diff --git a/platforms/sencha/cheriot-tests.mk b/platforms/sencha/cheriot-tests.mk
index 297dada..ed87847 100644
--- a/platforms/sencha/cheriot-tests.mk
+++ b/platforms/sencha/cheriot-tests.mk
@@ -20,8 +20,9 @@
 ## Runs the cheriot-rtos testbench in renode
 cheriot-testbench: renode cheriot_sim cheriot-test
 	$(RENODE_CMD) -e "\
-    \$$bin =@${CHERIOT_TEST}; \
-    i @${CHERIOT_RESC_RELEASE}; start"
+	\$$cheriot_elf =@${CHERIOT_TEST}; \
+	i @${CHERIOT_RESC_RELEASE}; \
+		pause; sysbus.cpu1 IsHalted false; start"
 
 ## Generates the cheriot-rtos test-suite firmware
 cheriot-test:
diff --git a/platforms/sencha/setup.sh b/platforms/sencha/setup.sh
index d8cecba..f26b32b 100644
--- a/platforms/sencha/setup.sh
+++ b/platforms/sencha/setup.sh
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@
     local elf_file="$(realpath $1)"
 
     (cd "${ROOTDIR}" && renode -e "\$cheriot_elf=@${elf_file}; \
-        i @sim/config/cheriot.resc; start" \
+        i @sim/config/cheriot.resc; \
+        pause; sysbus.cpu1 IsHalted false; start"
         --disable-xwt --console)
 }