Systems, apparatuses, and methods for implementing debug features on a secure coprocessor to handle communication and computation between a debug tool and a debug target are disclosed. A debug tool generates a graphical user interface (GUI) to display debug information to a user for help in debugging a debug target such as a system on chip (SoC). A secure coprocessor is embedded on the debug target, and the secure coprocessor receives debug requests generated by the debug tool. The secure coprocessor performs various computation tasks and/or other operations to prevent multiple round-trip messages being sent back and forth between the debug tool and the debug target. The secure coprocessor is able to access system memory and determine a status of a processor being tested even when the processor becomes unresponsive.