diff --git a/tools/perf/config/Makefile b/tools/perf/config/Makefile
index c516d6ba67163..543aa953bab17 100644
--- a/tools/perf/config/Makefile
+++ b/tools/perf/config/Makefile
@@ -66,6 +66,10 @@ ifneq ($(WERROR),0)
   CFLAGS += -Werror
 endif
 
+ifndef DEBUG
+  DEBUG := 0
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(DEBUG),0)
   CFLAGS += -O6
 endif