diff --git a/src/spectator/formatters/common_text_output.cr b/src/spectator/formatters/common_text_output.cr
index 66cb7cff..3a0edb52 100644
--- a/src/spectator/formatters/common_text_output.cr
+++ b/src/spectator/formatters/common_text_output.cr
@@ -91,10 +91,9 @@ module Spectator::Formatters
     private def print_trace(error) : Nil
       printer.print_label(:error, &.<< "#{error.class}: ")
       printer.puts "#{error.message}"
-      printer.puts
 
       error.backtrace?.try &.each do |frame|
-        printer << "  from "
+        frame = frame.colorize.dim if external_frame?(frame)
         printer.puts frame
       end
 
@@ -103,6 +102,13 @@ module Spectator::Formatters
       end
     end
 
+    private def external_frame?(frame : String)
+      frame.starts_with?("lib/") ||    # Crystal shards
+        frame.starts_with?('/') ||     # POSIX absolute path
+        frame.starts_with?(/^\w+:/) || # Windows absolute path
+        frame == "???"
+    end
+
     private def report_skipped(results : Enumerable(Core::ExecutionResult)) : Nil
       printer.puts
       printer.print_title(:warning, &.<< "Skipped:")