diff --git a/koch.nim b/koch.nim
index a3d077c30b..6ff6ab8753 100644
--- a/koch.nim
+++ b/koch.nim
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ proc buildNimble(latest: bool) =
       else:
         exec("git checkout -f stable")
       exec("git pull")
-  nimexec("c --noNimblePath -p:compiler --nilseqs:on " & installDir / "src/nimble.nim")
+  nimexec("c --noNimblePath -p:compiler --nilseqs:on -d:release " & installDir / "src/nimble.nim")
   copyExe(installDir / "src/nimble".exe, "bin/nimble".exe)
 
 proc bundleNimsuggest(buildExe: bool) =