diff --git a/conmon/Makefile b/conmon/Makefile
index b75605d9..2e024be5 100644
--- a/conmon/Makefile
+++ b/conmon/Makefile
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ override CFLAGS += -std=c99 -Os -Wall -Wextra $(shell pkg-config --cflags glib-2
 
 conmon: $(obj)
 	$(CC) -o ../bin/$@ $^ $(CFLAGS) $(LIBS)
+ifndef DISTRO_BUILD
+	strip ../bin/$@
+endif
 
 .PHONY: clean
 clean:
diff --git a/pause/Makefile b/pause/Makefile
index f0951af7..b8c198b7 100644
--- a/pause/Makefile
+++ b/pause/Makefile
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@ override CFLAGS += -std=c99 -Os -Wall -Wextra -static
 
 pause: $(obj)
 	$(CC) -o ../bin/$@ $^ $(CFLAGS) $(LIBS)
+ifndef DISTRO_BUILD
 	strip ../bin/$@
+endif
 
 .PHONY: clean
 clean: