diff --git a/scripts/support/runner/__init__.py b/scripts/support/runner/__init__.py
index 35a2bde..665e2a5 100644
--- a/scripts/support/runner/__init__.py
+++ b/scripts/support/runner/__init__.py
@@ -19,5 +19,6 @@
 from . import nrfjprog
 from . import openocd
 from . import pyocd
+from . import xtensa
 
 __all__ = ['ZephyrBinaryRunner']
diff --git a/scripts/support/runner/xtensa.py b/scripts/support/runner/xtensa.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c86d2a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/support/runner/xtensa.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2017 Linaro Limited.
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+'''Runner for debugging with xt-gdb.'''
+
+from os import path
+
+from .core import ZephyrBinaryRunner, get_env_or_bail
+
+
+class XtensaBinaryRunner(ZephyrBinaryRunner):
+    '''Runner front-end for xt-gdb.'''
+
+    def __init__(self, gdb, elf_name, debug=False):
+        super(XtensaBinaryRunner, self).__init__(debug=debug)
+        self.gdb_cmd = [gdb]
+        self.elf_name = elf_name
+
+    def replaces_shell_script(shell_script, command):
+        return command == 'debug' and shell_script == 'xt-gdb.sh'
+
+    def create_from_env(command, debug):
+        '''Create runner from environment.
+
+        Required:
+
+        - XCC_TOOLS: path to Xtensa tools
+        - O: build output directory
+        - KERNEL_ELF_NAME: zephyr kernel binary in ELF format
+        '''
+        xt_gdb = path.join(get_env_or_bail('XCC_TOOLS'), 'bin', 'xt-gdb')
+        elf_name = path.join(get_env_or_bail('O'),
+                             get_env_or_bail('KERNEL_ELF_NAME'))
+
+        return XtensaBinaryRunner(xt_gdb, elf_name)
+
+    def run(self, command, **kwargs):
+        if command != 'debug':
+            raise ValueError('Only debug is supported')
+
+        gdb_cmd = (self.gdb_cmd + [self.elf_name])
+
+        self.check_call(gdb_cmd)