diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 6de40fa1765..db1f27140d1 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -285,6 +285,7 @@ opt optimize 1 "build optimized rust code"
 opt optimize-cxx 1 "build optimized C++ code"
 opt manage-submodules 1 "let the build manage the git submodules"
 opt fast-make 0 "use .gitmodules as timestamp for submodule deps"
+opt debug 0 "use debugging symbols"
 valopt local-rust-root "" "set prefix for local rust binary"
 
 if [ $HELP -eq 1 ]