diff --git a/core/iwasm/common/wasm_runtime_common.c b/core/iwasm/common/wasm_runtime_common.c
index 60a2da74b..4ee42601c 100644
--- a/core/iwasm/common/wasm_runtime_common.c
+++ b/core/iwasm/common/wasm_runtime_common.c
@@ -506,9 +506,17 @@ wasm_runtime_is_xip_file(const uint8 *buf, uint32 size)
 uint32
 wasm_runtime_start_debug_instance(WASMExecEnv *exec_env)
 {
+    WASMModuleInstanceCommon *module_inst =
+        wasm_runtime_get_module_inst(exec_env);
     WASMCluster *cluster = wasm_exec_env_get_cluster(exec_env);
+    bh_assert(module_inst);
     bh_assert(cluster);
 
+    if (module_inst->module_type != Wasm_Module_Bytecode) {
+        LOG_WARNING("Attempt to create a debug instance for an AOT module");
+        return 0;
+    }
+
     if (cluster->debug_inst) {
         LOG_WARNING("Cluster already bind to a debug instance");
         return cluster->debug_inst->control_thread->port;
@@ -5041,4 +5049,4 @@ wasm_runtime_get_version(uint32_t *major, uint32_t *minor, uint32_t *patch)
     *major = WAMR_VERSION_MAJOR;
     *minor = WAMR_VERSION_MINOR;
     *patch = WAMR_VERSION_PATCH;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}