diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index bb3770be9779..535696d39f45 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -812,10 +812,12 @@ KBUILD_CFLAGS	+= -ftrivial-auto-var-init=zero
 KBUILD_CFLAGS	+= -enable-trivial-auto-var-init-zero-knowing-it-will-be-removed-from-clang
 endif
 
+DEBUG_CFLAGS	:=
+
 # Workaround for GCC versions < 5.0
 # https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=61801
 ifdef CONFIG_CC_IS_GCC
-DEBUG_CFLAGS	:= $(call cc-ifversion, -lt, 0500, $(call cc-option, -fno-var-tracking-assignments))
+DEBUG_CFLAGS	+= $(call cc-ifversion, -lt, 0500, $(call cc-option, -fno-var-tracking-assignments))
 endif
 
 ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_INFO