diff --git a/kgdb.sh b/kgdb.sh
index 6f0ab4e..b3a745a 100755
--- a/kgdb.sh
+++ b/kgdb.sh
@@ -18,22 +18,75 @@
 KATA_OUT=out/kata/${TARGET}/debug
 MATCHA_OUT=out/matcha/riscv32imc-unknown-none-elf/debug
 
+USE_SEL4_EXTENSIONS="true"
+USE_SEL4_SYMBOL_AUTOSWITCHING="false"
+
 export SOURCE_DIR=${ROOTDIR}/kata
 export BUILD_DIR=$KATA_OUT
 
-# NB: -q suppresses the banner to workaround the banner msg triggering the pager
-# NB: auto-start cpu0 & cpu1 but leave cpu2 (VC) halted
-exec "${GDB}" -q -cd "${ROOTDIR}" \
-  -ex "set pagination off" \
-  -ex "directory sw/tock" \
-  -ex "file ${PROGRAM}" \
-  -ex "set confirm off" \
-  -ex "add-symbol-file ${PROGRAM}" \
-  -ex "add-symbol-file ${MATCHA_OUT}/matcha_platform" \
-  -ex "add-symbol-file ${MATCHA_OUT}/matcha_app" \
-  -ex "set pagination on" \
-  -ex "target remote ${REMOTE}" \
-  -ex "monitor cpu0 IsHalted false" \
-  -ex "monitor cpu1 CreateSeL4 0xffffffee" \
-  -ex "source sim/renode/tools/sel4_extensions/gdbscript.py" \
-  -ex "sel4 symbol-autoswitching false"
+function parseargv {
+    local usage="Usage: kgdb.sh [-h|--help] [-S|--no-sel4-extensions] [-a|--sel4-symbol-autoswitching]"
+    local args=$(getopt -o hSa --long no-sel4-extensions,symbol-autoswitching,help -n kgdb.sh -- "$@")
+
+    set -- $args
+
+    for i; do
+        case "$1" in
+            -S|--no-sel4-extensions)
+                echo "*** Disabling sel4 extensions"
+                USE_SEL4_EXTENSIONS="false"
+                shift
+                ;;
+
+            -a|--symbol-autoswitching)
+                echo "*** Enabling sel4 symbol autoswitching"
+                echo "*** Warning: this can cause unexpected behaviors."
+                USE_SEL4_EXTENSIONS="true"
+                USE_SEL4_SYMBOL_AUTOSWITCHING="true"
+                shift
+                ;;
+
+            --)
+                shift
+                break
+                ;;
+
+            -h|--help|*)
+                echo "$usage" >/dev/stderr
+                exit 1
+                ;;
+        esac
+    done
+}
+
+function main {
+    local -a gdbargs=(
+         -ex "set pagination off"
+         -ex "directory sw/tock"
+         -ex "file ${PROGRAM}"
+         -ex "set confirm off"
+         -ex "add-symbol-file ${PROGRAM}"
+         -ex "add-symbol-file ${MATCHA_OUT}/matcha_platform"
+         -ex "add-symbol-file ${MATCHA_OUT}/matcha_app"
+         -ex "set pagination on"
+         -ex "target remote ${REMOTE}"
+         -ex "monitor cpu0 IsHalted false"
+    )
+
+    parseargv "$@"
+
+    if [[ "${USE_SEL4_EXTENSIONS}" == "true" ]]; then
+        gdbargs+=(
+            -ex "monitor cpu1 CreateSeL4 0xffffffee"
+            -ex "source sim/renode/tools/sel4_extensions/gdbscript.py"
+            -ex "sel4 symbol-autoswitching ${USE_SEL4_SYMBOL_AUTOSWITCHING}"
+        )
+    fi
+
+
+    # NB: -q suppresses the banner to workaround the banner msg triggering the pager
+    # NB: auto-start cpu0 & cpu1 but leave cpu2 (VC) halted
+    exec "${GDB}" -q -cd "${ROOTDIR}" "${gdbargs[@]}"
+}
+
+main "$@"