diff --git a/commands/dap.go b/commands/dap.go
index 2b975d000ed7..bdf0ef88f0ce 100644
--- a/commands/dap.go
+++ b/commands/dap.go
@@ -2,12 +2,17 @@ package commands
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"io"
+	"net"
+	"os"
 
+	"github.com/containerd/console"
 	"github.com/docker/buildx/dap"
 	"github.com/docker/buildx/dap/common"
 	"github.com/docker/buildx/util/cobrautil"
 	"github.com/docker/buildx/util/ioset"
 	"github.com/docker/buildx/util/progress"
+	"github.com/docker/cli/cli"
 	"github.com/docker/cli/cli/command"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -24,6 +29,8 @@ func dapCmd(dockerCli command.Cli, rootOpts *rootOptions) *cobra.Command {
 	dapBuildCmd := buildCmd(dockerCli, rootOpts, &options)
 	dapBuildCmd.Args = cobra.RangeArgs(0, 1)
 	cmd.AddCommand(dapBuildCmd)
+
+	cmd.AddCommand(dapAttachCmd())
 	return cmd
 }
 
@@ -71,3 +78,39 @@ func (d *adapterProtocolDebugger) Stop() error {
 	defer d.conn.Close()
 	return d.Adapter.Stop()
 }
+
+func dapAttachCmd() *cobra.Command {
+	cmd := &cobra.Command{
+		Use:    "attach PATH",
+		Short:  "Attach to a container created by the dap evaluate request",
+		Args:   cli.ExactArgs(1),
+		Hidden: true,
+		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			c, err := console.ConsoleFromFile(os.Stdout)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			if err := c.SetRaw(); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			conn, err := net.Dial("unix", args[0])
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			fwd := ioset.NewSingleForwarder()
+			fwd.SetReader(os.Stdin)
+			fwd.SetWriter(conn, func() io.WriteCloser {
+				return conn
+			})
+
+			if _, err := io.Copy(os.Stdout, conn); err != nil && !errors.Is(err, io.EOF) {
+				return err
+			}
+			return nil
+		},
+	}
+	return cmd
+}
diff --git a/dap/adapter.go b/dap/adapter.go
index 5e6d954e828b..be1e17423b40 100644
--- a/dap/adapter.go
+++ b/dap/adapter.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ type Adapter[C LaunchConfig] struct {
 	initialized   chan struct{}
 	started       chan launchResponse[C]
 	configuration chan struct{}
+	supportsExec  bool
 
 	evaluateReqCh chan *evaluateRequest
 
@@ -104,6 +105,9 @@ func (d *Adapter[C]) Stop() error {
 func (d *Adapter[C]) Initialize(c Context, req *dap.InitializeRequest, resp *dap.InitializeResponse) error {
 	close(d.initialized)
 
+	// Set parameters based on passed client capabilities.
+	d.supportsExec = req.Arguments.SupportsRunInTerminalRequest
+
 	// Set capabilities.
 	resp.Body.SupportsConfigurationDoneRequest = true
 	return nil
@@ -262,6 +266,20 @@ func (d *Adapter[C]) getThread(id int) (t *thread) {
 	return t
 }
 
