diff --git a/reactos/config b/reactos/config
index 34aa938c0b5..3f4ba86d22f 100644
--- a/reactos/config
+++ b/reactos/config
@@ -27,11 +27,6 @@ KDBG := 0
 #
 DBG := 0
 
-#
-# Whether to compile with optimizations
-#
-OPTIMIZED := 0
-
 #
 # Whether to compile a multiprocessor or single processor version
 #
diff --git a/reactos/tools/helper.mk b/reactos/tools/helper.mk
index 6bded590b5f..2ceb9ba7f9e 100644
--- a/reactos/tools/helper.mk
+++ b/reactos/tools/helper.mk
@@ -648,7 +648,7 @@ endif
 # Protect uncompatible files here with an ifneq
 # if needed, until their problems can be found
 #
-ifeq ($(OPTIMIZED), 1)
+ifeq ($(DBG), 0)
   MK_CFLAGS += -O2 -Wno-strict-aliasing
   MK_CPPFLAGS += -O2 -Wno-strict-aliasing
 endif