diff --git a/debug/gdbserver.py b/debug/gdbserver.py
index ba30b9b4b..235814a10 100755
--- a/debug/gdbserver.py
+++ b/debug/gdbserver.py
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 import re
 import itertools
 
-from datetime import datetime
 import targets
 import testlib
 from testlib import assertEqual, assertNotEqual
@@ -2213,14 +2212,6 @@ def main():
 
     module = sys.modules[__name__]
 
-    # initialize PRNG
-    selected_seed = parsed.seed
-    if parsed.seed is None:
-        selected_seed = int(datetime.now().timestamp())
-        print(f"PRNG seed for {target.name} is generated automatically")
-    print(f"PRNG seed for {target.name} is {selected_seed}")
-    random.seed(selected_seed)
-
     return testlib.run_all_tests(module, target, parsed)
 
 # TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS
diff --git a/debug/testlib.py b/debug/testlib.py
index 41d9ceaef..0279b082b 100644
--- a/debug/testlib.py
+++ b/debug/testlib.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import collections
 import os
 import os.path
+import random
 import re
 import shlex
 import subprocess
@@ -9,6 +10,8 @@
 import time
 import traceback
 
+from datetime import datetime
+
 import tty
 import pexpect
 import yaml
@@ -1161,6 +1164,14 @@ def run_all_tests(module, target, parsed):
     excluded_tests = load_excluded_tests(parsed.exclude_tests, target.name)
     target.skip_tests += excluded_tests
 
+    # initialize PRNG
+    selected_seed = parsed.seed
+    if parsed.seed is None:
+        selected_seed = int(datetime.now().timestamp())
+        print(f"PRNG seed for {target.name} is generated automatically")
+    print(f"PRNG seed for {target.name} is {selected_seed}")
+    random.seed(selected_seed)
+
     results, count = run_tests(parsed, target, todo)
 
     header(f"ran {count} tests in {time.time() - overall_start:.0f}s", dash=':')
@@ -1293,7 +1304,6 @@ def __init__(self, target, hart=None):
         if not hart is None:
             self.hart = hart
         else:
-            import random   # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
             self.hart = random.choice(target.harts)
             #self.hart = target.harts[-1]
         self.server = None