diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/break-idempotent.exp b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/break-idempotent.exp
index 29002f103a8..837ac000b57 100644
--- a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/break-idempotent.exp
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/break-idempotent.exp
@@ -36,6 +36,12 @@
 
 standard_testfile
 
+# The skip_hw_watchpoint_tests starts GDB on a small test program to
+# check if HW watchpoints are supported.  We do not want to restart
+# GDB after this test script has itself started GDB, so call
+# skip_hw_watchpoint_tests first and cache the result.
+set skip_hw_watchpoint_tests_p [skip_hw_watchpoint_tests]
+
 # Force a breakpoint re-set in GDB.  Currently this is done by
 # reloading symbols with the "file" command.
 
@@ -174,7 +180,7 @@ foreach_with_prefix pie { "nopie" "pie" } {
 	    test_break $always_inserted "hbreak"
 	}
 
-	if {![skip_hw_watchpoint_tests]} {
+	if {!$skip_hw_watchpoint_tests_p} {
 	    test_break $always_inserted "watch"
 	}