diff --git a/Lib/pdb.py b/Lib/pdb.py
index 60bdb7675c81316..caa27416b424a15 100755
--- a/Lib/pdb.py
+++ b/Lib/pdb.py
@@ -1096,7 +1096,10 @@ def do_debug(self, arg):
         p = Pdb(self.completekey, self.stdin, self.stdout)
         p.prompt = "(%s) " % self.prompt.strip()
         self.message("ENTERING RECURSIVE DEBUGGER")
-        sys.call_tracing(p.run, (arg, globals, locals))
+        try:
+            sys.call_tracing(p.run, (arg, globals, locals))
+        except Exception as exc:
+            print('Failed to run cmd: %r' % exc)
         self.message("LEAVING RECURSIVE DEBUGGER")
         sys.settrace(self.trace_dispatch)
         self.lastcmd = p.lastcmd