diff --git a/.vscode/launch.json b/.vscode/launch.json
index 15356f85dc87ed067790775c1cab246c2de6c16c..18e491737252166c37fc793e05b78b0fe0237eea 100644
--- a/.vscode/launch.json
+++ b/.vscode/launch.json
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@
             "request": "launch",
             "servertype": "openocd",
             "name": "itm 16Mhz (debug)",
+            "preLaunchTask": "cargo build --example itm",
             "executable": "./target/thumbv7em-none-eabihf/debug/examples/itm",
             // uses local config files
             "configFiles": [