diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/ChangeLog b/gdb/testsuite/ChangeLog
index fa999c316f..e11260c6a6 100644
--- a/gdb/testsuite/ChangeLog
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,41 @@
+2015-07-31  Pedro Alves  <palves@redhat.com>
+
+	* gdb.base/attach-pie-misread.exp: Rename $res to $test_spawn_id.
+	Use spawn_id_get_pid.  Wait for spawn id after eof.  Use
+	kill_wait_spawned_process instead of explicit "kill -9".
+	* gdb.base/attach-pie-noexec.exp: Adjust to spawn_wait_for_attach
+	returning a spawn id instead of a pid.  Use spawn_id_get_pid and
+	kill_wait_spawned_process.
+	* gdb.base/attach-twice.exp: Likewise.
+	* gdb.base/attach.exp: Likewise.
+	(do_command_attach_tests): Use gdb_spawn_with_cmdline_opts and
+	gdb_test_multiple.
+	* gdb.base/solib-overlap.exp: Adjust to spawn_wait_for_attach
+	returning a spawn id instead of a pid.  Use spawn_id_get_pid and
+	kill_wait_spawned_process.
+	* gdb.base/valgrind-infcall.exp: Likewise.
+	* gdb.multi/multi-attach.exp: Likewise.
+	* gdb.python/py-prompt.exp: Likewise.
+	* gdb.python/py-sync-interp.exp: Likewise.
+	* gdb.server/ext-attach.exp: Likewise.
+	* gdb.threads/attach-into-signal.exp (corefunc): Use
+	spawn_wait_for_attach, spawn_id_get_pid and
+	kill_wait_spawned_process.
+	* gdb.threads/attach-many-short-lived-threads.exp: Adjust to
+	spawn_wait_for_attach returning a spawn id instead of a pid.  Use
+	spawn_id_get_pid and kill_wait_spawned_process.
+	* gdb.threads/attach-stopped.exp (corefunc): Use
+	spawn_wait_for_attach, spawn_id_get_pid and
+	kill_wait_spawned_process.
+	* gdb.base/break-interp.exp: Rename $res to $test_spawn_id.
+	Use spawn_id_get_pid.  Wait for spawn id after eof.  Use
+	kill_wait_spawned_process instead of explicit "kill -9".
+	* lib/gdb.exp (can_spawn_for_attach): Adjust comment.
+	(kill_wait_spawned_process, spawn_id_get_pid): New procedures.
+	(spawn_wait_for_attach): Use spawn instead of exec to spawn
+	processes.  Don't map cygwin/windows pids here.  Now returns a
+	spawn id list.
+
 2015-07-30  Sandra Loosemore  <sandra@codesourcery.com>
 
 	* gdb.cp/var-tag.exp (do_global_tests): Revert broken commit
diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/attach-pie-misread.exp b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/attach-pie-misread.exp
index 679c05040f..5f09cd94c7 100644
--- a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/attach-pie-misread.exp
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/attach-pie-misread.exp
@@ -126,25 +126,25 @@ if {$first_offset == 0} {
 set test "start inferior"
 gdb_exit
 
-set res [remote_spawn host $binfile]
-if { $res < 0 || $res == "" } {
+set test_spawn_id [remote_spawn host $binfile]
+if { $test_spawn_id < 0 || $test_spawn_id == "" } {
     perror "Spawning $binfile failed."
     fail $test
     return
 }
-set pid [exp_pid -i $res]
+set testpid [spawn_id_get_pid $test_spawn_id]
 gdb_expect {
     -re "sleeping\r\n" {
 	pass $test
     }
     eof {
 	fail "$test (eof)"
-	remote_exec host "kill -9 $pid"
+	wait -i $test_spawn_id
 	return
     }
     timeout {
 	fail "$test (timeout)"
-	remote_exec host "kill -9 $pid"
+	kill_wait_spawned_process $test_spawn_id
 	return
     }
 }
@@ -176,8 +176,8 @@ foreach align_mult {1 2} { with_test_prefix "shift-by-$align_mult" {
     clean_restart $executable
 
     set test "attach"
-    gdb_test_multiple "attach $pid" $test {
-	-re "Attaching to program: .*, process $pid\r\n" {
+    gdb_test_multiple "attach $testpid" $test {
+	-re "Attaching to program: .*, process $testpid\r\n" {
 	    # Missing "$gdb_prompt $" is intentional.
 	    pass $test
 	}
@@ -196,4 +196,4 @@ foreach align_mult {1 2} { with_test_prefix "shift-by-$align_mult" {
     gdb_test "detach" "Detaching from program: .*"
 }}
 
