diff --git a/nipype/__init__.py b/nipype/__init__.py
index 86a75a37ca..3db5a359de 100644
--- a/nipype/__init__.py
+++ b/nipype/__init__.py
@@ -17,6 +17,12 @@
 
 from .fixes.numpy.testing import nosetester
 
+try:
+    import faulthandler
+    faulthandler.enable()
+except ImportError:
+    pass
+
 
 class _NoseTester(nosetester.NoseTester):
     """ Subclass numpy's NoseTester to add doctests by default