diff --git a/src/target/riscv/riscv.c b/src/target/riscv/riscv.c
index a6ae43d6b..daf001ba7 100644
--- a/src/target/riscv/riscv.c
+++ b/src/target/riscv/riscv.c
@@ -265,6 +265,8 @@ static int riscv_init_target(struct command_context *cmd_ctx,
 	select_dbus.num_bits = target->tap->ir_length;
 	select_idcode.num_bits = target->tap->ir_length;
 
+	target->debug_reason = DBG_REASON_DBGRQ;
+
 	return ERROR_OK;
 }