diff --git a/test/concepts/concept_check.cpp b/test/concepts/concept_check.cpp
index 0f644d84..4bbd05ca 100644
--- a/test/concepts/concept_check.cpp
+++ b/test/concepts/concept_check.cpp
@@ -13,8 +13,13 @@
  *
  */
 
+
 #include <boost/regex.hpp>
 #include <boost/concept_archetype.hpp>
+#if defined(BOOST_MSVC)
+// this lets us compile at warning level 4 without seeing concept-check related warnings
+#  pragma warning(disable:4100)
+#endif
 #include <boost/concept_check.hpp>
 #include <boost/detail/workaround.hpp>
 
diff --git a/test/concepts/wide_concept_check.cpp b/test/concepts/wide_concept_check.cpp
index eec499f7..cbb4c385 100644
--- a/test/concepts/wide_concept_check.cpp
+++ b/test/concepts/wide_concept_check.cpp
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@
 
 #include <boost/regex.hpp>
 #include <boost/concept_archetype.hpp>
+#if defined(BOOST_MSVC)
+// this lets us compile at warning level 4 without seeing concept-check related warnings
+#  pragma warning(disable:4100)
+#endif
 #include <boost/concept_check.hpp>
 #include <boost/detail/workaround.hpp>
 
diff --git a/test/pathology/bad_expression_test.cpp b/test/pathology/bad_expression_test.cpp
index 8a929941..b84c7237 100644
--- a/test/pathology/bad_expression_test.cpp
+++ b/test/pathology/bad_expression_test.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 #include <boost/regex.hpp>
 #include <boost/test/test_tools.hpp>
 
-int test_main( int argc, char* argv[] )
+int test_main( int , char* [] )
 {
    std::string bad_text(1024, ' ');
    std::string good_text(200, ' ');
diff --git a/test/pathology/recursion_test.cpp b/test/pathology/recursion_test.cpp
index cc62e8ae..afb3e352 100644
--- a/test/pathology/recursion_test.cpp
+++ b/test/pathology/recursion_test.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 #include <boost/regex.hpp>
 #include <boost/test/test_tools.hpp>
 
-int test_main( int argc, char* argv[] )
+int test_main( int , char* [] )
 {
    // this regex will recurse twice for each whitespace character matched:
    boost::regex e("([[:space:]]|.)+");