diff --git a/gnovm/cmd/gno/repl.go b/gnovm/cmd/gno/repl.go
index 0110b44b58a..8a6274eb6eb 100644
--- a/gnovm/cmd/gno/repl.go
+++ b/gnovm/cmd/gno/repl.go
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ func execRepl(cfg *replCfg, args []string) error {
 //   gno> import "gno.land/p/demo/avl"     // import the p/demo/avl package
 //   gno> func a() string { return "a" }   // declare a new function named a
 //   gno> /src                             // print current generated source
+//   gno> /debug                           // activate the GnoVM debugger
 //   gno> /editor                          // enter in multi-line mode, end with ';'
 //   gno> /reset                           // remove all previously inserted code
 //   gno> println(a())                     // print the result of calling a()
@@ -141,6 +142,8 @@ func handleInput(r *repl.Repl, input string) error {
 	switch strings.TrimSpace(input) {
 	case "/reset":
 		r.Reset()
+	case "/debug":
+		r.Debug()
 	case "/src":
 		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stdout, r.Src())
 	case "/exit":
diff --git a/gnovm/pkg/gnolang/debugger.go b/gnovm/pkg/gnolang/debugger.go
index 284120ef6c5..839b6a691de 100644
--- a/gnovm/pkg/gnolang/debugger.go
+++ b/gnovm/pkg/gnolang/debugger.go
@@ -43,14 +43,29 @@ type Debugger struct {
 	out     io.Writer      // debugger output, defaults to Stdout
 	scanner *bufio.Scanner // to parse input per line
 
-	state       DebugState // current state of debugger
-	lastCmd     string     // last debugger command
-	lastArg     string     // last debugger command arguments
-	loc         Location   // source location of the current machine instruction
-	prevLoc     Location   // source location of the previous machine instruction
-	breakpoints []Location // list of breakpoints set by user, as source locations
-	call        []Location // for function tracking, ideally should be provided by machine frame
-	frameLevel  int        // frame level of the current machine instruction
+	state       DebugState          // current state of debugger
+	lastCmd     string              // last debugger command
+	lastArg     string              // last debugger command arguments
+	loc         Location            // source location of the current machine instruction
+	prevLoc     Location            // source location of the previous machine instruction
+	breakpoints []Location          // list of breakpoints set by user, as source locations
+	call        []Location          // for function tracking, ideally should be provided by machine frame
+	frameLevel  int                 // frame level of the current machine instruction
+	getSrc      func(string) string // helper to access source from repl or others
+}
+
+// Enable makes the debugger d active, using in as input reader, out as output writer and f as a source helper.
+func (d *Debugger) Enable(in io.Reader, out io.Writer, f func(string) string) {
+	d.in = in
+	d.out = out
+	d.enabled = true
+	d.state = DebugAtInit
+	d.getSrc = f
+}
+
+// Disable makes the debugger d inactive.
+func (d *Debugger) Disable() {
+	d.enabled = false
 }
 
 type debugCommand struct {
@@ -484,7 +499,13 @@ func debugList(m *Machine, arg string) (err error) {
 	}
 	src, err := fileContent(m.Store, loc.PkgPath, loc.File)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		// Use optional getSrc helper as fallback to get source.
+		if m.Debugger.getSrc != nil {
+			src = m.Debugger.getSrc(loc.File)
+		}
+		if src == "" {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 	lines, offset := linesAround(src, loc.Line, 10)
 	for i, l := range lines {
diff --git a/gnovm/pkg/repl/repl.go b/gnovm/pkg/repl/repl.go
index c7786cf08b0..e7b5ecea96f 100644
--- a/gnovm/pkg/repl/repl.go
+++ b/gnovm/pkg/repl/repl.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"go/printer"
 	"go/token"
 	"io"
+	"os"
 	"text/template"
 
 	gno "github.com/gnolang/gno/gnovm/pkg/gnolang"
@@ -106,6 +107,7 @@ type Repl struct {
 	stdout    io.Writer
 	stderr    io.Writer
 	stdin     io.Reader
+	debug     bool
 }
 
 // NewRepl creates a Repl struct. It is able to process input source code and eventually run it.
@@ -151,6 +153,14 @@ func (r *Repl) Process(input string) (out string, err error) {
 	}()
 	r.state.id++
 
+	if r.debug {
+		r.state.machine.Debugger.Enable(os.Stdin, os.Stdout, func(file string) string {
+			return r.state.files[file]
+		})
+		r.debug = false
+		defer r.state.machine.Debugger.Disable()
+	}
+
 	decl, declErr := r.parseDeclaration(input)
 	if declErr == nil {
 		return r.handleDeclarations(decl)
@@ -317,3 +327,8 @@ func (r *Repl) Src() string {
 
 	return b.String()
 }
+
+// Debug activates the GnoVM debugger for the next evaluation.
+func (r *Repl) Debug() {
+	r.debug = true
+}