diff --git a/src/extension.ts b/src/extension.ts
index 35c6671d1..2f29114df 100644
--- a/src/extension.ts
+++ b/src/extension.ts
@@ -536,7 +536,16 @@ export class Extension implements RunHooks {
     if (mode === 'debug') {
       const debugEnd = new this._vscode.CancellationTokenSource();
       testRun.token.onCancellationRequested(() => debugEnd.cancel());
-      this._vscode.debug.onDidTerminateDebugSession(() => debugEnd.cancel());
+
+      let mainDebugRun: vscodeTypes.DebugSession | undefined;
+      this._vscode.debug.onDidStartDebugSession(session => { mainDebugRun ??= session; });
+      this._vscode.debug.onDidTerminateDebugSession(session => {
+        // child processes have their own debug sessions,
+        // but we only want to stop debugging if the user cancels the main session
+        if (session.id === mainDebugRun?.id)
+          debugEnd.cancel();
+      });
+
       await model.debugTests(items, testListener, debugEnd.token);
     } else {
       // Force trace viewer update to surface check version errors.