diff --git a/dist/pythonlibs/riotctrl_ctrl/native.py b/dist/pythonlibs/riotctrl_ctrl/native.py
index 6e5bee1cd45ea..1695886a75d8a 100644
--- a/dist/pythonlibs/riotctrl_ctrl/native.py
+++ b/dist/pythonlibs/riotctrl_ctrl/native.py
@@ -27,5 +27,6 @@ def _set_debug_adapter_id(self, child):
     def start_term(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super().start_term(*args, **kwargs)
         for child in psutil.Process(pid=self._term_pid()).children():
-            if self._set_debug_adapter_id(child):
-                break
+            for grandchild in child.children():
+                if self._set_debug_adapter_id(grandchild):
+                    break