diff --git a/apps/Makefile b/apps/Makefile
index fc0753eb9a..5cf1ebd8a2 100644
--- a/apps/Makefile
+++ b/apps/Makefile
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ endif
 # This sets up 'SRC' based on the files mentioned in SOURCES
 include $(TOOLSDIR)/makesrc.inc
 
+DEFINES = $(DEBUG)
+
 DIRS = .
 
 ifdef APPEXTRA
diff --git a/tools/configure b/tools/configure
index 06e8bebe8f..9192601e9f 100755
--- a/tools/configure
+++ b/tools/configure
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ whichdevel () {
     case $option in
       [Dd])
         echo "define DEBUG"
-        debug="1"
+        debug="-DDEBUG"
         GCCOPTS="$GCCOPTS -g -DDEBUG"
         ;;
       [Ll])