diff --git a/README b/README
index 2700993..b508f2b 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -57,6 +57,10 @@
 
 	./configure --with-boost=/usr/local
 
+Note that by default the thrift C++ library is built with no debugging symbols included. If you would like debugging symbols during development work, run:
+
+        ./configure --CFLAGS='-g -O2'
+
 Run ./configure --help to see other configuration options
 
 Make thrift