-remote_exec host "kill -9 $pid"
+kill_wait_spawned_process $test_spawn_id
diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/attach-pie-noexec.exp b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/attach-pie-noexec.exp
index 30a2f4d9de..fc53b2d870 100644
--- a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/attach-pie-noexec.exp
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/attach-pie-noexec.exp
@@ -55,7 +55,8 @@ if {$arch == ""} {
 # Start the program running and then wait for a bit, to be sure
 # that it can be attached to.
 
-set testpid [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+set test_spawn_id [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+set testpid [spawn_id_get_pid $test_spawn_id]
 
 gdb_start
 file delete -- $binfile
@@ -63,4 +64,4 @@ gdb_test "attach $testpid" "Attaching to process $testpid\r\n.*: No such file or
 gdb_test "set architecture $arch" "The target architecture is assumed to be $arch"
 gdb_test "info shared" "From\[ \t\]+To\[ \t\]+Syms Read\[ \t\]+Shared Object Library\r\n0x.*"
 
-eval exec kill -9 $testpid
+kill_wait_spawned_process $test_spawn_id
diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/attach-twice.exp b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/attach-twice.exp
index f6a9eb6f5e..380c80eff0 100644
--- a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/attach-twice.exp
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/attach-twice.exp
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ if { [prepare_for_testing ${testfile}.exp $executable] } {
 # Start the program running and then wait for a bit, to be sure
 # that it can be attached to.
 
-set testpid [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+set test_spawn_id [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+set testpid [spawn_id_get_pid $test_spawn_id]
 
 set parentpid 0
 
@@ -48,4 +49,4 @@ gdb_test_multiple "attach $testpid" $test {
 if {$parentpid != 0} {
   eval exec kill -9 $parentpid
 }
-eval exec kill -9 $testpid
+kill_wait_spawned_process $test_spawn_id
diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/attach.exp b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/attach.exp
index f2ebe3a4c5..bf0d84effb 100644
--- a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/attach.exp
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/attach.exp
@@ -82,7 +82,8 @@ proc do_attach_tests {} {
     # Start the program running and then wait for a bit, to be sure
     # that it can be attached to.
 
-    set testpid [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+    set test_spawn_id [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+    set testpid [spawn_id_get_pid $test_spawn_id]
 
     # Verify that we cannot attach to nonsense.
 
@@ -279,10 +280,11 @@ proc do_attach_tests {} {
     # the next test run (and prevent the compile by keeping
     # the text file busy), in case the "set should_exit" didn't
     # work.
-   
-    remote_exec build "kill -9 ${testpid}"
 
-    set testpid [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+    kill_wait_spawned_process $test_spawn_id
+
+    set test_spawn_id [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+    set testpid [spawn_id_get_pid $test_spawn_id]
 
     # Verify that we can attach to the process, and find its a.out
     # when we're cd'd to some directory that doesn't contain the
@@ -322,14 +324,15 @@ proc do_attach_tests {} {
 	"y"
     
     # Another "don't leave a process around"
-    remote_exec build "kill -9 ${testpid}"
+    kill_wait_spawned_process $test_spawn_id
 }
 
 proc do_call_attach_tests {} {
     global gdb_prompt
     global binfile2
     
-    set testpid [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile2]
+    set test_spawn_id [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile2]
+    set testpid [spawn_id_get_pid $test_spawn_id]
 
     # Attach
    
@@ -366,7 +369,7 @@ proc do_call_attach_tests {} {
    
     # Be paranoid
    
-    remote_exec build "kill -9 ${testpid}"
+    kill_wait_spawned_process $test_spawn_id
 }
 
 proc do_command_attach_tests {} {
@@ -382,27 +385,21 @@ proc do_command_attach_tests {} {
 	return 0
     }
 
-    set testpid [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+    set test_spawn_id [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+    set testpid [spawn_id_get_pid $test_spawn_id]
 
     gdb_exit
-    if $verbose>1 then {
-        send_user "Spawning $GDB $INTERNAL_GDBFLAGS $GDBFLAGS --pid=$testpid\n"
-    }
 
