diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index e8776221..2d11c990 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -69,8 +69,13 @@ jobs:
         run: xpython --version
 
       - name: Test xeus-python C++
-        run: ./test_xeus_python
-        timeout-minutes: 4
+        run: |
+          for i in $(seq 1 10);
+          do
+              echo "tests run $i"
+              ./test_xeus_python
+          done
+        timeout-minutes: 40
         working-directory: build/test
 
       - name: Test xeus-python Python
@@ -139,8 +144,10 @@ jobs:
       - name: Test xeus-python C++
         shell: cmd /C call {0}
         run: |
-          micromamba activate xeus-python
-          test_xeus_python
-        timeout-minutes: 4
+          for /L %%i in (1,1,20) do (
+            echo tests run %%i
+            test_xeus_python
+          )
+        timeout-minutes: 40
         working-directory: build\test
 
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 041239f7..97eb65ac 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ docs/build/
 
 # Build directory
 build/
+/build-*/
 
 # generated kernel specs
 /share/jupyter/kernels/xpython/kernel.json
diff --git a/environment-dev.yml b/environment-dev.yml
index 7c8335ec..e1483547 100644
--- a/environment-dev.yml
+++ b/environment-dev.yml
@@ -25,3 +25,7 @@ dependencies:
   - jupyter_kernel_test<0.8
   - doctest
   - pluggy=1.3
+  - libboost
+  - libboost-devel
+  - libboost-headers
+
diff --git a/include/xeus-python/xdebugger.hpp b/include/xeus-python/xdebugger.hpp
index 6c7743ae..d5464932 100644
--- a/include/xeus-python/xdebugger.hpp
+++ b/include/xeus-python/xdebugger.hpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include <memory>
 #include <mutex>
 #include <set>
+#include <thread>
 
 #include "nlohmann/json.hpp"
 #include "pybind11/pybind11.h"
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 8862a319..95af2803 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -77,15 +77,32 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
     PyConfig_InitPythonConfig(&config);
     // config.isolated = 1;
 
+    constexpr std::string_view python_path_help = "PYTHONHOME or PYTHON_EXECUTABLE environment variables can be used to specify the correct path";
+    const auto fail_with_error_message = [](const auto&... message_parts) {
+            std::stringstream message_stream;
+            ((message_stream << message_parts), ...);
+            auto message = message_stream.str();
+            std::cerr << message << std::endl;
+            throw std::runtime_error(std::move(message));
+        };
+
     // Setting Program Name
     static const std::string executable(xpyt::get_python_path());
     static const std::wstring wexecutable(executable.cbegin(), executable.cend());
+    if (!std::filesystem::exists(wexecutable))
+    {
+        fail_with_error_message("cannot find python executable, tried  '", executable, "' - ", python_path_help);
+    }
     config.program_name = const_cast<wchar_t*>(wexecutable.c_str());
 
     // Setting Python Home
     static const std::string pythonhome{ xpyt::get_python_prefix() };
-    static const std::wstring wstr(pythonhome.cbegin(), pythonhome.cend());;
-    config.home = const_cast<wchar_t*>(wstr.c_str());
+    static const std::wstring wpythonhome(pythonhome.cbegin(), pythonhome.cend());
+    if (!std::filesystem::exists(wpythonhome))
+    {
+        fail_with_error_message("cannot find python home directory, tried  '", pythonhome, "' - ", python_path_help);
+    }
+    config.home = const_cast<wchar_t*>(wpythonhome.c_str());
     xpyt::print_pythonhome();
 
     // Implicitly pre-initialize Python
diff --git a/src/xdebugger.cpp b/src/xdebugger.cpp
index 58d534da..bc5f987f 100644
--- a/src/xdebugger.cpp
+++ b/src/xdebugger.cpp
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ namespace xpyt
 
     debugger::~debugger()
     {
+        // release/destroy the debugger python object while GIL is acquired
+        pybind11::gil_scoped_acquire gil_lock;
+        m_pydebugger.dec_ref();
     }
 
     nl::json debugger::inspect_variables_request(const nl::json& message)
@@ -286,7 +289,7 @@ namespace xpyt
             py::gil_scoped_acquire acquire;
             py::module xeus_python_shell = py::module::import("xeus_python_shell.debugger");
             m_pydebugger = xeus_python_shell.attr("XDebugger")();
-
+            
             // Get debugpy version
             std::string expression = "debugpy.__version__";
             std::string version = (eval(py::str(expression))).cast<std::string>();
diff --git a/src/xinterpreter.cpp b/src/xinterpreter.cpp
index 548935e1..4ec49c5d 100644
--- a/src/xinterpreter.cpp
+++ b/src/xinterpreter.cpp
@@ -342,7 +342,6 @@ namespace xpyt
 
