A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for processing breakpoints. A breakpoint is detected during execution of a process. A thread that is currently executing is identified as an identified thread. A determination is made as to whether the breakpoint is applicable to the identified thread. In response to the determination that the breakpoint is applicable to the identified thread, the execution of the process is halted. Execution of the process continues without halting execution of the process if the breakpoint is inapplicable to the identified thread.