diff --git a/pkg/sql/opt/testutils/opttester/opt_tester.go b/pkg/sql/opt/testutils/opttester/opt_tester.go
index d9b90ad616a3..90e0b02f1f1b 100644
--- a/pkg/sql/opt/testutils/opttester/opt_tester.go
+++ b/pkg/sql/opt/testutils/opttester/opt_tester.go
@@ -370,10 +370,18 @@ func New(catalog cat.Catalog, sql string) *OptTester {
 //     Outputs the lowest cost tree for each step in optimization using the
 //     standard unified diff format. Used for debugging the optimizer.
 //
+//   - normsteps [flags]
+//
+//     Similar to optsteps, but only runs normalization rules.
+//
 //   - optstepsweb [flags]
 //
 //     Similar to optsteps, but outputs a URL which displays the results.
 //
+//   - normstepsweb [flags]
+//
+//     Similar to optstepsweb, but only runs normalization rules.
+//
 //   - exploretrace [flags]
 //
 //     Outputs information about exploration rule application. Used for debugging
@@ -725,14 +733,28 @@ func (ot *OptTester) RunCommand(tb testing.TB, d *datadriven.TestData) string {
 		return tp.String()
 
 	case "optsteps":
-		result, err := ot.OptSteps()
+		result, err := ot.OptSteps(true /* explore */)
+		if err != nil {
+			d.Fatalf(tb, "%+v", err)
+		}
+		return result
+
+	case "normsteps":
+		result, err := ot.OptSteps(false /* explore */)
 		if err != nil {
 			d.Fatalf(tb, "%+v", err)
 		}
 		return result
 
 	case "optstepsweb":
-		result, err := ot.OptStepsWeb()
+		result, err := ot.OptStepsWeb(true /* explore */)
+		if err != nil {
+			d.Fatalf(tb, "%+v", err)
+		}
+		return result
+
+	case "normstepsweb":
+		result, err := ot.OptStepsWeb(false /* explore */)
 		if err != nil {
 			d.Fatalf(tb, "%+v", err)
 		}
@@ -1492,7 +1514,7 @@ func (ot *OptTester) RuleStats() (string, error) {
 // a better plan has been found, and weaker "----" header delimiters when not.
 // In both cases, the output shows the expressions that were changed or added by
 // the rule, even if the total expression tree cost worsened.
-func (ot *OptTester) OptSteps() (string, error) {
+func (ot *OptTester) OptSteps(explore bool) (string, error) {
 	var prevBest, prev, next string
 	ot.builder.Reset()
 
@@ -1512,6 +1534,14 @@ func (ot *OptTester) OptSteps() (string, error) {
 			break
 		}
 
+		if !explore {
+			rule := os.LastRuleName()
+			if rule.IsExplore() {
+				// Stop at the first exploration rule.
+				break
+			}
+		}
+
 		if prev == "" {
 			// Output starting tree.
 			ot.optStepsDisplay("", next, os)
@@ -1543,15 +1573,18 @@ func (ot *OptTester) OptSteps() (string, error) {
 // OptStepsWeb is similar to Optsteps but it uses a special web page for
 // formatting the output. The result will be an URL which contains the encoded
 // data.
-func (ot *OptTester) OptStepsWeb() (string, error) {
+func (ot *OptTester) OptStepsWeb(explore bool) (string, error) {
 	normDiffStr, err := ot.optStepsNormDiff()
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
 
-	exploreDiffStr, err := ot.optStepsExploreDiff()
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
+	var exploreDiffStr string
+	if explore {
+		exploreDiffStr, err = ot.optStepsExploreDiff()
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
 	}
 	url, err := ot.encodeOptstepsURL(normDiffStr, exploreDiffStr)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/sql/opt/testutils/opttester/testdata/opt-steps b/pkg/sql/opt/testutils/opttester/testdata/opt-steps
index 16b0b0f0129d..3ffb8f2c7cc1 100644
--- a/pkg/sql/opt/testutils/opttester/testdata/opt-steps
+++ b/pkg/sql/opt/testutils/opttester/testdata/opt-steps
@@ -177,6 +177,99 @@ Final best expression
    ├── key: (1)
    └── fd: ()-->(2)
 