         // Reset traceback
         m_ipython_shell.attr("last_error") = py::none();
-
         try
         {
             exec(py::str(code));
@@ -350,21 +349,45 @@ namespace xpyt
         }
         catch (py::error_already_set& e)
         {
-            // This will grab the latest traceback and set shell.last_error
-            m_ipython_shell.attr("showtraceback")();
-
-            py::list pyerror = m_ipython_shell.attr("last_error");
-
-            xerror error = extract_error(pyerror);
+            try{
+                // This will grab the latest traceback and set shell.last_error
+                m_ipython_shell.attr("showtraceback")();
+                py::list pyerror = m_ipython_shell.attr("last_error");
+                xerror error = extract_error(pyerror);
 
-            publish_execution_error(error.m_ename, error.m_evalue, error.m_traceback);
-            error.m_traceback.resize(1);
-            error.m_traceback[0] = code;
+                publish_execution_error(error.m_ename, error.m_evalue, error.m_traceback);
 
-            return xeus::create_error_reply(error.m_ename, error.m_evalue, error.m_traceback);
+                error.m_traceback.resize(1);
+                error.m_traceback[0] = code;
+                return xeus::create_error_reply(error.m_ename, error.m_evalue, error.m_traceback);
+            }
+            catch (py::error_already_set& e)
+            {
+                std::cerr << "an error occurred during error handling: "<<e.what()<<std::endl;
+                return xeus::create_error_reply("ErrorDuringErrorHandling", e.what(), std::vector<std::string>());
+            }
+            catch(std::exception& e)
+            {
+                std::cerr << "a standard exception occurred during error handling: "<<e.what()<<std::endl;
+                return xeus::create_error_reply("ExceptionDuringErrorHandling", e.what(), std::vector<std::string>());
+            }
+            catch (...)
+            {
+                std::cerr << "an unknown error occurred during error handling"<<std::endl;
+                return xeus::create_error_reply("UnknownErrorDuringErrorHandling", "", std::vector<std::string>());
+            }
+        }
+        catch(std::exception& e)
+        {
+            return xeus::create_error_reply("Exception", e.what(), std::vector<std::string>());
+        }
+        catch (...)
+        {
+            return xeus::create_error_reply("UnknownError", "", std::vector<std::string>());
         }
     }
 
+
     void interpreter::set_request_context(xeus::xrequest_context context)
     {
         py::gil_scoped_acquire acquire;
diff --git a/src/xpaths.cpp b/src/xpaths.cpp
index 9ccc468d..3fbd84a2 100644
--- a/src/xpaths.cpp
+++ b/src/xpaths.cpp
@@ -52,6 +52,13 @@ namespace xpyt
 
     std::string get_python_path()
     {
+        const char* python_exe_environment = std::getenv("PYTHON_EXECUTABLE");
+        if (python_exe_environment != nullptr && std::strlen(python_exe_environment) != 0)
+        {
+            static const std::string python_exe_path = python_exe_environment;
+            return python_exe_path;
+        }
+
         std::string python_prefix = get_python_prefix();
 #ifdef _WIN32
         if (python_prefix.back() != '\\')
diff --git a/test/CMakeLists.txt b/test/CMakeLists.txt
index d5fafe2c..5aceaf62 100644
--- a/test/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/test/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ endif()
 find_package(Threads)
 find_package(doctest)
 