+func (d *Adapter[C]) getFirstThread() (t *thread) {
+	d.threadsMu.Lock()
+	defer d.threadsMu.Unlock()
+
+	for _, thread := range d.threads {
+		if thread.isPaused() {
+			if t == nil || thread.id < t.id {
+				t = thread
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return t
+}
+
 func (d *Adapter[C]) deleteThread(ctx Context, t *thread) {
 	d.threadsMu.Lock()
 	if t := d.threads[t.id]; t != nil {
@@ -454,6 +472,7 @@ func (d *Adapter[C]) dapHandler() Handler {
 		StackTrace:        d.StackTrace,
 		Scopes:            d.Scopes,
 		Variables:         d.Variables,
+		Evaluate:          d.Evaluate,
 		Source:            d.Source,
 	}
 }
diff --git a/dap/eval.go b/dap/eval.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..0ed410b61b14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dap/eval.go
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+package dap
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"net"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+
+	"github.com/docker/buildx/build"
+	"github.com/docker/cli/cli-plugins/metadata"
+	"github.com/google/go-dap"
+	"github.com/google/shlex"
+	"github.com/pkg/errors"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+)
+
+func (d *Adapter[C]) Evaluate(ctx Context, req *dap.EvaluateRequest, resp *dap.EvaluateResponse) error {
+	if req.Arguments.Context != "repl" {
+		return errors.Errorf("unsupported evaluate context: %s", req.Arguments.Context)
+	}
+
+	args, err := shlex.Split(req.Arguments.Expression)
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.Wrapf(err, "cannot parse expression")
+	}
+
+	if len(args) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	var t *thread
+	if req.Arguments.FrameId > 0 {
+		if t = d.getThreadByFrameID(req.Arguments.FrameId); t == nil {
+			return errors.Errorf("no thread with frame id %d", req.Arguments.FrameId)
+		}
+	} else {
+		if t = d.getFirstThread(); t == nil {
+			return errors.New("no paused thread")
+		}
+	}
+
+	cmd := d.replCommands(ctx, t, resp)
+	cmd.SetArgs(args)
+	cmd.SetErr(d.Out())
+	if err := cmd.Execute(); err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(d.Out(), "ERROR: %+v\n", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (d *Adapter[C]) replCommands(ctx Context, t *thread, resp *dap.EvaluateResponse) *cobra.Command {
+	rootCmd := &cobra.Command{}
+
+	execCmd := &cobra.Command{
+		Use: "exec",
+		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			if !d.supportsExec {
+				return errors.New("cannot exec without runInTerminal client capability")
+			}
+			return t.Exec(ctx, args, resp)
+		},
+	}
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(execCmd)
+	return rootCmd
+}
+
+func (t *thread) Exec(ctx Context, args []string, eresp *dap.EvaluateResponse) (retErr error) {
+	cfg := &build.InvokeConfig{Tty: true}
+	if len(cfg.Entrypoint) == 0 && len(cfg.Cmd) == 0 {
+		cfg.Entrypoint = []string{"/bin/sh"} // launch shell by default
+		cfg.Cmd = []string{}
+		cfg.NoCmd = false
+	}
+
+	ctr, err := build.NewContainer(ctx, t.rCtx, cfg)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		if retErr != nil {
+			ctr.Cancel()
+		}
+	}()
+
+	dir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "buildx-dap-exec")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		if retErr != nil {
+			os.RemoveAll(dir)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	socketPath := filepath.Join(dir, "s.sock")
+	l, err := net.Listen("unix", socketPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	go func() {
+		defer os.RemoveAll(dir)
+		t.runExec(l, ctr, cfg)
+	}()
+
+	// TODO: this should work in standalone mode too.
+	docker := os.Getenv(metadata.ReexecEnvvar)
+	req := &dap.RunInTerminalRequest{
+		Request: dap.Request{
+			Command: "runInTerminal",
+		},
+		Arguments: dap.RunInTerminalRequestArguments{
+			Kind: "integrated",
+			Args: []string{docker, "buildx", "dap", "attach", socketPath},
+			Env: map[string]any{
+				"BUILDX_EXPERIMENTAL": "1",
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	resp := ctx.Request(req)
+	if !resp.GetResponse().Success {
+		return errors.New(resp.GetResponse().Message)
+	}
+
+	eresp.Body.Result = fmt.Sprintf("Started process attached to %s.", socketPath)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (t *thread) runExec(l net.Listener, ctr *build.Container, cfg *build.InvokeConfig) {
+	defer l.Close()
+	defer ctr.Cancel()
+
+	conn, err := l.Accept()
+	if err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+	defer conn.Close()
+
+	// start a background goroutine to politely refuse any subsequent connections.
+	go func() {
+		for {
+			conn, err := l.Accept()
+			if err != nil {
+				return
+			}
+			fmt.Fprint(conn, "Error: Already connected to exec instance.")
+			conn.Close()
+		}
+	}()
+	ctr.Exec(context.Background(), cfg, conn, conn, conn)
+}
diff --git a/dap/handler.go b/dap/handler.go
index 798205a42de0..f5b1d5f71cc6 100644
--- a/dap/handler.go
+++ b/dap/handler.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ type Context interface {
 	context.Context
 	C() chan<- dap.Message
 	Go(f func(c Context)) bool
+	Request(req dap.RequestMessage) dap.ResponseMessage
 }
 
 type dispatchContext struct {
@@ -28,6 +29,14 @@ func (c *dispatchContext) Go(f func(c Context)) bool {
 	return c.srv.Go(f)
 }
 
