diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index e629b30f..a22c6a1f 100755
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -216,6 +216,21 @@ class _Repo(object):
       self._PrintHelp(short=True)
       return 1
 
+    run = lambda: self._RunLong(name, gopts, argv) or 0
+    with Trace('starting new command: %s', ', '.join([name] + argv),
+               first_trace=True):
+      if gopts.trace_python:
+        import trace
+        tracer = trace.Trace(count=False, trace=True, timing=True,
+                             ignoredirs=set(sys.path[1:]))
+        result = tracer.runfunc(run)
+      else:
+        result = run()
+    return result
+
+  def _RunLong(self, name, gopts, argv):
+    """Execute the (longer running) requested subcommand."""
+    result = 0
     SetDefaultColoring(gopts.color)
 
     git_trace2_event_log = EventLog()
@@ -663,15 +678,7 @@ def _Main(argv):
     if gopts.trace_to_stderr:
       SetTraceToStderr()
 
-    with Trace('starting new command: %s', ', '.join([name] + argv), first_trace=True):
-      run = lambda: repo._Run(name, gopts, argv) or 0
-      if gopts.trace_python:
-        import trace
-        tracer = trace.Trace(count=False, trace=True, timing=True,
-                             ignoredirs=set(sys.path[1:]))
-        result = tracer.runfunc(run)
-      else:
-        result = run()
+    result = repo._Run(name, gopts, argv) or 0
   except KeyboardInterrupt:
     print('aborted by user', file=sys.stderr)
     result = 1
diff --git a/repo_trace.py b/repo_trace.py
index 0ff3b694..03542950 100644
--- a/repo_trace.py
+++ b/repo_trace.py
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ def _GetTraceFile():
   # TODO: refactor to pass repodir to Trace.
   repo_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(__file__))
   trace_file = os.path.join(repo_dir, _TRACE_FILE_NAME)
-  print('Trace outputs in %s' % trace_file)
+  print('Trace outputs in %s' % trace_file, file=sys.stderr)
   return trace_file
 
 def _ClearOldTraces():