+cmake_policy(SET CMP0167 OLD) # use find boost from old cmake
+find_package(Boost REQUIRED COMPONENTS process filesystem)
+
 include_directories(${GTEST_INCLUDE_DIRS} SYSTEM)
 
 set(XEUS_PYTHON_TESTS
@@ -70,7 +73,7 @@ set_target_properties(test_xeus_python PROPERTIES
 )
 
 include_directories(${PYTHON_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-target_link_libraries(test_xeus_python ${PYTHON_LIBRARIES} xeus-zmq doctest::doctest ${CMAKE_THREAD_LIBS_INIT})
+target_link_libraries(test_xeus_python ${PYTHON_LIBRARIES} xeus-zmq doctest::doctest Boost::headers Boost::filesystem Boost::process ${CMAKE_THREAD_LIBS_INIT})
 target_include_directories(test_xeus_python PRIVATE ${XEUS_PYTHON_INCLUDE_DIR})
 
 add_custom_target(xtest COMMAND test_xeus_python DEPENDS test_xeus_python)
diff --git a/test/test_debugger.cpp b/test/test_debugger.cpp
index 23e515f3..888a1b5b 100644
--- a/test/test_debugger.cpp
+++ b/test/test_debugger.cpp
@@ -8,8 +8,10 @@
 * The full license is in the file LICENSE, distributed with this software. *
 ****************************************************************************/
 
+
 #include "doctest/doctest.h"
 
+
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <chrono>
 #include <condition_variable>
@@ -35,6 +37,12 @@
 #include <unistd.h>
 #endif
 
+#ifndef WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN
+#define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN
+#endif
+#include <boost/asio.hpp>
+#include <boost/process.hpp>
+
 /***********************************
  * Should be moved in a utils file *
  ***********************************/
@@ -361,7 +369,7 @@ nl::json make_exception_breakpoint_request(int seq)
         })},
         {"breakMode", "always"}
     };
-    nl::json options = nl::json::array({except_option, except_option});
+    nl::json options = nl::json::array({ except_option, except_option });
     nl::json req = {
         {"type", "request"},
         {"seq", seq},
@@ -383,8 +391,8 @@ class debugger_client
 public:
 
     debugger_client(xeus::xcontext& context,
-                    const std::string& connection_file,
-                    const std::string& log_file);
+        const std::string& connection_file,
+        const std::string& log_file);
 
     bool test_init();
     bool test_disconnect();
@@ -430,10 +438,10 @@ class debugger_client
 };
 
 debugger_client::debugger_client(xeus::xcontext& context,
-                                 const std::string& connection_file,
-                                 const std::string& log_file)
+    const std::string& connection_file,
+    const std::string& log_file)
     : m_client(context, "debugger_client",
-               std::get<xeus::xkernel_configuration>(xeus::load_configuration(connection_file)), log_file)
+       std::get<xeus::xkernel_configuration>(xeus::load_configuration(connection_file)), log_file)
 {
 }
 
@@ -471,7 +479,7 @@ bool debugger_client::print_code_variable(const std::string& expected, int& seq)
     ++seq;
     nl::json json1 = m_client.receive_on_control();
 
-    if(json1["content"]["body"]["stackFrames"].empty())
+    if (json1["content"]["body"]["stackFrames"].empty())
     {
         m_client.send_on_control("debug_request", make_stacktrace_request(seq, 1));
         ++seq;
@@ -491,11 +499,11 @@ bool debugger_client::print_code_variable(const std::string& expected, int& seq)
     const auto& ar = json3["content"]["body"]["variables"];
     bool var_found = false;
     std::string name, value;
-    for(auto it = ar.begin(); it != ar.end() && !var_found; ++it)
+    for (auto it = ar.begin(); it != ar.end() && !var_found; ++it)
     {
         auto d = *it;
         name = d["name"];
-        if(name == "i")
+        if (name == "i")
         {
             var_found = true;
             value = d["value"];
@@ -745,7 +753,7 @@ bool debugger_client::test_inspect_variables()
     auto check_var = [&vars](const std::string& name, const std::string& value) {
         auto x = std::find_if(vars.begin(), vars.end(), [&name](const nl::json& var) {
             return var.is_object() && var.value("name", "") == name;
-        });
+            });
         if (x == vars.end())
         {
             std::cout << "missing " << name << std::endl;
@@ -753,7 +761,7 @@ bool debugger_client::test_inspect_variables()
         }
         nl::json var = *x;
         return var["value"] == value && var["variablesReference"] == 0;
-    };
+        };
 
     bool res = check_var("i", "4") && check_var("j", "8") && check_var("k", "5");
     return res;
@@ -858,7 +866,7 @@ bool debugger_client::test_variables()
     ++seq;
     nl::json json1 = m_client.receive_on_control();
 
