diff --git a/scripts/replay-dump.py b/scripts/replay-dump.py
index b82659cfb6..4ce7ff51cc 100755
--- a/scripts/replay-dump.py
+++ b/scripts/replay-dump.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 import argparse
 import struct
 import os
+import sys
 from collections import namedtuple
 from os import path
 
@@ -100,7 +101,7 @@ def call_decode(table, index, dumpfile):
         print("Could not decode index: %d" % (index))
         print("Entry is: %s" % (decoder))
         print("Decode Table is:\n%s" % (table))
-        return False
+        raise(Exception("unknown event"))
     else:
         return decoder.fn(decoder.eid, decoder.name, dumpfile)
 
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ def print_event(eid, name, string=None, event_count=None):
 def decode_unimp(eid, name, _unused_dumpfile):
     "Unimplemented decoder, will trigger exit"
     print("%s not handled - will now stop" % (name))
-    return False
+    raise(Exception("unhandled event"))
 
 def decode_plain(eid, name, _unused_dumpfile):
     "Plain events without additional data"
@@ -434,6 +435,7 @@ def decode_file(filename):
                                     dumpfile)
     except Exception as inst:
         print(f"error {inst}")
+        sys.exit(1)
 
     finally:
         print(f"Reached {dumpfile.tell()} of {dumpsize} bytes")
diff --git a/tests/avocado/replay_kernel.py b/tests/avocado/replay_kernel.py
index 232d287c27..a668af9d36 100644
--- a/tests/avocado/replay_kernel.py
+++ b/tests/avocado/replay_kernel.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 import shutil
 import logging
 import time
+import subprocess
 
 from avocado import skip
 from avocado import skipUnless
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ class ReplayKernelBase(LinuxKernelTest):
     terminates.
     """
 
-    timeout = 120
+    timeout = 180
     KERNEL_COMMON_COMMAND_LINE = 'printk.time=1 panic=-1 '
 
     def run_vm(self, kernel_path, kernel_command_line, console_pattern,
@@ -63,6 +64,8 @@ def run_vm(self, kernel_path, kernel_command_line, console_pattern,
             vm.shutdown()
             logger.info('finished the recording with log size %s bytes'
                         % os.path.getsize(replay_path))
+            self.run_replay_dump(replay_path)
+            logger.info('successfully tested replay-dump.py')
         else:
             vm.wait()
             logger.info('successfully finished the replay')
@@ -70,6 +73,14 @@ def run_vm(self, kernel_path, kernel_command_line, console_pattern,
         logger.info('elapsed time %.2f sec' % elapsed)
         return elapsed
 
+    def run_replay_dump(self, replay_path):
+        try:
+            subprocess.check_call(["./scripts/replay-dump.py",
+                                   "-f", replay_path],
+                                  stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL)
+        except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
+            self.fail('replay-dump.py failed')
+
     def run_rr(self, kernel_path, kernel_command_line, console_pattern,
                shift=7, args=None):
         replay_path = os.path.join(self.workdir, 'replay.bin')
diff --git a/tests/avocado/replay_linux.py b/tests/avocado/replay_linux.py
index b4673261ce..5916922435 100644
--- a/tests/avocado/replay_linux.py
+++ b/tests/avocado/replay_linux.py
@@ -94,6 +94,8 @@ def launch_and_wait(self, record, args, shift):
             vm.shutdown()
             logger.info('finished the recording with log size %s bytes'
                 % os.path.getsize(replay_path))
+            self.run_replay_dump(replay_path)
+            logger.info('successfully tested replay-dump.py')
         else:
             vm.event_wait('SHUTDOWN', self.timeout)
             vm.wait()
@@ -108,6 +110,14 @@ def run_rr(self, args=None, shift=7):
         logger = logging.getLogger('replay')
         logger.info('replay overhead {:.2%}'.format(t2 / t1 - 1))
 
+    def run_replay_dump(self, replay_path):
+        try:
+            subprocess.check_call(["./scripts/replay-dump.py",
+                                   "-f", replay_path],
+                                  stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL)
+        except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
+            self.fail('replay-dump.py failed')
+
 @skipUnless(os.getenv('AVOCADO_TIMEOUT_EXPECTED'), 'Test might timeout')
 class ReplayLinuxX8664(ReplayLinux):
     """
