diff --git a/gdb-port/utility-commands.py b/gdb-port/utility-commands.py
index 4059c1dceda82ab56582c90643ad9a92c22780ba..f446ec887d2deb2e1edb267d2caea0dd60c54879 100644
--- a/gdb-port/utility-commands.py
+++ b/gdb-port/utility-commands.py
@@ -26,7 +26,11 @@ class HammerParseStep(gdb.Command):
 		#	step_counter -= 1
 		# else:
 		#	retval = True
-		gdb.execute("continue")
+
+		# only execute "continue" if inferior is present and running, to avoid a warning
+		# don't know if there's a more reliable way to tell this
+		if gdb.selected_inferior().pid > 0:
+			gdb.execute("continue")
 
 HammerParseStep()