diff --git a/config.mak.in b/config.mak.in
index 9ffe36b0260..cdae7e59fd7 100644
--- a/config.mak.in
+++ b/config.mak.in
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ mandir=@mandir@
 
 srcdir = @srcdir@
 VPATH = @srcdir@
+DEBUG = @DEBUG@
 
 export exec_prefix mandir
 export srcdir VPATH PREFIX
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 2995942d88b..8081a329c8a 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@ echo "# ${config_append}.  Generated by configure." > "${config_append}"
 #dnl Search for pkg-config
 #AC_PATH_PROG(PKG_CONFIG, pkg-config)
 
+AC_ARG_ENABLE(debug,
+              AC_HELP_STRING([--enable-debug], [enable debugging ]),
+              AC_SUBST(DEBUG,[1]))
+
 
 # TODO support options
 #  --efence              Build with -lefence for debugging [Default: False]