-    if(json1["content"]["body"]["stackFrames"].empty())
+    if (json1["content"]["body"]["stackFrames"].empty())
     {
         m_client.send_on_control("debug_request", make_stacktrace_request(seq, 1));
         ++seq;
@@ -909,7 +917,7 @@ bool debugger_client::test_copy_to_globals()
     m_client.send_on_control("debug_request", make_stacktrace_request(seq, 1));
     ++seq;
     nl::json json1 = m_client.receive_on_control();
-    if(json1["content"]["body"]["stackFrames"].empty())
+    if (json1["content"]["body"]["stackFrames"].empty())
     {
         m_client.send_on_control("debug_request", make_stacktrace_request(seq, 1));
         ++seq;
@@ -935,7 +943,7 @@ bool debugger_client::test_copy_to_globals()
     ++seq;
     nl::json json3 = m_client.receive_on_control();
     nl::json local_var = {};
-    for (auto &var: json3["content"]["body"]["variables"]){
+    for (auto& var : json3["content"]["body"]["variables"]) {
         if (var["evaluateName"] == local_var_name) {
             local_var = var;
         }
@@ -952,7 +960,7 @@ bool debugger_client::test_copy_to_globals()
     ++seq;
     nl::json json4 = m_client.receive_on_control();
     nl::json global_var = {};
-    for (auto &var: json4["content"]["body"]["variables"]){
+    for (auto& var : json4["content"]["body"]["variables"]) {
         if (var["evaluateName"] == global_var_name) {
             global_var = var;
         }
@@ -1034,7 +1042,7 @@ std::string debugger_client::get_external_path()
 void debugger_client::dump_external_file()
 {
     static bool already_dumped = false;
-    if(!already_dumped)
+    if (!already_dumped)
     {
         std::ofstream out(get_external_path());
         out << make_external_code() << std::endl;
@@ -1065,6 +1073,8 @@ class timer
 {
 public:
 
+    struct timeout : std::runtime_error { using std::runtime_error::runtime_error; };
+
     timer();
     ~timer();
 
@@ -1106,10 +1116,11 @@ void timer::notify_done()
 void timer::run_timer()
 {
     std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lk(m_mcv);
-    if (!m_cv.wait_for(lk, std::chrono::seconds(20), [this]() { return m_done; }))
+    if (!m_cv.wait_for(lk, std::chrono::seconds(60), [this]() { return m_done; }))
     {
-        std::clog << "Unit test time out !!" << std::endl;
-        std::terminate();
+        constexpr auto message = "Unit test time out !!";
+        std::clog << message << std::endl;
+        throw timeout{ message }; // same as calling terminate if unhandled, but some impl will also display the error in the console
     }
 }
 
@@ -1139,7 +1150,7 @@ void dump_connection_file()
   "kernel_name": "xcpp"
 }
         )";
-    if(!dumped)
+    if (!dumped)
     {
         std::ofstream out(KERNEL_JSON);
         out << connection_file;
@@ -1147,19 +1158,102 @@ void dump_connection_file()
     }
 }
 
