diff --git a/tools/Rules.mk b/tools/Rules.mk
index cf8935d6a3..b59c72766d 100644
--- a/tools/Rules.mk
+++ b/tools/Rules.mk
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ CFLAGS_xeninclude = -I$(XEN_INCLUDE)
 XENSTORE_XENSTORED ?= y
 
 # A debug build of tools?
-debug ?= y
+debug ?= n
 debug_symbols ?= $(debug)
 
 # Set CONFIG_GOLANG=y in .config (or in make) to build golang
diff --git a/xen/Kconfig.debug b/xen/Kconfig.debug
index cf42e5e7a0..0f8ddf8be3 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