diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 46b3d4e3..00eabc50 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -56,10 +56,11 @@ AC_USE_SYSTEM_EXTENSIONS
 test "$sysconfdir" = '${prefix}/etc' && sysconfdir=/etc
 
 # Is this --enable-debug?
-case "x$VERSION" in xnext*) enable_debug=yes;; esac
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(
 	debug,
 	AS_HELP_STRING(--enable-debug, enable debug build flags),
+	,
+	[case "x$VERSION" in xnext*) enable_debug=yes;; esac]
 )
 AM_CONDITIONAL(IS_DEBUG, test "x$enable_debug" = xyes)