diff --git a/gdb/NEWS b/gdb/NEWS
index 5309a8f923..bf6a655cd9 100644
--- a/gdb/NEWS
+++ b/gdb/NEWS
@@ -27,6 +27,18 @@
      'array_indexes', 'symbols', 'unions', 'deref_refs', 'actual_objects',
      'static_members', 'max_elements', 'repeat_threshold', and 'format'.
 
+* New commands
+
+set may-call-functions [on|off]
+show may-call-functions
+  This controls whether GDB will attempt to call functions in
+  the program, such as with expressions in print command.  It
+  defaults to on.  Calling functions in the program being debugged
+  can have undesired side effects.  It is now possible to forbid
+  such function calls.  If function calls are forbidden, GDB will throw
+  an error when a command (such as print an expression) calls a function
+  in the program.
+
 *** Changes in GDB 8.3
 
 * GDB and GDBserver now support access to additional registers on
diff --git a/gdb/doc/gdb.texinfo b/gdb/doc/gdb.texinfo
index 0733e1acfd..2e4affd6c4 100644
--- a/gdb/doc/gdb.texinfo
+++ b/gdb/doc/gdb.texinfo
@@ -18693,6 +18693,28 @@ the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
 @value{GDBN}.
 
+@item set may-call-functions
+@kindex set may-call-functions
+@cindex disabling calling functions in the program
+@cindex calling functions in the program, disabling
+Set permission to call functions in the program.
+This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to call functions in
+the program, such as with expressions in @code{print}.  It
+defaults to @code{on}.
+
+To call a function in the program, @value{GDBN} has to temporarily
+modify the state of the inferior.  This has potentially undesired side
+effects.  Also, having @value{GDBN} call nested functions is likely to
+be erroneous and may even crash the program being debugged.  You can
+avoid such hazards by forbidding @value{GDBN} from calling functions
+in the program being debugged.  If calling functions in the program
+are forbidden, GDB will throw an error when a command (such as print
+an expression) starts a function call in the program.
+
+@item show may-call-functions
+@kindex show may-call-functions
+Show permission to call functions in the program.
+
 @end table
 
 @subsection Calling functions with no debug info
diff --git a/gdb/infcall.c b/gdb/infcall.c
index af60fdc56b..f99206c458 100644
--- a/gdb/infcall.c
+++ b/gdb/infcall.c
@@ -55,6 +55,17 @@
    asynchronous inferior function call implementation, and that in
    turn means restructuring the code so that it is event driven.  */
 
+static int may_call_functions_p = 1;
+static void
+show_may_call_functions_p (struct ui_file *file, int from_tty,
+			   struct cmd_list_element *c,
+			   const char *value)
+{
+  fprintf_filtered (file,
+		    _("Permission to call functions in the program is %s.\n"),
+		    value);
+}
+
 /* How you should pass arguments to a function depends on whether it
    was defined in K&R style or prototype style.  If you define a
    function using the K&R syntax that takes a `float' argument, then
@@ -708,6 +719,10 @@ call_function_by_hand_dummy (struct value *function,
   struct gdb_exception e;
   char name_buf[RAW_FUNCTION_ADDRESS_SIZE];
 
+  if (!may_call_functions_p)
+    error (_("Cannot call functions in the program: "
+	     "may-call-functions is off."));
+
   if (!target_has_execution)
     noprocess ();
 
@@ -1359,6 +1374,17 @@ When the function is done executing, GDB will silently stop."),
 void
 _initialize_infcall (void)
 {
+  add_setshow_boolean_cmd ("may-call-functions", no_class,
+			   &may_call_functions_p, _("\
+Set permission to call functions in the program."), _("\
+Show permission to call functions in the program."), _("\
+When this permission is on, GDB may call functions in the program.\n\
+Otherwise, any sort of attempt to call a function in the program\n\
+will result in an error."),
+			   NULL,
+			   show_may_call_functions_p,
+			   &setlist, &showlist);
+
   add_setshow_boolean_cmd ("coerce-float-to-double", class_obscure,
 			   &coerce_float_to_double_p, _("\
 Set coercion of floats to doubles when calling functions."), _("\
diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/callexit.exp b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/callexit.exp
index b6d9ae3f87..9a32d3d54a 100644
--- a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/callexit.exp
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/callexit.exp
@@ -37,6 +37,13 @@ if { ![runto_main] } {
     return 0
 }
 
+# Verify set may-call-functions behaviour.
+gdb_test_no_output "set may-call-functions off"
+gdb_test "call callexit()" \
+    "Cannot call functions in the program: may-call-functions is off." \
+    "inferior function call refused in off state"
+gdb_test_no_output "set may-call-functions on"
+
 # Call function (causing the program to exit), and see if gdb handles
 # it properly.
 gdb_test "call callexit()" \
