diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index d1d925f8..bed2deff 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -99,6 +99,11 @@ config: FORCE
 		&& echo 'CONFIG_GLUON_RELEASE="$(GLUON_RELEASE)"' \
 		&& echo 'CONFIG_GLUON_SITEDIR="$(GLUON_SITEDIR)"' \
 		&& echo 'CONFIG_GLUON_BRANCH="$(GLUON_BRANCH)"' \
+		$(if $(DEBUG),&& echo 'CONFIG_DEBUG=y' \
+			&& echo 'CONFIG_NO_STRIP=y' \
+			&& echo '# CONFIG_USE_STRIP is not set' \
+			&& echo '# CONFIG_USE_SSTRIP is not set' \
+			&& echo '# CONFIG_STRIP_KERNEL_EXPORTS is not set') \
 	) > lede/.config
 	+@$(LEDEMAKE) defconfig