Do not step into function call in gdb

Question

I'm debugging a binary without debugging information on linux with gdb. I want to break just before the first call to puts but not enter the function.

I have tried the following:

gdb> b puts
gdb> r

or

gdb> b main
gdb> b puts
gdb> r
gdb> c

But gdb always enters puts instead of breaking before the syscall.

Answer 1

But gdb always enters puts instead of breaking before the syscall.

That's what you asked GDB to do.

If you want to stop before the CALL puts instruction, you need to disas main , find the CALL puts instruction, and set a breakpoint on that instruction:

(gdb) start  # stop in main to get the binary relocated
(gdb) disas
...
   0x0000555555555147 <+14>:    callq  0x555555555030 <puts@plt>
...
(gdb) break *0x0000555555555147
(gdb) cont

Breakpoint 2, 0x0000555555555147 in main ()
(gdb) x/i $pc
=> 0x555555555147 <main+14>:    callq  0x555555555030 <puts@plt>

PS syscall means something else entirely.