diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index e963fbc9f5..9ffefa9144 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -68,6 +68,8 @@ if test "$sys_name" = sunos; then
 fi
 
 
+CFLAGS=${CFLAGS:--g -O3}
+CXXFLAGS=${CXXFLAGS:--g -O3}
 AC_PROG_CC
 AC_PROG_CXX