-    eval "spawn $GDB $INTERNAL_GDBFLAGS $GDBFLAGS --pid=$testpid"
+    set res [gdb_spawn_with_cmdline_opts "--pid=$testpid"]
     set test "starting with --pid"
-    expect {
+    gdb_test_multiple "" $test {
 	-re "Reading symbols from.*$gdb_prompt $" {
 	    pass "$test"
 	}
-	timeout {
-	    fail "$test (timeout)"
-	}
     }
 
     # Get rid of the process
-
-    remote_exec build "kill -9 ${testpid}"
+    kill_wait_spawned_process $test_spawn_id
 }
 
 # Test ' gdb --pid PID -ex "run" '.  GDB used to have a bug where
@@ -418,7 +415,8 @@ proc test_command_line_attach_run {} {
     }
 
     with_test_prefix "cmdline attach run" {
-	set testpid [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+	set test_spawn_id [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+	set testpid [spawn_id_get_pid $test_spawn_id]
 
 	set test "run to prompt"
 	gdb_exit
@@ -427,7 +425,7 @@ proc test_command_line_attach_run {} {
 		     "-iex \"set height 0\" -iex \"set width 0\" --pid=$testpid -ex \"start\""]
 	if { $res != 0} {
 	    fail $test
-	    remote_exec build "kill -9 ${testpid}"
+	    kill_wait_spawned_process $test_spawn_id
 	    return $res
 	}
 	gdb_test_multiple "" $test {
@@ -446,7 +444,7 @@ proc test_command_line_attach_run {} {
 	}
 
 	# Get rid of the process
-	remote_exec build "kill -9 ${testpid}"
+	kill_wait_spawned_process $test_spawn_id
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/break-interp.exp b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/break-interp.exp
index aca2c024dd..59411591b1 100644
--- a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/break-interp.exp
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/break-interp.exp
@@ -308,23 +308,25 @@ proc test_attach {file displacement {relink_args ""}} {
     set test "sleep function started"
 
     set command "${file} sleep"
-    set res [remote_spawn host $command]
-    if { $res < 0 || $res == "" } {
+    set test_spawn_id [remote_spawn host $command]
+    if { $test_spawn_id < 0 || $test_spawn_id == "" } {
 	perror "Spawning $command failed."
 	fail $test
 	return
     }
-    set pid [exp_pid -i $res]
+    set pid [spawn_id_get_pid $test_spawn_id]
     gdb_expect {
 	-re "sleeping\r\n" {
 	    pass $test
 	}
 	eof {
 	    fail "$test (eof)"
+	    wait -i $test_spawn_id
 	    return
 	}
 	timeout {
 	    fail "$test (timeout)"
+	    kill_wait_spawned_process $test_spawn_id
 	    return
 	}
     }
@@ -364,7 +366,7 @@ proc test_attach {file displacement {relink_args ""}} {
 	file_copy $interp_saved $interp
     }
 
-    remote_exec host "kill -9 $pid"
+    kill_wait_spawned_process $test_spawn_id
 }
 
 proc test_ld {file ifmain trynosym displacement} {
diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/solib-overlap.exp b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/solib-overlap.exp
index ad96d02b82..95a1849eda 100644
--- a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/solib-overlap.exp
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/solib-overlap.exp
@@ -81,7 +81,8 @@ foreach prelink_lib1 {0x40000000 0x50000000} { with_test_prefix "$prelink_lib1"
 	return -1
     }
 
-    set testpid [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+    set test_spawn_id [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+    set testpid [spawn_id_get_pid $test_spawn_id]
 
     remote_exec build "mv -f ${binfile_lib1} ${binfile_lib1}-running"
     remote_exec build "mv -f ${binfile_lib2} ${binfile_lib2}-running"
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ foreach prelink_lib1 {0x40000000 0x50000000} { with_test_prefix "$prelink_lib1"
     if { [gdb_compile_shlib ${srcfile_lib} ${binfile_lib1} $lib_flags] != ""
 	 || [gdb_compile_shlib ${srcfile_lib} ${binfile_lib2} $lib_flags] != ""} {
 	untested "Could not recompile ${binfile_lib1_test_msg} or ${binfile_lib2_test_msg}."
-	remote_exec build "kill -9 ${testpid}"
+	kill_wait_spawned_process $test_spawn_id
 	return -1
     }
 
