Presented is a system and method for testing the adhesion of coatings to substrates using an ultrasonic scalar. The system comprises a body, a flexible scalpel extending from said body, and a source of ultrasonic waves. The flexible scalpel applies pressure and ultrasonic waves to a coating that is removed when the adhesion of the coating to the substrate is substandard. The method comprises applying an flexible scalpel extending from an ultrasonic adhesion test device to a coating, applying ultrasonic waves through the flexible scalpel to the coating while moving across the coating, removing the coating if there is less than an acceptable adhesion of the coating to the substrate, and inspecting the coating to determine if coating was removed from the substrate.