-void start_kernel()
+struct KernelProcess
 {
-    dump_connection_file();
-    std::string cmd = "xpython -f " + KERNEL_JSON + "&";
-    int ret2 = std::system(cmd.c_str());
-    std::this_thread::sleep_for(2s);
-}
+    struct error : std::runtime_error {
+        using std::runtime_error::runtime_error;
+    };
+
+    KernelProcess()
+    {
+        running.emplace_back(m_impl);
+
+        std::cout << "-> xpython sub-process started, waiting for ready message ..." << std::endl;
+
+        constexpr std::string_view ready_message = "Run with XEUS"; // we expect this to appear in the error output of xpython once it's ready
+        std::string err_output;
+        try 
+        {
+            boost::asio::read_until(m_impl->err_pipe, boost::asio::dynamic_buffer(err_output), ready_message);
+        }
+        catch (const std::exception& ex)
+        {
+            std::stringstream msgbuilder;
+            msgbuilder << "xpython startup failed: " << ex.what();
+            msgbuilder << "\nxpython's standard error output : " << err_output;
+            auto message = msgbuilder.str();
+            std::cerr << message << std::endl;
+            throw error(message);
+        }
+        std::cout << "-> xpython ready, proceeding with the test" << std::endl;
+    }
+
+    ~KernelProcess()
+    {
+        if (m_impl)
+        {
+            std::cout << "-> xpython - stopping ..." << std::endl;
+            m_impl.reset();
+            std::cout << "-> xpython - done" << std::endl;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private:
+        struct Impl
+        {
+            bool _ = [] { dump_connection_file(); return true; }();
+            boost::asio::io_context ctx;
+            boost::asio::readable_pipe err_pipe{ ctx };
+            boost::filesystem::path xpython_path = boost::process::environment::find_executable("xpython");
+            boost::process::process process{ ctx, xpython_path, { "-f" , KERNEL_JSON }, boost::process::process_stdio{{}, {}, err_pipe} };
+        };
+
+        std::shared_ptr<Impl> m_impl = std::make_shared<Impl>();
+
+        struct on_program_exit
+        {
+            // Makes sure sub-processes are all destroyed even if an abort occcurs.
+            // Will not be invoked on quick_exit however.
+            ~on_program_exit()
+            {
+                const auto still_running_count = std::count_if(running.begin(), running.end(), [](const auto& maybe_impl) { return !maybe_impl.expired(); });
+                if (still_running_count == 0)
+                {
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                std::cerr << "=> test program exiting (after `main()`): explicitly terminate remaining sub-processes (" << still_running_count << ") ..." << std::endl;
+                for (auto& maybe_process : running)
+                {
+                    if (auto process_impl = maybe_process.lock())
+                    {
+                        std::cerr << "=>   request exit politely : " << process_impl->xpython_path << "(" << process_impl->process.id() << ") ..." << std::endl;
+                        process_impl->process.request_exit();
+                        std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::seconds(2));
+                        if (process_impl->process.running())
+                        {
+                            std::cerr << "=>   still running, force terminate : " << process_impl->xpython_path << "(" << process_impl->process.id() << ") ..." << std::endl;
+                            process_impl->process.terminate();
+                            process_impl->process.wait();
+                        }
+                        std::cerr << "=>   terminate " << process_impl->xpython_path << "(" << process_impl->process.id() << ") - DONE" << std::endl;
+                    }
+                }
+                std::cerr << "=> test program exiting : explicitly terminate remaining sub-processes - DONE" << std::endl;
+            }
+        };
+        static std::vector<std::weak_ptr<Impl>> running;
+        static on_program_exit run_on_program_exit;
+};
+
+std::vector<std::weak_ptr<KernelProcess::Impl>> KernelProcess::running;
+KernelProcess::on_program_exit KernelProcess::run_on_program_exit;
 
 TEST_SUITE("debugger")
 {
     TEST_CASE("init")
     {
-        start_kernel();
+        KernelProcess xpython_process;
         timer t;
         auto context_ptr = xeus::make_zmq_context();
         {
@@ -1176,7 +1270,7 @@ TEST_SUITE("debugger")
 
     TEST_CASE("disconnect")
     {
-        start_kernel();
+        KernelProcess xpython_process;
         timer t;
         auto context_ptr = xeus::make_zmq_context();
         {
@@ -1192,7 +1286,7 @@ TEST_SUITE("debugger")
 
     TEST_CASE("attach")
     {
-        start_kernel();
+        KernelProcess xpython_process;
         timer t;
         auto context_ptr = xeus::make_zmq_context();
         {
@@ -1209,7 +1303,7 @@ TEST_SUITE("debugger")
 
     TEST_CASE("multisession")
     {
-        start_kernel();
+        KernelProcess xpython_process;
         timer t;
         auto context_ptr = xeus::make_zmq_context();
         {
@@ -1228,7 +1322,7 @@ TEST_SUITE("debugger")
 
