--- rosegarden-12.12.25/configure.ac
+++ rosegarden-12.12.25/configure.ac
@@ -137,9 +137,12 @@
 CXXFLAGS_BUILD="$CXXFLAGS_RELEASE"
 RG_DEFINES_BUILD="$RG_DEFINES_RELEASE"
 
-AC_ARG_ENABLE(debug, [AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-debug],[enable debug support [default=no]])],[AC_MSG_NOTICE([enabling debug build])
-CXXFLAGS_BUILD="$CXXFLAGS_DEBUG"
-RG_DEFINES_BUILD="$RG_DEFINES_DEBUG"])
+AC_ARG_ENABLE([debug], AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-debug],[enable debug support [default=no]]))
+
+AS_IF([test "x$enable_debug" = "xyes"], [
+   AC_MSG_NOTICE([enabling debug build])
+   CXXFLAGS_BUILD="$CXXFLAGS_DEBUG" RG_DEFINES_BUILD="$RG_DEFINES_DEBUG"
+])
 
 if test x"$USER_CXXFLAGS" != x; then
    	AC_MSG_NOTICE([The CXXFLAGS environment variable is set to "$USER_CXXFLAGS".])