diff --git a/build.zig b/build.zig
index 2455e3e9..182a130a 100644
--- a/build.zig
+++ b/build.zig
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) !void {
         const translate_c = b.addTranslateC(.{
             .root_source_file = b.path("src/libsodium/include/sodium.h"),
             .target = target,
-            .optimize = optimize,
+            .optimize = .Debug,
             .link_libc = true,
         });
         translate_c.addIncludePath(b.path("src/libsodium/include"));