diff --git a/util/mk1mf.pl b/util/mk1mf.pl
index bac5a6f4e970cf836cdce7dcb2d62257326a1af6..64ad29adeb1ab4cf75ad94b1bf099cd0adebe2eb 100755
--- a/util/mk1mf.pl
+++ b/util/mk1mf.pl
@@ -83,8 +83,6 @@ while(<IN>) {
 }
 close(IN);
 
-$debug = 1 if $mf_platform =~ /^debug-/;
-
 if ($mf_fipscanisterinternal eq "y") {
 	$fips = 1;
 	$fipscanisterbuild = 1;
@@ -1401,6 +1399,7 @@ sub read_options
 		"rsaref" => 0,
 		"gcc" => \$gcc,
 		"debug" => \$debug,
+		"--debug" => \$debug,
 		"profile" => \$profile,
 		"shlib" => \$shlib,
 		"dll" => \$shlib,