diff --git a/platformio/commands/debug/client.py b/platformio/commands/debug/client.py
index 03daed25..a7ed9b2b 100644
--- a/platformio/commands/debug/client.py
+++ b/platformio/commands/debug/client.py
@@ -170,11 +170,12 @@ class GDBClient(BaseProcess):  # pylint: disable=too-many-instance-attributes
         stdio.StandardIO(p)
 
     def onStdInData(self, data):
-        self._last_server_activity = time.time()
         if LOG_FILE:
             with open(LOG_FILE, "ab") as fp:
                 fp.write(data)
 
+        self._last_server_activity = time.time()
+
         if b"-exec-run" in data:
             if self._target_is_run:
                 token, _ = data.split(b"-", 1)
@@ -198,6 +199,10 @@ class GDBClient(BaseProcess):  # pylint: disable=too-many-instance-attributes
         reactor.stop()
 
     def outReceived(self, data):
+        if LOG_FILE:
+            with open(LOG_FILE, "ab") as fp:
+                fp.write(data)
+
         self._last_server_activity = time.time()
         super(GDBClient, self).outReceived(data)
         self._handle_error(data)