Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the console interaction time in the performing of microdiagnostic tests on a central processing unit. A microdiagnostic code RAM operates the microdiagnostic code in the central processing unit. The microdiagnostic code RAM performs tests on the CPU. The microdiagnostic also loads a cycle counter with a value from the microdiagnostic code. At the beginning of a test, the cycle counter is initialized and begins counting. If the cycle counter reaches the previously loaded value before completion of the test, a machine-check trap occurs allowing the microdiagnostic code RAM to gain control of the test regardless of any error conditions that are present.