A sensitive electrochemical sensor for the selective detection of 5ʹ-guanylic acid (5ʹ-GMP) was prepared by combining sulfonated-multiwalled carbon nanotubes (SMWCNTs) and [Ru(bpy)2dpp]Cl2, which were dripped on the surface of a glass carbon electrode (GCE) immobilized with gold nanoparticles. The 5ʹ-GMP electrochemical biosensor was fabricated using [Ru(bpy)2dpp]2+/SMWCNTs/Au/GCE as working, Ag/AgCl as reference and Pt as auxiliary electrode connected by an electrochemical workstation. The modified electrode was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results showed the sensor’s response current had the best peak shape and maximum peak when the pH of electrolyte was 3, scan speed of CV was in the range of 100 to 180 mV/s, and the enrichment time was in the range of 200 to 300 s. Under the optimum conditions, a linear analytical curve was obtained for 5ʹ-GMP concentrations in the range of 0.01 to 0.5 mmol L−1, with a detection limit of 0.0014 mmol L−1. The analytical results of the 5ʹ-GMP sensor were exhibited good consistent with the data from liquid chromatography. The sensor has good reproducibility, long-term stability and strong immunity to interference, and may be a powerful device for 5ʹ-GMP detection, with great advantages such as simple preparation and operation, low equipment cost.