diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 85cf713352..a10437484c 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -140,9 +140,10 @@ elif test "x${ax_cv_c_compiler_vendor}" = "xgnu" ; then
     APR_ADDTO(SWITCH_AM_CFLAGS, -Werror)
 fi
 
-#  Enable debugging
+# Enable debugging (default: on)
+# (rename option if the default is changed)
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(debug,
-[AC_HELP_STRING([--enable-debug],[build with debug information])],[enable_debug="$enableval"],[enable_debug="yes"])
+[AC_HELP_STRING([--disable-debug],[build without debug information])],[enable_debug="$enableval"],[enable_debug="yes"])
 
 if test "${enable_debug}" = "yes"; then
         AC_DEFINE([DEBUG],[],[Enable extra debugging.])