diff --git a/src/cc65/make/gcc.mak b/src/cc65/make/gcc.mak
index aa7d9f20e..76b0f08a9 100644
--- a/src/cc65/make/gcc.mak
+++ b/src/cc65/make/gcc.mak
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ CC65_INC = \"/usr/lib/cc65/include/\"
 
 #
 CC      = gcc
-CFLAGS  = -g -Wall -W -std=c89
+CFLAGS  = -O2 -g -Wall -W -std=c89
 override CFLAGS += -I$(COMMON)
 override CFLAGS += -DCC65_INC=$(CC65_INC)
 EBIND   = emxbind