diff --git a/examples/debugging/multi_subactor_root_errors.py b/examples/debugging/multi_subactor_root_errors.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f7a4372
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/debugging/multi_subactor_root_errors.py
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+import tractor
+
+
+async def name_error():
+    "Raise a ``NameError``"
+    getattr(doggypants)
+
+
+async def spawn_error():
+    """"A nested nursery that triggers another ``NameError``.
+    """
+    async with tractor.open_nursery() as n:
+        portal = await n.run_in_actor('name_error_1', name_error)
+        return await portal.result()
+
+
+async def main():
+    """The main ``tractor`` routine.
+
+    The process tree should look as approximately as follows:
+
+    -python examples/debugging/multi_subactors.py
+    |-python -m tractor._child --uid ('name_error', 'a7caf490 ...)
+    `-python -m tractor._child --uid ('spawn_error', '52ee14a5 ...)
+       `-python -m tractor._child --uid ('name_error', '3391222c ...)
+    """
+    async with tractor.open_nursery() as n:
+
+        # spawn both actors
+        portal = await n.run_in_actor('name_error', name_error)
+        portal1 = await n.run_in_actor('spawn_error', spawn_error)
+
+        # trigger a root actor error
+        assert 0
+
+        # attempt to collect results (which raises error in parent)
+        # still has some issues where the parent seems to get stuck
+        await portal.result()
+        await portal1.result()
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    tractor.run(main, debug_mode=True)
diff --git a/examples/debugging/multi_subactors.py b/examples/debugging/multi_subactors.py
index 97de906..16ff22d 100644
--- a/examples/debugging/multi_subactors.py
+++ b/examples/debugging/multi_subactors.py
@@ -35,16 +35,12 @@ async def main():
     """
     async with tractor.open_nursery() as n:
 
-        # spawn both actors
-        portal1 = await n.run_in_actor('bp_forever', breakpoint_forever)
-        portal = await n.run_in_actor('name_error', name_error)
-        portal2 = await n.run_in_actor('spawn_error', spawn_error)
-
-        # attempt to collect results (which raises error in parent)
-        # still has some issues where the parent seems to get stuck
-        # await portal.result()
-        # await portal1.result()
-        # await portal2.result()
+        # Spawn both actors, don't bother with collecting results
+        # (would result in a different debugger outcome due to parent's
+        # cancellation).
+        await n.run_in_actor('bp_forever', breakpoint_forever)
+        await n.run_in_actor('name_error', name_error)
+        await n.run_in_actor('spawn_error', spawn_error)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/tests/test_debugger.py b/tests/test_debugger.py
index 0770a14..8c87791 100644
--- a/tests/test_debugger.py
+++ b/tests/test_debugger.py
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 """
 That native debug better work!
+
+All these tests can be understood (somewhat) by running the equivalent
+`examples/debugging/` scripts manually.
 """
 from os import path
 
@@ -10,9 +13,8 @@ from .test_docs_examples import repodir
 
 
 # TODO:
-# - recurrent entry from single actor
 # - recurrent entry to breakpoint() from single actor *after* and an
-#   error
+#   error in another task?
 # - root error before child errors
 # - root error after child errors
 # - root error before child breakpoint
@@ -68,14 +70,14 @@ def test_root_actor_error(spawn, user_in_out):
     # scan for the pdbpp prompt
     child.expect(r"\(Pdb\+\+\)")
 
+    before = str(child.before.decode())
+
     # make sure expected logging and error arrives
-    assert 'TTY lock acquired' in str(child.before)
-    assert 'AssertionError' in str(child.before)
+    assert "Attaching to pdb in crashed actor: ('arbiter'" in before
+    assert 'AssertionError' in before
 
     # send user command
     child.sendline(user_input)
-    child.expect('\r\n')
-    child.expect('TTY lock released')
 
     # process should exit
     child.expect(pexpect.EOF)
@@ -276,3 +278,35 @@ def test_multi_subactors(spawn):
     before = str(child.before.decode())
     assert "RemoteActorError: ('bp_forever'" in before
     assert 'bdb.BdbQuit' in before
+
+
+def test_multi_subactors_root_errors(spawn):
+    """Multiple subactors, both erroring and breakpointing as well as
+    a nested subactor erroring.
+    """
+    child = spawn('multi_subactor_root_errors')
+
+    # scan for the pdbpp prompt
+    child.expect(r"\(Pdb\+\+\)")
+
+    # at most one subactor should attach before the root is cancelled
+    before = str(child.before.decode())
+    assert "NameError: name 'doggypants' is not defined" in before
+
+    # continue again
+    child.sendline('c')
+    child.expect(r"\(Pdb\+\+\)")
+
+    # should now get attached in root with assert error
+    before = str(child.before.decode())
+    # should have come just after priot prompt
+    assert "Cancelling nursery in ('spawn_error'," in before
+    assert "Attaching to pdb in crashed actor: ('arbiter'" in before
+    assert "AssertionError" in before
+
+    # continue again
+    child.sendline('c')
+    child.expect(pexpect.EOF)
+
+    before = str(child.before.decode())
+    assert "AssertionError" in before