diff --git a/repos/ports/run/gdb_monitor.inc b/repos/ports/run/gdb_monitor.inc
index b44e4bdad3..8e27d4cc62 100644
--- a/repos/ports/run/gdb_monitor.inc
+++ b/repos/ports/run/gdb_monitor.inc
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ proc gdb_initial_breakpoint_cmds { target_binary_name } {
 	# don't ask for y/n when loading a new symbol file
 	append gdb_cmds {-ex "set interactive-mode off" }
 
+	# avoid pagination prompts in autopilot test
+	append gdb_cmds {-ex "set pagination off" }
+
 	# set a breakpoint in the 'binary_ready_hook_for_gdb' function
 	append gdb_cmds {-ex "b binary_ready_hook_for_gdb" }
 
diff --git a/repos/ports/run/gdb_monitor.run b/repos/ports/run/gdb_monitor.run
index 143363a752..25ef558cca 100644
--- a/repos/ports/run/gdb_monitor.run
+++ b/repos/ports/run/gdb_monitor.run
@@ -142,9 +142,6 @@ append gdb_cmds [gdb_initial_breakpoint_cmds $gdb_target_binary]
 eval spawn [gdb] debug/ld.lib.so -n $gdb_cmds
 set gdb_id [list $spawn_id $genode_id]
 
-send "set pagination off\n"
-run_genode_until {\(gdb\)} 20 $gdb_id
-
 puts ""
 puts "----- test: breakpoint in 'main()' -----"
 puts ""