diff --git a/rtl/cve2_controller.sv b/rtl/cve2_controller.sv
index 2e7234306c..5584e1c71c 100644
--- a/rtl/cve2_controller.sv
+++ b/rtl/cve2_controller.sv
@@ -343,7 +343,8 @@ module cve2_controller #(
   // - while in debug mode [Debug Spec v0.13.2, p.39],
   // - while in NMI mode (nested NMIs are not supported, NMI has highest priority and
   //   cannot be interrupted by regular interrupts).
-  assign handle_irq = ~debug_mode_q & ~nmi_mode_q &
+  // - while single stepping.
+  assign handle_irq = ~debug_mode_q & ~debug_single_step_i & ~nmi_mode_q &
       (irq_nm_i | (irq_pending_i & csr_mstatus_mie_i));
 
   // generate ID of fast interrupts, highest priority to lowest ID