diff --git a/samples/subsys/debug/gdbstub/pytest/test_gdbstub.py b/samples/subsys/debug/gdbstub/pytest/test_gdbstub.py
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..41dca1cfcae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/samples/subsys/debug/gdbstub/pytest/test_gdbstub.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2023 Intel Corporation.
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+import os
+import subprocess
+from twister_harness import DeviceAdapter
+import sys
+import logging
+import shlex
+
+ZEPHYR_BASE = os.getenv("ZEPHYR_BASE")
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join(ZEPHYR_BASE, "scripts", "pylib", "twister"))
+from twisterlib.cmakecache import CMakeCache
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+def test_gdbstub(dut: DeviceAdapter):
+    """
+    Test gdbstub feature using a gdb script. We connect to the DUT and run some
+    basic gdb commands and evaluate return code to determine pass or failure.
+    """
+    build_dir = dut.device_config.build_dir
+    cmake_cache = CMakeCache.from_file(build_dir / 'CMakeCache.txt')
+    gdb = cmake_cache.get('CMAKE_GDB', None)
+    assert gdb
+    source_dir = cmake_cache.get('APPLICATION_SOURCE_DIR', None)
+    assert source_dir
+    cmd = [gdb, '-x', f'{source_dir}/run.gdbinit', f'{build_dir}/zephyr/zephyr.elf']
+    logger.info(f'Test command: {shlex.join(cmd)}')
+    result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=20)
+    logger.debug('Output:\n%s' % result.stdout)
+    assert result.returncode == 0
diff --git a/samples/subsys/debug/gdbstub/run.gdbinit b/samples/subsys/debug/gdbstub/run.gdbinit
index 49181157ae2..abce598f54a 100644
--- a/samples/subsys/debug/gdbstub/run.gdbinit
+++ b/samples/subsys/debug/gdbstub/run.gdbinit
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 set pagination off
-symbol-file zephyr/zephyr.elf
-target remote 127.0.0.1:1234
+#symbol-file build/zephyr/zephyr.elf
+target remote :5678
 b test
 b main.c:33
 c
diff --git a/samples/subsys/debug/gdbstub/sample.yaml b/samples/subsys/debug/gdbstub/sample.yaml
index 5f75a801541..638c5ec16cc 100644
--- a/samples/subsys/debug/gdbstub/sample.yaml
+++ b/samples/subsys/debug/gdbstub/sample.yaml
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ sample:
   name: gdbstub sample
 tests:
   sample.debug.gdbstub:
-    build_only: true
     platform_allow: qemu_x86
+    harness: pytest
     tags:
       - debug
       - gdbstub