diff --git a/Lib/test/test_gdb.py b/Lib/test/test_gdb.py
index b01efcb6069..907d6ef7c08 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_gdb.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_gdb.py
@@ -31,6 +31,19 @@ gdbpy_version, _ = p.communicate()
 if gdbpy_version == '':
     raise unittest.SkipTest("gdb not built with embedded python support")
 
+def gdb_has_frame_select():
+    # Does this build of gdb have gdb.Frame.select ?
+    cmd = "--eval-command=python print(dir(gdb.Frame))"
+    p = subprocess.Popen(["gdb", "--batch", cmd],
+                         stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
+    stdout, _ = p.communicate()
+    m = re.match(r'.*\[(.*)\].*', stdout)
+    if not m:
+        raise unittest.SkipTest("Unable to parse output from gdb.Frame.select test")
+    gdb_frame_dir = m.group(1).split(', ')
+    return "'select'" in gdb_frame_dir
+
+HAS_PYUP_PYDOWN = gdb_has_frame_select()
 
 class DebuggerTests(unittest.TestCase):
 
@@ -569,6 +582,7 @@ class PyListTests(DebuggerTests):
                            bt)
 
 class StackNavigationTests(DebuggerTests):
+    @unittest.skipUnless(HAS_PYUP_PYDOWN, "test requires py-up/py-down commands")
     def test_pyup_command(self):
         'Verify that the "py-up" command works'
         bt = self.get_stack_trace(script=self.get_sample_script(),
@@ -579,6 +593,7 @@ class StackNavigationTests(DebuggerTests):
     baz\(a, b, c\)
 $''')
 
+    @unittest.skipUnless(HAS_PYUP_PYDOWN, "test requires py-up/py-down commands")
     def test_down_at_bottom(self):
         'Verify handling of "py-down" at the bottom of the stack'
         bt = self.get_stack_trace(script=self.get_sample_script(),
@@ -586,6 +601,7 @@ $''')
         self.assertEndsWith(bt,
                             'Unable to find a newer python frame\n')
 
+    @unittest.skipUnless(HAS_PYUP_PYDOWN, "test requires py-up/py-down commands")
     def test_up_at_top(self):
         'Verify handling of "py-up" at the top of the stack'
         bt = self.get_stack_trace(script=self.get_sample_script(),
@@ -593,6 +609,7 @@ $''')
         self.assertEndsWith(bt,
                             'Unable to find an older python frame\n')
 
+    @unittest.skipUnless(HAS_PYUP_PYDOWN, "test requires py-up/py-down commands")
     def test_up_then_down(self):
         'Verify "py-up" followed by "py-down"'
         bt = self.get_stack_trace(script=self.get_sample_script(),
@@ -628,6 +645,7 @@ class PyPrintTests(DebuggerTests):
         self.assertMultilineMatches(bt,
                                     r".*\nlocal 'args' = \(1, 2, 3\)\n.*")
 
+    @unittest.skipUnless(HAS_PYUP_PYDOWN, "test requires py-up/py-down commands")
     def test_print_after_up(self):
         bt = self.get_stack_trace(script=self.get_sample_script(),
                                   cmds_after_breakpoint=['py-up', 'py-print c', 'py-print b', 'py-print a'])
@@ -653,6 +671,7 @@ class PyLocalsTests(DebuggerTests):
         self.assertMultilineMatches(bt,
                                     r".*\nargs = \(1, 2, 3\)\n.*")
 
+    @unittest.skipUnless(HAS_PYUP_PYDOWN, "test requires py-up/py-down commands")
     def test_locals_after_up(self):
         bt = self.get_stack_trace(script=self.get_sample_script(),
                                   cmds_after_breakpoint=['py-up', 'py-locals'])
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index 9eecb104f1f..d03a4753588 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ Core and Builtins
 Library
 -------
 
+- Issue #8437: Fix test_gdb failures, patch written by Dave Malcolm
+
 - Issue #4814: timeout parameter is now applied also for connections resulting
   from PORT/EPRT commands.
 
diff --git a/Tools/gdb/libpython.py b/Tools/gdb/libpython.py
index 77260207914..f62735fb2ae 100644
--- a/Tools/gdb/libpython.py
+++ b/Tools/gdb/libpython.py
@@ -1148,18 +1148,17 @@ class Frame(object):
 
     def is_evalframeex(self):
         '''Is this a PyEval_EvalFrameEx frame?'''
-        if self._gdbframe.function():
-            if self._gdbframe.name() == 'PyEval_EvalFrameEx':
-                '''
-                I believe we also need to filter on the inline
-                struct frame_id.inline_depth, only regarding frames with
-                an inline depth of 0 as actually being this function
+        if self._gdbframe.name() == 'PyEval_EvalFrameEx':
+            '''
+            I believe we also need to filter on the inline
+            struct frame_id.inline_depth, only regarding frames with
+            an inline depth of 0 as actually being this function
 
-                So we reject those with type gdb.INLINE_FRAME
-                '''
-                if self._gdbframe.type() == gdb.NORMAL_FRAME:
-                    # We have a PyEval_EvalFrameEx frame:
-                    return True
+            So we reject those with type gdb.INLINE_FRAME
+            '''
+            if self._gdbframe.type() == gdb.NORMAL_FRAME:
+                # We have a PyEval_EvalFrameEx frame:
+                return True
 
         return False
 
@@ -1309,8 +1308,6 @@ class PyUp(gdb.Command):
     def invoke(self, args, from_tty):
         move_in_stack(move_up=True)
 
-PyUp()
-
 class PyDown(gdb.Command):
     'Select and print the python stack frame called by this one (if any)'
     def __init__(self):
@@ -1323,7 +1320,10 @@ class PyDown(gdb.Command):
     def invoke(self, args, from_tty):
         move_in_stack(move_up=False)
 
-PyDown()
+# Not all builds of gdb have gdb.Frame.select
+if hasattr(gdb.Frame, 'select'):
+    PyUp()
+    PyDown()
 
 class PyBacktrace(gdb.Command):
     'Display the current python frame and all the frames within its call stack (if any)'