@@ -123,5 +124,5 @@ foreach prelink_lib1 {0x40000000 0x50000000} { with_test_prefix "$prelink_lib1"
 
     sleep 5
 
-    remote_exec build "kill -9 ${testpid}"
+    kill_wait_spawned_process $test_spawn_id
 }}
diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/valgrind-infcall.exp b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/valgrind-infcall.exp
index 3d3fdd3c58..b835c67698 100644
--- a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/valgrind-infcall.exp
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/valgrind-infcall.exp
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ gdb_test_multiple "" $test {
 }
 
 # Do not kill valgrind.
-set valgrind_pid [exp_pid -i [board_info host fileid]]
+set valgrind_spawn_id [board_info host fileid]
 unset gdb_spawn_id
 set board [host_info name]
 unset_board_info fileid
@@ -99,13 +99,13 @@ while {$loop && $continue_count < 100} {
 	-re "Remote connection closed.*\r\n$gdb_prompt $" {
 	    fail "$test (remote connection closed)"
 	    # Only if valgrind got stuck.
-	    remote_exec host "kill -9 ${valgrind_pid}"
+	    kill_wait_spawned_process $valgrind_spawn_id
 	    return -1
 	}
 	-re "The program is not being run\\.\r\n$gdb_prompt $" {
 	    fail "$test (valgrind vgdb has terminated)"
 	    # Only if valgrind got stuck.
-	    remote_exec host "kill -9 ${valgrind_pid}"
+	    kill_wait_spawned_process $valgrind_spawn_id
 	    return -1
 	}
 	-re "\r\n$gdb_prompt $" {
@@ -126,4 +126,4 @@ gdb_test_multiple $test $test {
 }
 
 # Only if valgrind got stuck.
-remote_exec host "kill -9 ${valgrind_pid}"
+kill_wait_spawned_process $valgrind_spawn_id
diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.multi/multi-attach.exp b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.multi/multi-attach.exp
index 8a7bb089fb..cd89d3eb94 100644
--- a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.multi/multi-attach.exp
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.multi/multi-attach.exp
@@ -30,9 +30,11 @@ if {[prepare_for_testing "failed to prepare" $testfile $srcfile {debug additiona
 # Start the programs running and then wait for a bit, to be sure that
 # they can be attached to.
 
-set pid_list [spawn_wait_for_attach [list $binfile $binfile]]
-set testpid1 [lindex $pid_list 0]
-set testpid2 [lindex $pid_list 1]
+set spawn_id_list [spawn_wait_for_attach [list $binfile $binfile]]
+set test_spawn_id1 [lindex $spawn_id_list 0]
+set test_spawn_id2 [lindex $spawn_id_list 1]
+set testpid1 [spawn_id_get_pid $test_spawn_id1]
+set testpid2 [spawn_id_get_pid $test_spawn_id2]
 
 gdb_test "attach $testpid1" \
     "Attaching to program: .*, process $testpid1.*(in|at).*" \
@@ -52,3 +54,6 @@ gdb_test "backtrace" ".*main.*" "backtrace 2"
 gdb_test "kill" "" "kill inferior 2" "Kill the program being debugged.*" "y"
 gdb_test "inferior 1" ".*Switching to inferior 1.*"
 gdb_test "kill" "" "kill inferior 1" "Kill the program being debugged.*" "y"
+
+kill_wait_spawned_process $test_spawn_id1
+kill_wait_spawned_process $test_spawn_id2
diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.python/py-prompt.exp b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.python/py-prompt.exp
index 0f7a3a4bb1..6f22c5b4f7 100644
--- a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.python/py-prompt.exp
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.python/py-prompt.exp
@@ -80,7 +80,8 @@ if {![can_spawn_for_attach]} {
     return 0
 }
 
-set testpid [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+set test_spawn_id [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+set testpid [spawn_id_get_pid $test_spawn_id]
 
 set GDBFLAGS [concat $tmp_gdbflags " -ex \"set pagination off\""]
 set GDBFLAGS [concat $GDBFLAGS " -ex \"set editing on\""]
@@ -115,5 +116,5 @@ gdb_test "python print (\"'\" + str(p\[0\]) + \"'\")" "'$gdb_prompt_fail '" \
 gdb_exit
 
 set GDBFLAGS $saved_gdbflags
-exec kill -9 ${testpid}
+kill_wait_spawned_process $test_spawn_id
 return 0
diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.python/py-sync-interp.exp b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.python/py-sync-interp.exp
index 0ea31104be..46c1562bee 100644
--- a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.python/py-sync-interp.exp
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.python/py-sync-interp.exp
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ if { [prepare_for_testing ${testfile}.exp ${testfile} ${srcfile}] } {
     return -1
 }
 
