diff --git a/app/chip_tool/chip_tool.py b/app/chip_tool/chip_tool.py
index 348a9554..3bc5a3e7 100644
--- a/app/chip_tool/chip_tool.py
+++ b/app/chip_tool/chip_tool.py
@@ -394,6 +394,12 @@ def destroy_device(self) -> None:
             container_manager.destroy(self.__chip_tool_container)
         self.__chip_tool_container = None
 
+    async def start_runner(self) -> None:
+        await self.__test_harness_runner.start()
+
+    async def stop_runner(self) -> None:
+        await self.__test_harness_runner.stop()
+
     def send_command(
         self,
         command: Union[str, list],
diff --git a/app/chip_tool/test_suite.py b/app/chip_tool/test_suite.py
index 3db81128..7fb57a85 100644
--- a/app/chip_tool/test_suite.py
+++ b/app/chip_tool/test_suite.py
@@ -159,9 +159,16 @@ async def cleanup(self) -> None:
                 logger.info("Unpairing chip_tool from device")
                 await self.chip_tool.unpair()
             # Need a better way to trigger unpair for chip-app.
+            # Currently the runner is being stopped automatically once
+            # the test completes. So we need to start it again to
+            # perform decommissioning
             elif self.test_type == ChipToolTestType.CHIP_APP:
+                logger.info("Run simulated app instance to perform decommissioning")
+                await self.chip_tool.start_runner()
                 logger.info("Prompt user to perform decommissioning")
                 await self.__prompt_user_to_perform_decommission()
+                logger.info("Stop simulated app instance")
+                await self.chip_tool.stop_runner()
 
         logger.info("Stopping chip-tool container")
         self.chip_tool.destroy_device()