diff --git a/dos/gccdos.mak b/dos/gccdos.mak
index 26a4ed3d..e3a3bcb8 100644
--- a/dos/gccdos.mak
+++ b/dos/gccdos.mak
@@ -49,7 +49,9 @@ clean:
 	-del *.exe
 
 demos:	$(DEMOS)
+ifneq ($(DEBUG),Y)
 	strip *.exe
+endif
 
 $(LIBCURSES) : $(LIBOBJS) $(PDCOBJS)
 	$(LIBEXE) $(LIBFLAGS) $@ $?
diff --git a/sdl1/Makefile b/sdl1/Makefile
index 3ca797c1..11795d54 100644
--- a/sdl1/Makefile
+++ b/sdl1/Makefile
@@ -57,7 +57,9 @@ clean:
 	-rm -rf *.o trace $(LIBCURSES) $(DEMOS)
 
 demos:	$(DEMOS)
+ifneq ($(DEBUG),Y)
 	strip $(DEMOS)
+endif
 
 $(LIBCURSES) : $(LIBOBJS) $(PDCOBJS)
 	ar rv $@ $?
diff --git a/sdl1/Makefile.mng b/sdl1/Makefile.mng
index ccbd2863..f5055c41 100644
--- a/sdl1/Makefile.mng
+++ b/sdl1/Makefile.mng
@@ -60,7 +60,9 @@ clean:
 	-del *.o $(CLEAN) *.exe
 
 demos:	$(DEMOS)
+ifneq ($(DEBUG),Y)
 	strip *.exe
+endif
 
 $(LIBCURSES) : $(LIBOBJS) $(PDCOBJS)
 	$(LIBEXE) $(LIBFLAGS) $@ $? $(POST)
diff --git a/sdl2/Makefile b/sdl2/Makefile
index 728a1153..516b91ac 100644
--- a/sdl2/Makefile
+++ b/sdl2/Makefile
@@ -53,7 +53,9 @@ clean:
 	-rm -rf *.o trace $(LIBCURSES) $(DEMOS)
 
 demos:	$(DEMOS)
+ifneq ($(DEBUG),Y)
 	strip $(DEMOS)
+endif
 
 $(LIBCURSES) : $(LIBOBJS) $(PDCOBJS)
 	ar rv $@ $?
diff --git a/win32/gccwin32.mak b/win32/gccwin32.mak
index 80e462ed..0b213fce 100644
--- a/win32/gccwin32.mak
+++ b/win32/gccwin32.mak
@@ -67,7 +67,9 @@ clean:
 	-rm -f $(CLEAN)
 
 demos:	$(DEMOS)
+ifneq ($(DEBUG),Y)
 	strip *.exe
+endif
 
 $(LIBCURSES) : $(LIBDEPS)
 	$(LIBEXE) $(LIBFLAGS) $@ $?
diff --git a/win32/mingwin32.mak b/win32/mingwin32.mak
index 6cc0f0c8..e3268029 100644
--- a/win32/mingwin32.mak
+++ b/win32/mingwin32.mak
@@ -67,7 +67,9 @@ clean:
 	-del $(CLEAN)
 
 demos:	$(DEMOS)
+ifneq ($(DEBUG),Y)
 	strip *.exe
+endif
 
 $(LIBCURSES) : $(LIBDEPS)
 	$(LIBEXE) $(LIBFLAGS) $@ $?