A method includes providing a debug instruction and providing a debug control register field, where if the debug control register field has a first value, the debug instruction executes a debug operation and where if the debug control register field has a second value, the debug instruction is to be executed as a no-operation (NOP) instruction. A data processing system includes instruction fetch circuitry for receiving a debug instruction, a debug control register field, and debug execution control circuitry for controlling execution of the debug instruction in a first manner if the debug control register field has a first value and in a second manner if the debug control register field has a second value, where in the first manner a debug operation is performed and in the second manner no debug operation is performed.