diff --git a/src/core/Cutter.cpp b/src/core/Cutter.cpp
index dad33c8e..7a18898c 100644
--- a/src/core/Cutter.cpp
+++ b/src/core/Cutter.cpp
@@ -2075,16 +2075,23 @@ void CutterCore::attachDebug(int pid)
         offsetPriorDebugging = getOffset();
     }
 
-    CORE_LOCK();
-    setConfig("cfg.debug", true);
-    auto uri = rz_str_newf("dbg://%d", pid);
-    if (currentlyOpenFile.isEmpty()) {
-        rz_core_file_open_load(core, uri, 0, RZ_PERM_R, false);
-    } else {
-        rz_core_file_reopen_remote_debug(core, uri, 0);
+    if (!asyncTask(
+                [&](RzCore *core) {
+                    // cannot use setConfig because core is
+                    // already locked, which causes a deadlock
+                    rz_config_set_b(core->config, "cfg.debug", true);
+                    auto uri = rz_str_newf("dbg://%d", pid);
+                    if (currentlyOpenFile.isEmpty()) {
+                        rz_core_file_open_load(core, uri, 0, RZ_PERM_R, false);
+                    } else {
+                        rz_core_file_reopen_remote_debug(core, uri, 0);
+                    }
+                    free(uri);
+                    return nullptr;
+                },
+                debugTask)) {
+        return;
     }
-    free(uri);
-
     emit debugTaskStateChanged();
 
     connect(debugTask.data(), &RizinTask::finished, this, [this, pid]() {
@@ -2144,7 +2151,10 @@ void CutterCore::stopDebug()
         rz_core_analysis_esil_trace_stop(core);
         currentlyEmulating = false;
     } else {
-        rz_core_debug_process_close(core);
+        // ensure we have opened a file.
+        if (core->io->desc) {
+            rz_core_debug_process_close(core);
+        }
         currentlyAttachedToPID = -1;
     }
 
@@ -4579,4 +4589,4 @@ void CutterCore::writeGraphvizGraphToFile(QString path, QString format, RzCoreGr
             qWarning() << "Cannot get graph at " << RzAddressString(address);
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}