+func (c *dispatchContext) Request(req dap.RequestMessage) dap.ResponseMessage {
+	respCh := make(chan dap.ResponseMessage, 1)
+	c.srv.doRequest(c, req, func(c Context, resp dap.ResponseMessage) {
+		respCh <- resp
+	})
+	return <-respCh
+}
+
 type HandlerFunc[Req dap.RequestMessage, Resp dap.ResponseMessage] func(c Context, req Req, resp Resp) error
 
 func (h HandlerFunc[Req, Resp]) Do(c Context, req Req) (resp Resp, err error) {
diff --git a/dap/server.go b/dap/server.go
index b57d30b0c7e7..63ba606c4429 100644
--- a/dap/server.go
+++ b/dap/server.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package dap
 import (
 	"context"
 	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
 
 	"github.com/google/go-dap"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
@@ -11,6 +12,8 @@ import (
 
 var ErrServerStopped = errors.New("dap: server stopped")
 
+type RequestCallback func(c Context, resp dap.ResponseMessage)
+
 type Server struct {
 	h Handler
 
@@ -21,6 +24,8 @@ type Server struct {
 	ctx    context.Context
 	cancel context.CancelCauseFunc
 
+	seq         atomic.Int64
+	requests    sync.Map
 	initialized bool
 }
 
@@ -73,14 +78,18 @@ func (s *Server) readLoop(conn Conn) error {
 
 		switch m := m.(type) {
 		case dap.RequestMessage:
-			if ok := s.dispatch(m); !ok {
+			if ok := s.dispatchRequest(m); !ok {
+				return nil
+			}
+		case dap.ResponseMessage:
+			if ok := s.dispatchResponse(m); !ok {
 				return nil
 			}
 		}
 	}
 }
 
-func (s *Server) dispatch(m dap.RequestMessage) bool {
+func (s *Server) dispatchRequest(m dap.RequestMessage) bool {
 	fn := func(c Context) {
 		rmsg, err := s.handleMessage(c, m)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -95,6 +104,19 @@ func (s *Server) dispatch(m dap.RequestMessage) bool {
 	return s.Go(fn)
 }
 
+func (s *Server) dispatchResponse(m dap.ResponseMessage) bool {
+	fn := func(c Context) {
+		reqID := m.GetResponse().RequestSeq
+		if v, loaded := s.requests.LoadAndDelete(reqID); loaded {
+			callback := v.(RequestCallback)
+			s.Go(func(c Context) {
+				callback(c, m)
+			})
+		}
+	}
+	return s.Go(fn)
+}
+
 func (s *Server) handleMessage(c Context, m dap.Message) (dap.ResponseMessage, error) {
 	switch req := m.(type) {
 	case *dap.InitializeRequest:
@@ -156,20 +178,24 @@ func (s *Server) handleInitialize(c Context, req *dap.InitializeRequest) (*dap.I
 }
 
 func (s *Server) writeLoop(conn Conn, respCh <-chan dap.Message) error {
-	var seq int
 	for m := range respCh {
 		switch m := m.(type) {
 		case dap.RequestMessage:
-			m.GetRequest().Seq = seq
+			if req := m.GetRequest(); req.Seq == 0 {
+				req.Seq = int(s.seq.Add(1))
+			}
 			m.GetRequest().Type = "request"
 		case dap.EventMessage:
-			m.GetEvent().Seq = seq
+			if event := m.GetEvent(); event.Seq == 0 {
+				event.Seq = int(s.seq.Add(1))
+			}
 			m.GetEvent().Type = "event"
 		case dap.ResponseMessage:
-			m.GetResponse().Seq = seq
+			if resp := m.GetResponse(); resp.Seq == 0 {
+				resp.Seq = int(s.seq.Add(1))
+			}
 			m.GetResponse().Type = "response"
 		}
-		seq++
 
 		if err := conn.SendMsg(m); err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -209,6 +235,12 @@ func (s *Server) Go(fn func(c Context)) bool {
 	return <-started
 }
 
