diff --git a/dist/pythonlibs/testrunner/spawn.py b/dist/pythonlibs/testrunner/spawn.py
index 60d06187d7..e334a894b3 100644
--- a/dist/pythonlibs/testrunner/spawn.py
+++ b/dist/pythonlibs/testrunner/spawn.py
@@ -39,7 +39,13 @@ TEST_INTERACTIVE_DELAY = int(os.environ.get('TEST_INTERACTIVE_DELAY') or 1)
 # By default never reset after the terminal is open unless explicitly requested
 # through an environment variable.
 TESTRUNNER_RESET_AFTER_TERM = int(os.environ.get('TESTRUNNER_RESET_AFTER_TERM')
-                                  or '0')
+                                  or 0)
+
+# When running e.g. tests/shell_ble we don't want to reset the board, because
+# then ble-serial would terminate and the created virtual serial port would get
+# lost. By default the board is reset before the test starts.
+TESTRUNNER_RESET_BOARD_ON_STARTUP = \
+    int(os.environ.get('TESTRUNNER_RESET_BOARD_ON_STARTUP') or 1)
 
 MAKE = os.environ.get('MAKE', 'make')
 
@@ -70,7 +76,8 @@ def find_exc_origin(exc_info):
 def setup_child(timeout=10, spawnclass=pexpect.spawnu, env=None, logfile=None):
     # Some boards can't be reset after a terminal is open. Therefore reset
     # before `cleanterm`.
-    _reset_board(env)
+    if TESTRUNNER_RESET_BOARD_ON_STARTUP:
+        _reset_board(env)
 
     # on platforms exposing UART over USB, wait a little before connecting to
     # the serial terminal. This gives time for stdio to be ready.
diff --git a/sys/stdio_nimble/README.md b/sys/stdio_nimble/README.md
index b9e2ee0559..381b2efa63 100644
--- a/sys/stdio_nimble/README.md
+++ b/sys/stdio_nimble/README.md
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ USEMODULE += nimble_autoadv
 USEMODULE += stdio_nimble
 ```
 
+**NOTE:** You can also have a look at `tests/shell_ble`.
+
 - Flash
 
 `$ make -C tests/shell -j clean all flash`
diff --git a/tests/shell/tests/01-run.py b/tests/shell/tests/01-run.py
index a4b423ad8d..86bf96e43b 100755
--- a/tests/shell/tests/01-run.py
+++ b/tests/shell/tests/01-run.py
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ EXPECTED_PS = (
 RIOT_TERMINAL = os.environ.get('RIOT_TERMINAL')
 CLEANTERMS = {"socat"}
 
+TESTRUNNER_SHELL_SKIP_REBOOT = bool(int(os.environ.get('TESTRUNNER_SHELL_SKIP_REBOOT') or 0))
+
 # In native we are directly executing the binary (no terminal program). We must
 # therefore use Ctrl-V (DLE or "data link escape") before Ctrl-C to send a
 # literal ETX instead of SIGINT.
@@ -220,6 +222,10 @@ def testfunc(child):
 
     # loop other defined commands and expected output
     for cmd, expected in CMDS:
+
+        if cmd == "reboot" and TESTRUNNER_SHELL_SKIP_REBOOT:
+            continue
+
         check_cmd(child, cmd, expected)
 
     if RIOT_TERMINAL in CLEANTERMS:
diff --git a/tests/shell_ble/Makefile b/tests/shell_ble/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..652e0d0e05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/shell_ble/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+DEVELHELP = 0
+BOARD ?= nrf52dk
+include ../Makefile.tests_common
+
+USEMODULE += app_metadata
+USEMODULE += shell
+USEMODULE += shell_commands
+USEMODULE += ps
+
+USEMODULE += stdio_nimble stdio_nimble_debug
+USEMODULE += nimble_autoadv
+CFLAGS += -DNIMBLE_AUTOADV_DEVICE_NAME='"tests/shell_ble"'
+
+TESTRUNNER_SHELL_SKIP_REBOOT = 1
+TESTRUNNER_RESET_BOARD_ON_STARTUP = 0
+
+ifneq (,$(filter term,$(MAKECMDGOALS)))
+  # for z1, socat doesn't work (unknown reason)
+  ifeq (z1, $(BOARD))
+    RIOT_TERMINAL ?= pyterm
+  endif
+
+  # Use a terminal that does not introduce extra characters into the stream.
+  RIOT_TERMINAL ?= socat
+else ifneq (,$(filter test,$(MAKECMDGOALS)))
+  # Use the virtual serial port created by ble-serial
+  RIOT_TERMINAL = picocom
+endif
+
+# The test requires some setup so it cannot currently be run
+TEST_ON_CI_BLACKLIST += all
+
+APP_SHELL_FMT ?= NONE
+
+include $(RIOTBASE)/Makefile.include
+
+# the test script skips tests if socat is not used
+$(call target-export-variables,$(RIOT_TERMINAL),RIOT_TERMINAL)
+
+# a reboot or a reset would disconnect the device from bluetooth and break the test
+$(call target-export-variables,$(TESTRUNNER_SHELL_SKIP_REBOOT),TESTRUNNER_SHELL_SKIP_REBOOT)
+$(call target-export-variables,$(TESTRUNNER_RESET_BOARD_ON_STARTUP),TESTRUNNER_RESET_BOARD_ON_STARTUP)
diff --git a/tests/shell_ble/README.md b/tests/shell_ble/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b5e694e2bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/shell_ble/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+This is basically the same tests as for the normal shell, but here we are
+testing via blueooth instead of UART. You have to set up a virtual serial port
+manually.
+
+For instructions on how to open a virtual serial port to your bluetooth device
+see `sys/stdio_nimble/README`.
+
+**Note:** `make term` and `make test-with-config` will open two different types of terminals.
+- When calling `make term` then a terminal will communicate with the board
+via UART. Due to the nature of `stdio_nimble` the board won't respond to input
+coming from here)
+- When calling `make test-with-config` then picocom will communicate with the board via the
+given virtual serial port
+
+So a procedure to run this test could be:
+0. Make sure that the current test application instance is fresh and no test was
+run on it before. Otherwise your test might fail, because the test case
+`check_control_d` only works once per run.
+1. Execute `make flash term`
+2. Open a virtual serial port with `ble-serial` and note the virtual serial port
+that was created (search for `Slave created on /tmp/dev_riot_ble -> /dev/pts/25`)
+3. Execute `PORT=/dev/pts/25 make test-with-config`
diff --git a/tests/shell_ble/main.c b/tests/shell_ble/main.c
new file mode 120000
index 0000000000..c541a5892a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/shell_ble/main.c
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../shell/main.c
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/shell_ble/tests-with-config/01-run.py b/tests/shell_ble/tests-with-config/01-run.py
new file mode 120000
index 0000000000..b3e9bd6b21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/shell_ble/tests-with-config/01-run.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../../shell/tests/01-run.py
\ No newline at end of file