diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 7faba3b..f0173cc 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@
 	@echo " test-debug          - build and run (basic) functional tests (debug build)"
 	@echo " test-all            - build and run (all) functional tests"
 	@echo " test-all-debug      - build and run (all) functional tests (debug build)"
+	@echo " test-shell          - enter shell with test environment"
+	@echo " test-shell-debug    - enter shell with test environment (debug build)"
 	@echo " test-wipe           - wipe files generated by unit tests"
 	@echo " retest              - run functional tests"
 	@echo " retest-debug        - run functional tests (debug build)"
@@ -247,6 +249,12 @@
 test-wipe:
 	@make -C test wipe
 
+test-shell: bootstrap
+	$(call test,vpp_lite,vpp_lite,shell)
+
+test-shell-debug: bootstrap
+	$(call test,vpp_lite,vpp_lite_debug,shell)
+
 test-doc:
 	@make -C test doc
 
diff --git a/test/Makefile b/test/Makefile
index 1bb3c6c..0214980 100644
--- a/test/Makefile
+++ b/test/Makefile
@@ -68,6 +68,17 @@
 retest: verify-python-path verify-no-running-vpp reset
 	$(call retest-func)
 
+shell: verify-python-path $(PAPI_INSTALL_DONE)
+	@echo "source $(PYTHON_VENV_PATH)/bin/activate;\
+		echo '***';\
+		echo VPP_TEST_BUILD_DIR=$(VPP_TEST_BUILD_DIR);\
+		echo VPP_TEST_BIN=$(VPP_TEST_BIN);\
+		echo VPP_TEST_PLUGIN_PATH=$(VPP_TEST_PLUGIN_PATH);\
+		echo VPP_TEST_INSTALL_PATH=$(VPP_TEST_INSTALL_PATH);\
+		echo LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$(LD_LIBRARY_PATH);\
+		echo '***';\
+		exec </dev/tty" | bash -i
+
 .PHONY: wipe doc
 
 reset:
@@ -126,6 +137,8 @@
 	@echo " retest              - run functional tests"
 	@echo " retest-debug        - run functional tests (debug build)"
 	@echo " test-wipe           - wipe (temporary) files generated by unit tests"
+	@echo " test-shell          - enter shell with test environment"
+	@echo " test-shell-debug    - enter shell with test environment (debug build)"
 	@echo ""
 	@echo "Arguments controlling test runs:"
 	@echo " V=[0|1|2]            - set test verbosity level"