-set testpid [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+set test_spawn_id [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+set testpid [spawn_id_get_pid $test_spawn_id]
 
 # Test command 'where' is executed when command 'attach' is done, otherwise
 # function 'sleep' may not show up in backtrace.
@@ -48,3 +49,5 @@ set testpid [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
 gdb_test "python gdb.execute(\"attach $testpid\"); gdb.execute(\"where\")" \
     "in .*sleep \\(.*\\) .* in foo1 \\(\\) at .* in foo2 \\(\\) at .*" \
     "attach and where"
+
+kill_wait_spawned_process $test_spawn_id
diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.server/ext-attach.exp b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.server/ext-attach.exp
index f3cbcf65e7..75724e1aa4 100644
--- a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.server/ext-attach.exp
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.server/ext-attach.exp
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@ gdbserver_start_extended
 
 gdb_test_no_output "set remote exec-file $target_exec" "set remote exec-file"
 
-set testpid [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+set test_spawn_id [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+set testpid [spawn_id_get_pid $test_spawn_id]
 
 gdb_test "attach $testpid" \
     "Attaching to program: .*, process $testpid.*(in|at).*" \
@@ -69,3 +70,5 @@ gdb_test "backtrace" ".*main.*" "backtrace 2"
 
 gdb_test "kill" "" "kill" "Kill the program being debugged.*" "y"
 gdb_test_no_output "monitor exit"
+
+kill_wait_spawned_process $test_spawn_id
diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/attach-into-signal.exp b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/attach-into-signal.exp
index 17fd8f254a..d82b9997fd 100644
--- a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/attach-into-signal.exp
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/attach-into-signal.exp
@@ -44,12 +44,8 @@ proc corefunc { threadtype executable } {
 
 	gdb_test "handle SIGALRM stop print pass" "Yes.*Yes.*Yes.*"
 
-	# Start the program running and then wait for a bit, to be sure
-	# that it can be attached to.
-	# Statistically there is a better chance without giving process a nice.
-
-	set testpid [eval exec $binfile &]
-	exec sleep 2
+	set test_spawn_id [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+	set testpid [spawn_id_get_pid $test_spawn_id]
 
 	# Run 2 passes of the test.
 	# The C file inferior stops pending its signals if a single one is lost,
@@ -146,16 +142,11 @@ proc corefunc { threadtype executable } {
 	# Exit and detach the process.
 	gdb_exit
 
-	# Make sure we don't leave a process around to confuse the
-	# next test run (and prevent the compile by keeping the text
-	# file busy), in case the "set should_exit" didn't work.
-
 	# Continue the program - some Linux kernels need it before -9 if the
 	# process is stopped.
 	remote_exec build "kill -s CONT ${testpid}"
 
-	remote_exec build "kill -9 ${testpid}"
-
+	kill_wait_spawned_process $test_spawn_id
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/attach-many-short-lived-threads.exp b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/attach-many-short-lived-threads.exp
index 2c2236da2e..84e005ffcb 100644
--- a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/attach-many-short-lived-threads.exp
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/attach-many-short-lived-threads.exp
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ proc test {} {
 
     clean_restart ${binfile}
 
-    set testpid [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+    set test_spawn_id [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+    set testpid [spawn_id_get_pid $test_spawn_id]
 
     set attempts 10
     for {set attempt 1} { $attempt <= $attempts } { incr attempt } {
@@ -127,8 +128,7 @@ proc test {} {
 	    delete_breakpoints
 	}
     }
-
-    remote_exec target "kill -9 ${testpid}"
+    kill_wait_spawned_process $test_spawn_id
 }
 
 # The test program exits after a while, in case GDB crashes.  Make it
diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/attach-stopped.exp b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/attach-stopped.exp
index ac35ac5570..9a7edc5418 100644
--- a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/attach-stopped.exp
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/attach-stopped.exp
@@ -44,13 +44,8 @@ proc corefunc { threadtype } {
 	return -1
     }
 
-    # Start the program running and then wait for a bit, to be sure
-    # that it can be attached to.
-
-    set testpid [eval exec $binfile &]
-
-    # Avoid some race:
-    sleep 2
+    set test_spawn_id [spawn_wait_for_attach $binfile]
+    set testpid [spawn_id_get_pid $test_spawn_id]
 
     # Stop the program 
     remote_exec build "kill -s STOP ${testpid}"
@@ -86,7 +81,7 @@ proc corefunc { threadtype } {
     # the Linux kernel version.  The behavior is not tested as it is not
     # dependent on GDB.
 