+func (s *Server) doRequest(c Context, req dap.RequestMessage, callback RequestCallback) {
+	req.GetRequest().Seq = int(s.seq.Add(1))
+	s.requests.Store(req.GetRequest().Seq, callback)
+	c.C() <- req
+}
+
 func (s *Server) Stop() {
 	s.mu.Lock()
 	s.ch = nil
diff --git a/dap/thread.go b/dap/thread.go
index b2ba5cb08ffe..477287fd182f 100644
--- a/dap/thread.go
+++ b/dap/thread.go
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ func (t *thread) Evaluate(ctx Context, c gateway.Client, ref gateway.Reference,
 		if step == stepContinue {
 			t.setBreakpoints(ctx)
 		}
-		pos, err := t.seekNext(ctx, step)
+		ref, pos, err := t.seekNext(ctx, step)
 
 		event := t.needsDebug(pos, step, err)
 		if event.Reason == "" {
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func (t *thread) Evaluate(ctx Context, c gateway.Client, ref gateway.Reference,
 		}
 
 		select {
-		case step = <-t.pause(ctx, err, event):
+		case step = <-t.pause(ctx, ref, err, event):
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ func (t *thread) needsDebug(target digest.Digest, step stepType, err error) (e d
 	return
 }
 
-func (t *thread) pause(c Context, err error, event dap.StoppedEventBody) <-chan stepType {
+func (t *thread) pause(c Context, ref gateway.Reference, err error, event dap.StoppedEventBody) <-chan stepType {
 	t.mu.Lock()
 	defer t.mu.Unlock()
 
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ func (t *thread) pause(c Context, err error, event dap.StoppedEventBody) <-chan
 	}
 
 	t.paused = make(chan stepType, 1)
-	t.rCtx = build.NewResultHandle(c, t.c, t.ref, t.meta, err)
+	t.rCtx = build.NewResultHandle(c, t.c, ref, t.meta, err)
 	if err != nil {
 		var solveErr *errdefs.SolveError
 		if errors.As(err, &solveErr) {
@@ -189,6 +189,13 @@ func (t *thread) resume(step stepType) {
 	t.paused = nil
 }
 
+func (t *thread) isPaused() bool {
+	t.mu.Lock()
+	defer t.mu.Unlock()
+
+	return t.paused != nil
+}
+
 func (t *thread) StackTrace() []dap.StackFrame {
 	t.mu.Lock()
 	defer t.mu.Unlock()
@@ -373,11 +380,11 @@ func (t *thread) propagateRegionDependencies() {
 	}
 }
 
-func (t *thread) seekNext(ctx Context, step stepType) (digest.Digest, error) {
+func (t *thread) seekNext(ctx Context, step stepType) (gateway.Reference, digest.Digest, error) {
 	// If we're at the end, return no digest to signal that
 	// we should conclude debugging.
 	if t.curPos == t.head {
-		return "", nil
+		return nil, "", nil
 	}
 
 	target := t.head
@@ -389,15 +396,15 @@ func (t *thread) seekNext(ctx Context, step stepType) (digest.Digest, error) {
 	}
 
 	if target == "" {
-		return "", nil
+		return nil, "", nil
 	}
 	return t.seek(ctx, target)
 }
 
-func (t *thread) seek(ctx Context, target digest.Digest) (digest.Digest, error) {
+func (t *thread) seek(ctx Context, target digest.Digest) (gateway.Reference, digest.Digest, error) {
 	ref, err := t.solve(ctx, target)
 	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
+		return ref, "", err
 	}
 
 	if err = ref.Evaluate(ctx); err != nil {
@@ -412,7 +419,7 @@ func (t *thread) seek(ctx Context, target digest.Digest) (digest.Digest, error)
 	} else {
 		t.curPos = target
 	}
-	return t.curPos, err
+	return ref, t.curPos, err
 }
 
 func (t *thread) nextDigest(fn func(digest.Digest) bool) digest.Digest {