diff --git a/tool/run/boot_dir/hw b/tool/run/boot_dir/hw
index f386950fa9..92c3dc3b60 100644
--- a/tool/run/boot_dir/hw
+++ b/tool/run/boot_dir/hw
@@ -74,8 +74,10 @@ proc run_boot_dir {binaries} {
 	set bootstrap_obj bootstrap-hw.o
 
 	# create core and bootstrap binary without modules for debugging
-	build_core debug/$core_obj                 {} [run_dir].core      [core_link_address]
-	build_core [run_dir]/genode/$bootstrap_obj {} [run_dir].bootstrap [bootstrap_link_address]
+	if {[file exists debug/$core_obj]} {
+		build_core debug/$core_obj                 {} [run_dir].core      [core_link_address]
+		build_core [run_dir]/genode/$bootstrap_obj {} [run_dir].bootstrap [bootstrap_link_address]
+	}
 
 	# determine modules to be incorporated into the core image
 	set modules [glob -tails -directory [run_dir]/genode/ *]