+normsteps
+SELECT * FROM ab WHERE b=1
+----
+================================================================================
+Initial expression
+  Cost: 1098.77
+================================================================================
+  project
+   ├── columns: a:1(int!null) b:2(int!null)
+   ├── key: (1)
+   ├── fd: ()-->(2)
+   └── select
+        ├── columns: a:1(int!null) b:2(int!null) crdb_internal_mvcc_timestamp:3(decimal) tableoid:4(oid)
+        ├── key: (1)
+        ├── fd: ()-->(2), (1)-->(3,4)
+        ├── scan ab
+        │    ├── columns: a:1(int!null) b:2(int) crdb_internal_mvcc_timestamp:3(decimal) tableoid:4(oid)
+        │    ├── key: (1)
+        │    └── fd: (1)-->(2-4)
+        └── filters
+             └── eq [type=bool, outer=(2), constraints=(/2: [/1 - /1]; tight), fd=()-->(2)]
+                  ├── variable: b:2 [type=int]
+                  └── const: 1 [type=int]
+================================================================================
+PruneSelectCols
+  Cost: 1078.57
+================================================================================
+   project
+    ├── columns: a:1(int!null) b:2(int!null)
+    ├── key: (1)
+    ├── fd: ()-->(2)
+    └── select
+  -      ├── columns: a:1(int!null) b:2(int!null) crdb_internal_mvcc_timestamp:3(decimal) tableoid:4(oid)
+  +      ├── columns: a:1(int!null) b:2(int!null)
+         ├── key: (1)
+  -      ├── fd: ()-->(2), (1)-->(3,4)
+  +      ├── fd: ()-->(2)
+         ├── scan ab
+  -      │    ├── columns: a:1(int!null) b:2(int) crdb_internal_mvcc_timestamp:3(decimal) tableoid:4(oid)
+  +      │    ├── columns: a:1(int!null) b:2(int)
+         │    ├── key: (1)
+  -      │    └── fd: (1)-->(2-4)
+  +      │    └── fd: (1)-->(2)
+         └── filters
+              └── eq [type=bool, outer=(2), constraints=(/2: [/1 - /1]; tight), fd=()-->(2)]
+                   ├── variable: b:2 [type=int]
+                   └── const: 1 [type=int]
+================================================================================
+EliminateProject
+  Cost: 1078.45
+================================================================================
+  -project
+  +select
+    ├── columns: a:1(int!null) b:2(int!null)
+    ├── key: (1)
+    ├── fd: ()-->(2)
+  - └── select
+  -      ├── columns: a:1(int!null) b:2(int!null)
+  -      ├── key: (1)
+  -      ├── fd: ()-->(2)
+  -      ├── scan ab
+  -      │    ├── columns: a:1(int!null) b:2(int)
+  -      │    ├── key: (1)
+  -      │    └── fd: (1)-->(2)
+  -      └── filters
+  -           └── eq [type=bool, outer=(2), constraints=(/2: [/1 - /1]; tight), fd=()-->(2)]
+  -                ├── variable: b:2 [type=int]
+  -                └── const: 1 [type=int]
+  + ├── scan ab
+  + │    ├── columns: a:1(int!null) b:2(int)
+  + │    ├── key: (1)
+  + │    └── fd: (1)-->(2)
+  + └── filters
+  +      └── eq [type=bool, outer=(2), constraints=(/2: [/1 - /1]; tight), fd=()-->(2)]
+  +           ├── variable: b:2 [type=int]
+  +           └── const: 1 [type=int]
+================================================================================
+Final best expression
+  Cost: 1078.45
+================================================================================
+  select
+   ├── columns: a:1(int!null) b:2(int!null)
+   ├── key: (1)
+   ├── fd: ()-->(2)
+   ├── scan ab@ab_b_idx
+   │    ├── columns: a:1(int!null) b:2(int)
+   │    ├── key: (1)
+   │    └── fd: (1)-->(2)
+   └── filters
+        └── eq [type=bool, outer=(2), constraints=(/2: [/1 - /1]; tight), fd=()-->(2)]
+             ├── variable: b:2 [type=int]
+             └── const: 1 [type=int]
+
 exec-ddl
 CREATE TABLE customers (
     id INT8 NOT NULL,