diff --git a/t/README b/t/README
index 9e70122302..e924bd81e2 100644
--- a/t/README
+++ b/t/README
@@ -753,7 +753,8 @@ Test harness library
 --------------------
 
 There are a handful helper functions defined in the test harness
-library for your script to use.
+library for your script to use. Some of them are listed below;
+see test-lib-functions.sh for the full list and their options.
 
  - test_expect_success [<prereq>] <message> <script>
 
@@ -799,10 +800,12 @@ library for your script to use.
    argument.  This is primarily meant for use during the
    development of a new test script.
 
- - debug <git-command>
+ - debug [options] <git-command>
 
    Run a git command inside a debugger. This is primarily meant for
-   use when debugging a failing test script.
+   use when debugging a failing test script. With '-t', use your
+   original TERM instead of test-lib.sh's "dumb", so that your
+   debugger interface has colors.
 
  - test_done
 
@@ -989,7 +992,7 @@ library for your script to use.
 	EOF
 
 
- - test_pause
+ - test_pause [options]
 
 	This command is useful for writing and debugging tests and must be
 	removed before submitting. It halts the execution of the test and
diff --git a/t/test-lib-functions.sh b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
index e28411bb75..eef2262a36 100644
--- a/t/test-lib-functions.sh
+++ b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
@@ -137,33 +137,110 @@ test_tick () {
 # Stop execution and start a shell. This is useful for debugging tests.
 #
 # Be sure to remove all invocations of this command before submitting.
+# WARNING: the shell invoked by this helper does not have the same environment
+# as the one running the tests (shell variables and functions are not
+# available, and the options below further modify the environment). As such,
+# commands copied from a test script might behave differently than when
+# running the test.
+#
+# Usage: test_pause [options]
+#   -t
+#	Use your original TERM instead of test-lib.sh's "dumb".
+#	This usually restores color output in the invoked shell.
+#   -s
+#	Invoke $SHELL instead of $TEST_SHELL_PATH.
+#   -h
+#	Use your original HOME instead of test-lib.sh's "$TRASH_DIRECTORY".
+#	This allows you to use your regular shell environment and Git aliases.
+#	CAUTION: running commands copied from a test script into the paused shell
+#	might result in files in your HOME being overwritten.
+#   -a
+#	Shortcut for -t -s -h
 
 test_pause () {
-	"$SHELL_PATH" <&6 >&5 2>&7
+	PAUSE_TERM=$TERM &&
+	PAUSE_SHELL=$TEST_SHELL_PATH &&
+	PAUSE_HOME=$HOME &&
+	while test $# != 0
+	do
+		case "$1" in
+		-t)
+			PAUSE_TERM="$USER_TERM"
+			;;
+		-s)
+			PAUSE_SHELL="$SHELL"
+			;;
+		-h)
+			PAUSE_HOME="$USER_HOME"
+			;;
+		-a)
+			PAUSE_TERM="$USER_TERM"
+			PAUSE_SHELL="$SHELL"
+			PAUSE_HOME="$USER_HOME"
+			;;
+		*)
+			break
+			;;
+		esac
+		shift
+	done &&
+	TERM="$PAUSE_TERM" HOME="$PAUSE_HOME" "$PAUSE_SHELL" <&6 >&5 2>&7
 }
 
 # Wrap git with a debugger. Adding this to a command can make it easier
 # to understand what is going on in a failing test.
 #
+# Usage: debug [options] <git command>
+#   -d <debugger>
+#   --debugger=<debugger>
+#	Use <debugger> instead of GDB
+#   -t
+#	Use your original TERM instead of test-lib.sh's "dumb".
+#	This usually restores color output in the debugger.
+#	WARNING: the command being debugged might behave differently than when
+#	running the test.
+#
 # Examples:
 #     debug git checkout master
 #     debug --debugger=nemiver git $ARGS
 #     debug -d "valgrind --tool=memcheck --track-origins=yes" git $ARGS
 debug () {
-	case "$1" in
-	-d)
-		GIT_DEBUGGER="$2" &&
-		shift 2
-		;;
-	--debugger=*)
-		GIT_DEBUGGER="${1#*=}" &&
-		shift 1
-		;;
-	*)
-		GIT_DEBUGGER=1
-		;;
-	esac &&
-	GIT_DEBUGGER="${GIT_DEBUGGER}" "$@" <&6 >&5 2>&7
+	GIT_DEBUGGER=1 &&
+	DEBUG_TERM=$TERM &&
+	while test $# != 0
+	do
+		case "$1" in
+		-t)
+			DEBUG_TERM="$USER_TERM"
+			;;
+		-d)
+			GIT_DEBUGGER="$2" &&
+			shift
+			;;
+		--debugger=*)
+			GIT_DEBUGGER="${1#*=}"
+			;;
+		*)
+			break
+			;;
+		esac
+		shift
+	done &&
+
+	dotfiles=".gdbinit .lldbinit"
+
+	for dotfile in $dotfiles
+	do
+		dotfile="$USER_HOME/$dotfile" &&
+		test -f "$dotfile" && cp "$dotfile" "$HOME" || :
+	done &&
+
+	TERM="$DEBUG_TERM" GIT_DEBUGGER="${GIT_DEBUGGER}" "$@" <&6 >&5 2>&7 &&
+
+	for dotfile in $dotfiles
+	do
+		rm -f "$HOME/$dotfile"
+	done
 }
 
 # Usage: test_commit [options] <message> [<file> [<contents> [<tag>]]]
diff --git a/t/test-lib.sh b/t/test-lib.sh
index fc1e521519..d5ee964254 100644
--- a/t/test-lib.sh
+++ b/t/test-lib.sh
@@ -585,8 +585,9 @@ else
 	}
 fi
 
+USER_TERM="$TERM"
 TERM=dumb
-export TERM
+export TERM USER_TERM
 
 error () {
 	say_color error "error: $*"
@@ -1381,9 +1382,10 @@ then
 fi
 
 # Last-minute variable setup
+USER_HOME="$HOME"
 HOME="$TRASH_DIRECTORY"
 GNUPGHOME="$HOME/gnupg-home-not-used"
-export HOME GNUPGHOME
+export HOME GNUPGHOME USER_HOME
 
 # Test repository
 rm -fr "$TRASH_DIRECTORY" || {