diff --git a/tools/lib/subcmd/Makefile b/tools/lib/subcmd/Makefile
index ed61fb3a46c0..5b2cd5e58df0 100644
--- a/tools/lib/subcmd/Makefile
+++ b/tools/lib/subcmd/Makefile
@@ -20,7 +20,13 @@ MAKEFLAGS += --no-print-directory
 LIBFILE = $(OUTPUT)libsubcmd.a
 
 CFLAGS := $(EXTRA_WARNINGS) $(EXTRA_CFLAGS)
-CFLAGS += -ggdb3 -Wall -Wextra -std=gnu99 -U_FORTIFY_SOURCE -D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2 -fPIC
+CFLAGS += -ggdb3 -Wall -Wextra -std=gnu99 -fPIC
+
+ifeq ($(DEBUG),0)
+  ifeq ($(feature-fortify-source), 1)
+    CFLAGS += -U_FORTIFY_SOURCE -D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2
+  endif
+endif
 
 ifeq ($(CC_NO_CLANG), 0)
   CFLAGS += -O3