diff --git a/test/litest.c b/test/litest.c
index 1230ec93..ab5a73a5 100644
--- a/test/litest.c
+++ b/test/litest.c
@@ -648,7 +648,7 @@ litest_log_handler(struct libinput *libinput,
 		/* valgrind is too slow and some of our offsets are too
 		 * short, don't abort if during a valgrind run we get a
 		 * negative offset */
-		if (!RUNNING_ON_VALGRIND ||
+		if ((!RUNNING_ON_VALGRIND && !in_debugger) ||
 		    !strstr(format, "offset negative"))
 		litest_abort_msg("libinput bug triggered, aborting.\n");
 	}