diff --git a/Makefile.common b/Makefile.common
index 7aad6a8efd..0869e9ad7e 100644
--- a/Makefile.common
+++ b/Makefile.common
@@ -1293,7 +1293,7 @@ else ifeq ($(HAVE_SDL), 1)
    LIBS += $(SDL_LIBS)
 else ifeq ($(HAVE_SDL_DINGUX), 1)
    HAVE_SDL_COMMON = 1
-   DEFINES += -DHAVE_SDL -DHAVE_SDL_DINGUX
+   DEF_FLAGS += -DHAVE_SDL -DHAVE_SDL_DINGUX
    OBJ += gfx/drivers/sdl_dingux_gfx.o
    DEF_FLAGS += $(SDL_DINGUX_CFLAGS)
    LIBS += $(SDL_DINGUX_LIBS)
diff --git a/Makefile.dingux b/Makefile.dingux
index 01d0d176f4..df84660c99 100644
--- a/Makefile.dingux
+++ b/Makefile.dingux
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ CC = /opt/gcw0-toolchain/usr/bin/mipsel-gcw0-linux-uclibc-gcc
 CXX = /opt/gcw0-toolchain/usr/bin/mipsel-gcw0-linux-uclibc-g++
 PACKAGE_NAME = retroarch
 
+DEBUG ?= 0
+
 HAVE_7ZIP = 1
 HAVE_AL = 1
 # this freezes when switching back from menu
@@ -98,13 +100,10 @@ OBJDIR_BASE := obj-unix
 
 ifeq ($(DEBUG), 1)
    OBJDIR := $(OBJDIR_BASE)/debug
-   CFLAGS ?= -O0 -g
-   CXXFLAGS ?= -O0 -g
-   DEFINES += -DDEBUG -D_DEBUG
+   DEF_FLAGS += -O0 -g -DDEBUG -D_DEBUG
 else
    OBJDIR := $(OBJDIR_BASE)/release
-   CFLAGS ?= -O2
-   CXXFLAGS ?= -O2
+   DEF_FLAGS += -O2 -DNDEBUG
 endif
 
 include Makefile.common