-    remote_exec build "kill -9 ${testpid}"
+    kill_wait_spawned_process $test_spawn_id
 }
 
 # build the test case first without threads
diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/lib/gdb.exp b/gdb/testsuite/lib/gdb.exp
index e3faf181da..986d920794 100644
--- a/gdb/testsuite/lib/gdb.exp
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/lib/gdb.exp
@@ -3706,7 +3706,9 @@ proc gdb_exit { } {
 # it.
 
 proc can_spawn_for_attach { } {
-    # We use TCL's exec to get the inferior's pid.
+    # We use exp_pid to get the inferior's pid, assuming that gives
+    # back the pid of the program.  On remote boards, that would give
+    # us instead the PID of e.g., the ssh client, etc.
     if [is_remote target] then {
 	return 0
     }
@@ -3722,12 +3724,50 @@ proc can_spawn_for_attach { } {
     return 1
 }
 
+# Kill a progress previously started with spawn_wait_for_attach, and
+# reap its wait status.  PROC_SPAWN_ID is the spawn id associated with
+# the process.
+
+proc kill_wait_spawned_process { proc_spawn_id } {
+    set pid [exp_pid -i $proc_spawn_id]
+
+    verbose -log "killing ${pid}"
+    remote_exec build "kill -9 ${pid}"
+
+    verbose -log "closing ${proc_spawn_id}"
+    catch "close -i $proc_spawn_id"
+    verbose -log "waiting for ${proc_spawn_id}"
+
+    # If somehow GDB ends up still attached to the process here, a
+    # blocking wait hangs until gdb is killed (or until gdb / the
+    # ptracer reaps the exit status too, but that won't happen because
+    # something went wrong.)  Passing -nowait makes expect tell Tcl to
+    # wait for the PID in the background.  That's fine because we
+    # don't care about the exit status.  */
+    wait -nowait -i $proc_spawn_id
+}
+
+# Returns the process id corresponding to the given spawn id.
+
+proc spawn_id_get_pid { spawn_id } {
+    set testpid [exp_pid -i $spawn_id]
+
+    if { [istarget "*-*-cygwin*"] } {
+	# testpid is the Cygwin PID, GDB uses the Windows PID, which
+	# might be different due to the way fork/exec works.
+	set testpid [ exec ps -e | gawk "{ if (\$1 == $testpid) print \$4; }" ]
+    }
+
+    return $testpid
+}
+
 # Start a set of programs running and then wait for a bit, to be sure
-# that they can be attached to.  Return a list of the processes' PIDs.
-# It's a test error to call this when [can_spawn_for_attach] is false.
+# that they can be attached to.  Return a list of processes spawn IDs,
+# one element for each process spawned.  It's a test error to call
+# this when [can_spawn_for_attach] is false.
 
 proc spawn_wait_for_attach { executable_list } {
-    set pid_list {}
+    set spawn_id_list {}
 
     if ![can_spawn_for_attach] {
 	# The caller should have checked can_spawn_for_attach itself
@@ -3736,22 +3776,16 @@ proc spawn_wait_for_attach { executable_list } {
     }
 
     foreach {executable} $executable_list {
-	lappend pid_list [eval exec $executable &]
+	# Note we use Expect's spawn, not Tcl's exec, because with
+	# spawn we control when to wait for/reap the process.  That
+	# allows killing the process by PID without being subject to
+	# pid-reuse races.
+	lappend spawn_id_list [remote_spawn target $executable]
     }
 
     sleep 2
 
-    if { [istarget "*-*-cygwin*"] } {
-	for {set i 0} {$i < [llength $pid_list]} {incr i} {
-	    # testpid is the Cygwin PID, GDB uses the Windows PID,
-	    # which might be different due to the way fork/exec works.
-	    set testpid [lindex $pid_list $i]
-	    set testpid [ exec ps -e | gawk "{ if (\$1 == $testpid) print \$4; }" ]
-	    set pid_list [lreplace $pid_list $i $i $testpid]
-	}
-    }
-
-    return $pid_list
+    return $spawn_id_list
 }
 
 #