diff --git a/make/proj.mk b/make/proj.mk
index 9e926ac9..41758660 100644
--- a/make/proj.mk
+++ b/make/proj.mk
@@ -55,8 +55,10 @@ USE_GLIB          = true
 CFLAGS           += -D_USRDLL -DYTOOLS_EXPORTS
 CPPFLAGS         += -D_USRDLL -DYTOOLS_EXPORTS
 
-PROJECT_CFLAGS   += -gstabs+
-PROJECT_CPPFLAGS += -gstabs+
+DEBUG_FORMAT_FLAG ?= -gstabs+
+PROJECT_CFLAGS    += $(DEBUG_FORMAT_FLAG)
+PROJECT_CPPFLAGS  += $(DEBUG_FORMAT_FLAG)
+PROJECT_LDFLAGS   += $(DEBUG_FORMAT_FLAG)
 
 # need to do this before
 include $(MODDIR)/make/platform.mk