diff --git a/tools/perf/Makefile.config b/tools/perf/Makefile.config
index 3066d0c318c3b..236d763181c5d 100644
--- a/tools/perf/Makefile.config
+++ b/tools/perf/Makefile.config
@@ -228,6 +228,7 @@ ifndef DEBUG
 endif
 
 ifeq ($(DEBUG),0)
+CORE_CFLAGS += -DNDEBUG=1
 ifeq ($(CC_NO_CLANG), 0)
   CORE_CFLAGS += -O3
 else