_SCHEDULE", int((k:="[compare_schedule]") in os.getenv("COMMIT_MESSAGE", "") or k in os.getenv("PR_TITLE", "")))
+COMPARE_SCHEDULE = getenv("COMPARE_SCHEDULE", int((k:="[compare_schedule]") in os.getenv("COMMIT_MESSAGE", k) or k in os.getenv("PR_TITLE", k)))
 SKIP_PROCESS_REPLAY = (k:="[skip_process_replay]") in os.getenv("COMMIT_MESSAGE", "") or k in os.getenv("PR_TITLE", "")
 if REF == "master": SKIP_PROCESS_REPLAY = True
 early_stop = multiprocessing.Event()
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ def process_replay():
       logging.warning(f"schedule_diff_{VERSION} isn't accessible in master, did DB_VERSION change?")
       exit(0)
     if has_diff:
+      logging.info("***** schedule diff")
       row_count = cur.execute(f"select count(*) from 'schedule_diff_{VERSION}'").fetchone()[0]
       conn.commit()
       cur.close()
@@ -125,6 +126,7 @@ def process_replay():
         if ASSERT_DIFF: raise Exception("kernel process replay detected changes")
 
   # *** kernel diff
+  logging.info("***** kernel diff")
   conn = db_connection()
   cur = conn.cursor()
   try: row_count = cur.execute(f"select count(*) from '{TABLE_NAME}'").fetchone()[0]
diff --git a/test/external/process_replay/test_diff_schedule.py b/test/external/process_replay/test_diff_schedule.py
index c6332ec1..3df2e2a9 100644
--- a/test/external/process_replay/test_diff_schedule.py
+++ b/test/external/process_replay/test_diff_schedule.py
@@ -1,12 +1,18 @@
 from typing import cast
 import unittest
-from test.external.process_replay.diff_schedule import diff_schedule
+from test.external.process_replay.diff_schedule import CAPTURING_PROCESS_REPLAY, diff_schedule
 from tinygrad import Tensor, nn
 from tinygrad.helpers import Context
 from tinygrad.engine.schedule import _graph_schedule
 from tinygrad.lazy import LazyBuffer
 
 class TestDiffSchedule(unittest.TestCase):
+  def setUp(self):
+    self.old_value = CAPTURING_PROCESS_REPLAY.value
+    CAPTURING_PROCESS_REPLAY.value = 0
+  def tearDown(self):
+    CAPTURING_PROCESS_REPLAY.value = self.old_value
+
   def test_diff_arange(self):
     # diff a single arange kernel
     X = Tensor.randn(10, 10).realize()