diff --git a/make/defs-dev.mk b/make/defs-dev.mk
index ced37f14..7105a1fe 100644
--- a/make/defs-dev.mk
+++ b/make/defs-dev.mk
@@ -222,6 +222,7 @@ PKG_CONFIGDIRMODE   ?= $(CFGDIRMODE)
 #USE_DMALLOC                    ?= true
 #USE_EFENCE                     ?= true
 #USE_VALGRIND                   ?= true
+#USE_MCHECK                     ?= true # not thread-safe
 #USE_MEMWATCH                   ?= true
 #USE_MPATROL                    ?= true
 #USE_PROFILER                   ?= true
@@ -241,3 +242,6 @@ USE_COMPILER_DEBUG_OPTS        ?= true
 #USE_ASSERTIONS                  ?= false
 BREAK_ABI                       ?= true
 #INSTALL_HOME_BIN_WRAPPERS       ?= true
+
+export MALLOC_CHECK_ = 3
+