     TEST_CASE("set_external_breakpoints")
     {
-        start_kernel();
+        KernelProcess xpython_process;
         timer t;
         auto context_ptr = xeus::make_zmq_context();
         {
@@ -1247,7 +1341,7 @@ TEST_SUITE("debugger")
     /*
     TEST_CASE("external_next_continue")
     {
-        start_kernel();
+        KernelProcess xpython_process;
         timer t;
         auto context_ptr = xeus::make_zmq_context();
         {
@@ -1264,7 +1358,7 @@ TEST_SUITE("debugger")
     */
     TEST_CASE("set_breakpoints")
     {
-        start_kernel();
+        KernelProcess xpython_process;
         timer t;
         auto context_ptr = xeus::make_zmq_context();
         {
@@ -1281,7 +1375,7 @@ TEST_SUITE("debugger")
 
     TEST_CASE("set_exception_breakpoints")
     {
-        start_kernel();
+        KernelProcess xpython_process;
         timer t;
         auto context_ptr = xeus::make_zmq_context();
         {
@@ -1298,7 +1392,7 @@ TEST_SUITE("debugger")
 
     TEST_CASE("source")
     {
-        start_kernel();
+        KernelProcess xpython_process;
         timer t;
         auto context_ptr = xeus::make_zmq_context();
         {
@@ -1317,7 +1411,7 @@ TEST_SUITE("debugger")
     /*
     TEST_CASE("next_continue")
     {
-        start_kernel();
+        KernelProcess xpython_process;
         timer t;
         auto context_ptr = xeus::make_zmq_context();
         {
@@ -1337,7 +1431,7 @@ TEST_SUITE("debugger")
     /*
     TEST_CASE("stepin")
     {
-        start_kernel();
+        KernelProcess xpython_process;
         timer t;
         auto context_ptr = xeus::make_zmq_context();
         {
@@ -1355,7 +1449,7 @@ TEST_SUITE("debugger")
 
     TEST_CASE("stack_trace")
     {
-        start_kernel();
+        KernelProcess xpython_process;
         timer t;
         auto context_ptr = xeus::make_zmq_context();
         {
@@ -1372,7 +1466,7 @@ TEST_SUITE("debugger")
 
     TEST_CASE("debug_info")
     {
-        start_kernel();
+        KernelProcess xpython_process;
         timer t;
         auto context_ptr = xeus::make_zmq_context();
         {
@@ -1389,7 +1483,7 @@ TEST_SUITE("debugger")
 
     TEST_CASE("inspect_variables")
     {
-        start_kernel();
+        KernelProcess xpython_process;
         timer t;
         auto context_ptr = xeus::make_zmq_context();
         {
@@ -1404,28 +1498,28 @@ TEST_SUITE("debugger")
         }
     }
 
-// TODO: Get test_rich_inspect_variables to work
-/*
-    TEST_CASE("rich_inspect_variables")
-    {
-        start_kernel();
-        timer t;
-        auto context_ptr = xeus::make_zmq_context();
+    // TODO: Get test_rich_inspect_variables to work
+    /*
+        TEST_CASE("rich_inspect_variables")
         {
-            debugger_client deb(*context_ptr, KERNEL_JSON, "debugger_rich_inspect_variables.log");
-            deb.start();
-            bool res = deb.test_rich_inspect_variables();
-            deb.shutdown();
-            std::this_thread::sleep_for(2s);
-            CHECK(res);
-            t.notify_done();
+            KernelProcess xpython_process;
+            timer t;
+            auto context_ptr = xeus::make_zmq_context();
+            {
+                debugger_client deb(*context_ptr, KERNEL_JSON, "debugger_rich_inspect_variables.log");
+                deb.start();
+                bool res = deb.test_rich_inspect_variables();
+                deb.shutdown();
+                std::this_thread::sleep_for(2s);
+                CHECK(res);
+                t.notify_done();
+            }
         }
-    }
-*/
+    */
 
     TEST_CASE("variables")
     {
-        start_kernel();
+        KernelProcess xpython_process;
         timer t;
         auto context_ptr = xeus::make_zmq_context();
         {
@@ -1442,7 +1536,7 @@ TEST_SUITE("debugger")
 
     TEST_CASE("copy_to_globals")
     {
-        start_kernel();
+        KernelProcess xpython_process;
         timer t;
         auto context_ptr = xeus::make_zmq_context();
         {
@@ -1456,4 +1550,4 @@ TEST_SUITE("debugger")
             t.notify_done();
         }
     }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file