diff --git a/dev-cpp/benchmark/benchmark-1.5.2.ebuild b/dev-cpp/benchmark/benchmark-1.5.2.ebuild
index e3a3e8cfb6eba..840648c7edc2c 100644
--- a/dev-cpp/benchmark/benchmark-1.5.2.ebuild
+++ b/dev-cpp/benchmark/benchmark-1.5.2.ebuild
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ SRC_URI="https://github.com/google/${PN}/archive/v${PV}.tar.gz -> ${P}.tar.gz"
 LICENSE="Apache-2.0"
 SLOT="0"
 KEYWORDS="~amd64 ~arm64 ~ppc64 ~x86"
-IUSE="test"
+IUSE="debug test"
 RESTRICT="!test? ( test )"
 
 PATCHES=(
@@ -26,5 +26,7 @@ src_configure() {
 		-DBENCHMARK_ENABLE_ASSEMBLY_TESTS=OFF
 	)
 
+	use debug || append-cppflags -DNDEBUG
+
 	cmake_src_configure
 }