diff --git a/tmux.c b/tmux.c
index 51f8dbef..ba634c6a 100644
--- a/tmux.c
+++ b/tmux.c
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 #include "tmux.h"
 
 #ifdef DEBUG
-const char	*malloc_options = "AFGJPX";
+extern char	*malloc_options;
 #endif
 
 volatile sig_atomic_t sigwinch;
@@ -299,6 +299,10 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	size_t			 len;
 	int	 		 nfds, retcode, opt, flags, cmdflags = 0;
 
+#ifdef DEBUG
+	malloc_options = (char *) "AFGJPX";
+#endif
+
 	flags = 0;
 	shellcmd = label = path = NULL;
 	login_shell = (**argv == '-');