diff --git a/test/cmp_rt2bl.py b/test/cmp_rt2bl.py
index f29ed5218..7560d1b61 100755
--- a/test/cmp_rt2bl.py
+++ b/test/cmp_rt2bl.py
@@ -14,20 +14,22 @@
 
 #
 parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
-parser.add_argument('-drt',  '--dir_rt',  help='Directory containing SCM RT output',      required=True)
-parser.add_argument('-dbl',  '--dir_bl',  help='Directory containing SCM RT baselines',   required=True)
+parser.add_argument('-drt',  '--dir_rt',   help='Directory containing SCM RT output',              required=True)
+parser.add_argument('-dbl',  '--dir_bl',   help='Directory containing SCM RT baselines',           required=True)
+parser.add_argument('-np',   '--no_plots', help='flag to turn off generation of difference plots', required=False, action='store_true')
 
 #
 def parse_args():
     args    = parser.parse_args()
     dir_rt  = args.dir_rt 
     dir_bl  = args.dir_bl
-    return (dir_rt, dir_bl)
+    no_plots   = args.no_plots
+    return (dir_rt, dir_bl, no_plots)
 
 #
 def main():
     #
-    (dir_rt, dir_bl) = parse_args()
+    (dir_rt, dir_bl, no_plots) = parse_args()
 
     #
     error_count = 0
@@ -38,14 +40,17 @@ def main():
             com = "cmp "+file_rt+" "+file_bl+" > logfile.txt"
             result = os.system(com)
             if (result != 0):
-                print("Output for "+run["case"]+"_"+run["suite"]+ " DIFFERS from baseline. Difference plots will be created")
+                message = "Output for "+run["case"]+"_"+run["suite"]+ " DIFFERS from baseline."
+                if (not no_plots):
+                    message += " Difference plots will be created."
+                print(message)
                 error_count = error_count + 1
             else:
                 print("Output for "+run["case"]+"_"+run["suite"]+ " is IDENTICAL to baseline")
             # end if
 
             # Create plots between RTs and baselines (only if differences exist)
-            if (result != 0):
+            if (result != 0 and not no_plots):
                 plot_files = plot_results(file_bl, file_rt)
 
                 # Setup output directories for plots.
@@ -71,7 +76,8 @@ def main():
     # end for
 
     # Create tarball with plots.
-    result = os.system('tar -cvf scm_rt_out.tar scm_rt_out/*')
+    if (not no_plots):
+        result = os.system('tar -cvf scm_rt_out.tar scm_rt_out/*')
     
     #
     if error_count == 0: