diff --git a/ports/nrf/Makefile b/ports/nrf/Makefile
index 23d5cd20d..8f73336e0 100644
--- a/ports/nrf/Makefile
+++ b/ports/nrf/Makefile
@@ -39,7 +39,9 @@ endif
 QSTR_DEFS = qstrdefsport.h $(BUILD)/pins_qstr.h
 
 # MicroPython feature configurations
+ifeq ($(DEBUG), 0)
 MICROPY_ROM_TEXT_COMPRESSION ?= 1
+endif
 
 # include py core make definitions
 include ../../py/py.mk