diff --git a/script/test b/script/test
index a82eb3e37..c076b31e4 100755
--- a/script/test
+++ b/script/test
@@ -276,6 +276,7 @@ do_build_otbr_docker()
         "-DOT_SLAAC=ON"
         "-DOT_SRP_CLIENT=ON"
         "-DOT_TREL=OFF"
+        "-DOT_FULL_LOGS=ON"
         "-DOT_UPTIME=ON"
         "-DOTBR_DUA_ROUTING=ON"
         "-DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS='-DOPENTHREAD_CONFIG_DNSSD_SERVER_BIND_UNSPECIFIED_NETIF=1'"
diff --git a/tests/scripts/thread-cert/node.py b/tests/scripts/thread-cert/node.py
index 533ef68ac..971c80b2d 100755
--- a/tests/scripts/thread-cert/node.py
+++ b/tests/scripts/thread-cert/node.py
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ class OtbrDocker:
     _docker_proc = None
 
     def __init__(self, nodeid: int, **kwargs):
+        self.verbose = int(float(os.getenv('VERBOSE', 0)))
         try:
             self._docker_name = config.OTBR_DOCKER_NAME_PREFIX + str(nodeid)
             self._prepare_ot_rcp_sim(nodeid)
@@ -137,6 +138,8 @@ class OtbrDocker:
 
         cmd = f'docker exec -i {self._docker_name} ot-ctl'
         self.pexpect = pexpect.popen_spawn.PopenSpawn(cmd, timeout=30)
+        if self.verbose:
+            self.pexpect.logfile_read = sys.stdout.buffer
 
         # Add delay to ensure that the process is ready to receive commands.
         timeout = 0.4
@@ -716,6 +719,10 @@ class NodeImpl:
         self.thread_stop()
         self.interface_down()
 
+    def set_log_level(self, level: int):
+        self.send_command(f'log level {level}')
+        self._expect_done()
+
     def interface_up(self):
         self.send_command('ifconfig up')
         self._expect_done()
@@ -1893,6 +1900,9 @@ class NodeImpl:
         self.send_command('reset')
         time.sleep(self.RESET_DELAY)
 
+        if self.is_otbr:
+            self.set_log_level(5)
+
     def set_router_selection_jitter(self, jitter):
         cmd = 'routerselectionjitter %d' % jitter
         self.send_command(cmd)
@@ -3137,6 +3147,7 @@ class OtbrNode(LinuxHost, NodeImpl, OtbrDocker):
 
     def start(self):
         self._setup_sysctl()
+        self.set_log_level(5)
         super().start()