diff --git a/tools/test_apps/README.md b/tools/test_apps/README.md
index 961aab02a0..3f5aa3e421 100644
--- a/tools/test_apps/README.md
+++ b/tools/test_apps/README.md
@@ -55,8 +55,21 @@ The test apps should be grouped into subdirectories by category. Categories are:
 * `security` contains tests on the chip security features.
 
 # Test Apps local execution
+All the following instructions are general. Part of them may be complemented by more particular instructions in the corresponding app's README.
 
-* Append relevant `sdkconfig.ci.<CONFIG>` to the sdkconfig for the configuration under test
+## Requirements
+The following requirements need to be satisfied in the IDF python virtual environment.
+
+* ttfw needs to be in the `PYTHONPATH`. Add it like this: `export PYTHONPATH=$PYTHONPATH:$IDF_PATH/tools/ci/python_packages`
+* Install all requirements from `tools/ci/python_packages/ttfw_idf/requirements.txt`: `pip install -r $IDF_PATH/tools/ci/python_packages/ttfw_idf/requirements.txt`
+
+You should also set the port via the environment variable ESPPORT to prevent the tools from looking and iterating over all serial ports. The latter causes much trouble, currently:
+```
+export ESPPORT=/dev/ttyUSB<X>
+```
+
+## Execution
+* Create an sdkconfig file from the relevant `sdkconfig.ci.<CONFIG>` and `sdkconfig.defaults`: `cat sdkconfig.defaults sdkconfig.ci.<CONFIG> > sdkconfig`
 * Run `idf.py menuconfig` to configure local project attributes
 * Run `idf.py build` to build the test app
 * Run `python app_test.py` to run the test locally
diff --git a/tools/test_apps/system/panic/README.md b/tools/test_apps/system/panic/README.md
index ac8bb22c88..c4b585a221 100644
--- a/tools/test_apps/system/panic/README.md
+++ b/tools/test_apps/system/panic/README.md
@@ -1,2 +1,27 @@
 | Supported Targets | ESP32 | ESP32-S2 |
 | ----------------- | ----- | -------- |
+
+# Building
+Several configurations are provided as `sdkconfig.ci.XXX` and serve as a template. 
+
+## Example with configuration "panic" for target ESP32
+```
+idf.py set-target esp32
+cat sdkconfig.defaults sdkconfig.ci.panic > sdkconfig
+idf.py build
+```
+
+# Running
+All the setup needs to be done as described in the [test apps README](../../README.md), except that the test cases need to be specified when running the app:
+
+```
+python app_test.py test_panic_illegal_instruction
+```
+
+Multiple test cases are passed as additional arguments:
+
+```
+python app_test.py test_panic_illegal_instruction test_panic_int_wdt test_panic_storeprohibited
+``` 
+
+*Note that you need to pick the correct test cases at run time according to the configuration you built before. The above examples are for configuration "panic"*