diff --git a/tools/Rules.mk b/tools/Rules.mk
index 725c3c32e9..7c7ad91e81 100644
--- a/tools/Rules.mk
+++ b/tools/Rules.mk
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ CFLAGS_xeninclude = -I$(XEN_INCLUDE)
 XENSTORE_XENSTORED ?= y
 
 # A debug build of tools?
-debug ?= y
+debug ?= n
 debug_symbols ?= $(debug)
 
 XEN_GOCODE_URL    = golang.xenproject.org
diff --git a/xen/Kconfig.debug b/xen/Kconfig.debug
index d900d926c5..434a1ae1d6 100644
--- a/xen/Kconfig.debug
+++ b/xen/Kconfig.debug
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ menu "Debugging Options"
 
 config DEBUG
 	bool "Developer Checks"
-	default y
+	default n
 	help
 	  If you say Y here this will enable developer checks such as asserts
 	  and extra printks. This option is intended for development purposes