diff --git a/configs/sim/nettest/Make.defs b/configs/sim/nettest/Make.defs
index d0cd57f864..b4b553946b 100644
--- a/configs/sim/nettest/Make.defs
+++ b/configs/sim/nettest/Make.defs
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@
 include ${TOPDIR}/.config
 
 HOSTOS			= ${shell uname -o}
- 
-ifneq ("${CONFIG_DEBUG}","y")
+
+ifeq ($(CONFIG_DEBUG),y)
   ARCHOPTIMIZATION	= -g
 else
   ARCHOPTIMIZATION	= -O2
diff --git a/configs/sim/ostest/Make.defs b/configs/sim/ostest/Make.defs
index d0cd57f864..b4b553946b 100644
--- a/configs/sim/ostest/Make.defs
+++ b/configs/sim/ostest/Make.defs
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@
 include ${TOPDIR}/.config
 
 HOSTOS			= ${shell uname -o}
- 
-ifneq ("${CONFIG_DEBUG}","y")
+
+ifeq ($(CONFIG_DEBUG),y)
   ARCHOPTIMIZATION	= -g
 else
   ARCHOPTIMIZATION	= -O2
diff --git a/configs/sim/pashello/Make.defs b/configs/sim/pashello/Make.defs
index 8b300eed62..063585ab9c 100644
--- a/configs/sim/pashello/Make.defs
+++ b/configs/sim/pashello/Make.defs
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@
 include ${TOPDIR}/.config
 
 HOSTOS			= ${shell uname -o}
- 
-ifneq ("${CONFIG_DEBUG}","y")
+
+ifeq ($(CONFIG_DEBUG),y)
   ARCHOPTIMIZATION	= -g
 else
   ARCHOPTIMIZATION	= -O2