diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 646d855421..85cf713352 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -64,8 +64,6 @@ if test "${enable_optimizer}" = "yes" ; then
 fi
 
 
-AM_CONDITIONAL([WANT_DEBUG],[test "${enable_debug}" = "yes"])
-
 # Optional Features
 
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(resample,
@@ -144,7 +142,7 @@ fi
 
 #  Enable debugging
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(debug,
-[AC_HELP_STRING([--enable-debug],[build with debug information])],[enable_debug="$enable_debug"],[enable_debug="yes"])
+[AC_HELP_STRING([--enable-debug],[build with debug information])],[enable_debug="$enableval"],[enable_debug="yes"])
 
 if test "${enable_debug}" = "yes"; then
         AC_DEFINE([DEBUG],[],[Enable extra debugging.])
@@ -157,6 +155,8 @@ if test "${enable_debug}" = "yes"; then
 
 fi
 
+AM_CONDITIONAL([WANT_DEBUG],[test "${enable_debug}" = "yes"])
+
 
 # tweak platform specific flags
 case "$host" in