diff --git a/compiler/tests-common-new/tests/org/jetbrains/kotlin/test/backend/handlers/JvmBoxRunner.kt b/compiler/tests-common-new/tests/org/jetbrains/kotlin/test/backend/handlers/JvmBoxRunner.kt
index 59d968b9400..11fc685b5ad 100644
--- a/compiler/tests-common-new/tests/org/jetbrains/kotlin/test/backend/handlers/JvmBoxRunner.kt
+++ b/compiler/tests-common-new/tests/org/jetbrains/kotlin/test/backend/handlers/JvmBoxRunner.kt
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import org.jetbrains.kotlin.psi.KtFile
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.test.TestJdkKind
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.test.clientserver.TestProxy
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.test.directives.CodegenTestDirectives
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.test.directives.CodegenTestDirectives.ATTACH_DEBUGGER
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.test.directives.JvmEnvironmentConfigurationDirectives.JDK_KIND
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.test.directives.LanguageSettingsDirectives.ENABLE_JVM_PREVIEW
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.test.directives.model.singleOrZeroValue
@@ -202,6 +203,7 @@ class JvmBoxRunner(testServices: TestServices) : JvmBinaryArtifactHandler(testSe
 
         val command = listOfNotNull(
             javaExe.absolutePath,
+            runIf(ATTACH_DEBUGGER in module.directives) { "-agentlib:jdwp=transport=dt_socket,server=y,suspend=y,address=5005" },
             "-ea",
             runIf(ENABLE_JVM_PREVIEW in module.directives) { "--enable-preview" },
             "-classpath",
diff --git a/compiler/tests-common-new/tests/org/jetbrains/kotlin/test/directives/CodegenTestDirectives.kt b/compiler/tests-common-new/tests/org/jetbrains/kotlin/test/directives/CodegenTestDirectives.kt
index 2a871a6ab59..05817a5ebd9 100644
--- a/compiler/tests-common-new/tests/org/jetbrains/kotlin/test/directives/CodegenTestDirectives.kt
+++ b/compiler/tests-common-new/tests/org/jetbrains/kotlin/test/directives/CodegenTestDirectives.kt
@@ -151,4 +151,17 @@ object CodegenTestDirectives : SimpleDirectivesContainer() {
               structure of test
         """.trimIndent()
     )
+
+    val ATTACH_DEBUGGER by directive(
+        description = """
+            This directive can be used to attach debugger to instance of JVM which
+              is used to run `box` test in case it runs in separate JVM instance
+              (e.g. when this case should be ran on some modern JDK like JDK 17)
+              
+            After running test run remote debugger on port 5005 (test will wait until
+              debugger won't be attached)
+              
+            Please don't forget to remove this directive after debug session is over 
+        """.trimIndent()
+    )
 }