diff --git a/gdbstub/gdbstub.c b/gdbstub/gdbstub.c
index e74ecc78cc..20b6fe03fb 100644
--- a/gdbstub/gdbstub.c
+++ b/gdbstub/gdbstub.c
@@ -2059,9 +2059,10 @@ void gdb_read_byte(uint8_t ch)
          * here, but it does expect a stop reply.
          */
         if (ch != 0x03) {
-            warn_report("gdbstub: client sent packet while target running\n");
+            trace_gdbstub_err_unexpected_runpkt(ch);
+        } else {
+            gdbserver_state.allow_stop_reply = true;
         }
-        gdbserver_state.allow_stop_reply = true;
         vm_stop(RUN_STATE_PAUSED);
     } else
 #endif
diff --git a/gdbstub/trace-events b/gdbstub/trace-events
index 0c18a4d70a..7bc79a73c4 100644
--- a/gdbstub/trace-events
+++ b/gdbstub/trace-events
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ gdbstub_err_invalid_repeat(uint8_t ch) "got invalid RLE count: 0x%02x"
 gdbstub_err_invalid_rle(void) "got invalid RLE sequence"
 gdbstub_err_checksum_invalid(uint8_t ch) "got invalid command checksum digit: 0x%02x"
 gdbstub_err_checksum_incorrect(uint8_t expected, uint8_t got) "got command packet with incorrect checksum, expected=0x%02x, received=0x%02x"
+gdbstub_err_unexpected_runpkt(uint8_t ch) "unexpected packet (0x%02x) while target running"
 
 # softmmu.c
 gdbstub_hit_watchpoint(const char *type, int cpu_gdb_index, uint64_t vaddr) "Watchpoint hit, type=\"%s\" cpu=%d, vaddr=0x%" PRIx64 ""