diff --git a/extras/hs-test/vppinstance.go b/extras/hs-test/vppinstance.go
index 4092d35..1c28ec9 100644
--- a/extras/hs-test/vppinstance.go
+++ b/extras/hs-test/vppinstance.go
@@ -3,8 +3,11 @@
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"github.com/edwarnicke/exechelper"
+	"os"
 	"os/exec"
+	"os/signal"
 	"strings"
+	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
 	"go.fd.io/govpp"
@@ -113,8 +116,27 @@
 	startupFileName := vpp.getEtcDir() + "/startup.conf"
 	vpp.container.createFile(startupFileName, configContent)
 
-	// Start VPP
-	vpp.container.execServer("su -c \"vpp -c " + startupFileName + " &> /proc/1/fd/1\"")
+	if *IsVppDebug {
+		sig := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
+		signal.Notify(sig, syscall.SIGINT)
+		cont := make(chan bool, 1)
+		go func() {
+			sig := <-sig
+			fmt.Println(sig)
+			cont <- true
+		}()
+
+		// Start VPP in GDB and wait for user to attach it
+		vpp.container.execServer("su -c \"gdb -ex run --args vpp -c " + startupFileName + " &> /proc/1/fd/1\"")
+		fmt.Println("run following command in different terminal:")
+		fmt.Println("docker exec -it " + vpp.container.name + " gdb -ex \"attach $(docker exec " + vpp.container.name + " pidof gdb)\"")
+		fmt.Println("Afterwards press CTRL+C to continue")
+		<-cont
+		fmt.Println("continuing...")
+	} else {
+		// Start VPP
+		vpp.container.execServer("su -c \"vpp -c " + startupFileName + " &> /proc/1/fd/1\"")
+	}
 
 	// Connect to VPP and store the connection
 	sockAddress := vpp.container.GetHostWorkDir() + defaultApiSocketFilePath