--- src/osd/sdl/sdl.mak
+++ src/osd/sdl/sdl.mak
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@
 
 # NO_X11 = 1
 
+# comment next line to build with debugging support
+
+NO_DEBUGGER = 1
+
 # uncomment and adapt next line to link against specific GL-Library
 # this will also add a rpath to the executable
 # MESA_INSTALL_ROOT = /usr/local/dfb_GL
@@ -297,12 +301,17 @@
 # the new debugger relies on GTK+ in addition to the base SDLMAME needs
 # Non-X11 builds can not use the debugger
 ifndef NO_X11
+ifndef NO_DEBUGGER
 OSDCOREOBJS += $(SDLOBJ)/debugwin.o $(SDLOBJ)/dview.o $(SDLOBJ)/debug-sup.o $(SDLOBJ)/debug-intf.o
 CFLAGS += `pkg-config --cflags gtk+-2.0` `pkg-config --cflags gconf-2.0` 
 LIBS += `pkg-config --libs gtk+-2.0` `pkg-config --libs gconf-2.0`
 CFLAGS += -DGTK_DISABLE_DEPRECATED
 else
 OSDCOREOBJS += $(SDLOBJ)/debugwin.o
+DEFS += -DNO_DEBUGGER
+endif # NO_DEBUGGER
+else
+OSDCOREOBJS += $(SDLOBJ)/debugwin.o
 endif # NO_X11
 
 # make sure we can find X headers