diff --git a/run_unittests.py b/run_unittests.py
index cc105f297..03ce0df6c 100755
--- a/run_unittests.py
+++ b/run_unittests.py
@@ -111,6 +111,12 @@ class LinuxlikeTests(unittest.TestCase):
         return json.loads(out)
 
     def test_basic_soname(self):
+        '''
+        Test that the soname is set correctly for shared libraries. This can't
+        be an ordinary test case because we need to run `readelf` and actually
+        check the soname.
+        https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/issues/785
+        '''
         testdir = os.path.join(self.common_test_dir, '4 shared')
         self.init(testdir)
         self.build()
@@ -119,6 +125,12 @@ class LinuxlikeTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(soname, 'libmylib.so')
 
     def test_custom_soname(self):
+        '''
+        Test that the soname is set correctly for shared libraries when
+        a custom prefix and/or suffix is used. This can't be an ordinary test
+        case because we need to run `readelf` and actually check the soname.
+        https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/issues/785
+        '''
         testdir = os.path.join(self.common_test_dir, '27 library versions')
         self.init(testdir)
         self.build()
@@ -127,6 +139,11 @@ class LinuxlikeTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(soname, 'prefixsomelib.suffix')
 
     def test_pic(self):
+        '''
+        Test that -fPIC is correctly added to static libraries when b_staticpic
+        is true and not when it is false. This can't be an ordinary test case
+        because we need to inspect the compiler database.
+        '''
         testdir = os.path.join(self.common_test_dir, '3 static')
         self.init(testdir)
         compdb = self.get_compdb()
@@ -142,6 +159,12 @@ class LinuxlikeTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertTrue('-fPIC' not in compdb[0]['command'])
 
     def test_pkgconfig_gen(self):
+        '''
+        Test that generated pkg-config files can be found and have the correct
+        version and link args. This can't be an ordinary test case because we
+        need to run pkg-config outside of a Meson build file.
+        https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/issues/889
+        '''
         testdir = os.path.join(self.common_test_dir, '51 pkgconfig-gen')
         self.init(testdir)
         env = FakeEnvironment()
@@ -153,6 +176,12 @@ class LinuxlikeTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertTrue('-lfoo' in simple_dep.get_link_args())
 
     def test_vala_c_warnings(self):
+        '''
+        Test that no warnings are emitted for C code generated by Vala. This
+        can't be an ordinary test case because we need to inspect the compiler
+        database.
+        https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/issues/864
+        '''
         testdir = os.path.join(self.vala_test_dir, '5 target glib')
         self.init(testdir)
         compdb = self.get_compdb()
@@ -180,6 +209,12 @@ class LinuxlikeTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertTrue('-Werror' in c_command)
 
     def test_static_compile_order(self):
+        '''
+        Test that the order of files in a compiler command-line while compiling
+        and linking statically is deterministic. This can't be an ordinary test
+        case because we need to inspect the compiler database.
+        https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/pull/951
+        '''
         testdir = os.path.join(self.common_test_dir, '5 linkstatic')
         self.init(testdir)
         compdb = self.get_compdb()
@@ -191,6 +226,10 @@ class LinuxlikeTests(unittest.TestCase):
         # FIXME: We don't have access to the linker command
 
     def test_install_introspection(self):
+        '''
+        Tests that the Meson introspection API exposes install filenames correctly
+        https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/issues/829
+        '''
         testdir = os.path.join(self.common_test_dir, '8 install')
         self.init(testdir)
         intro = self.introspect('--targets')
@@ -200,11 +239,19 @@ class LinuxlikeTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(intro[1]['install_filename'], '/usr/local/bin/prog')
 
     def test_run_target_files_path(self):
+        '''
+        Test that run_targets are run from the correct directory
+        https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/issues/957
+        '''
         testdir = os.path.join(self.common_test_dir, '58 run target')
         self.init(testdir)
         self.run_target('check_exists')
 
     def test_qt5dependency_qmake_detection(self):
+        '''
+        Test that qt5 detection with qmake works. This can't be an ordinary
+        test case because it involves setting the environment.
+        '''
         # Verify that qmake is for Qt5
         if not shutil.which('qmake-qt5'):
             if not shutil.which('qmake'):