diff --git a/compiler/lineinfos.nim b/compiler/lineinfos.nim
index d8f82aea0f..df74579c75 100644
--- a/compiler/lineinfos.nim
+++ b/compiler/lineinfos.nim
@@ -142,7 +142,8 @@ const
     warnUser: "$1",
     hintSuccess: "operation successful: $#",
     # keep in sync with `testament.isSuccess`
-    hintSuccessX: "${loc} lines; ${sec}s; $mem; $build build; proj: $project; out: $output",
+    hintSuccessX: """$loc lines; ${sec}s; $mem; proj: $project; out: $output
+$build""",
     hintCC: "CC: $1",
     hintLineTooLong: "line too long",
     hintXDeclaredButNotUsed: "'$1' is declared but not used",
diff --git a/compiler/main.nim b/compiler/main.nim
index 48fbd185c3..b0c2a37915 100644
--- a/compiler/main.nim
+++ b/compiler/main.nim
@@ -384,9 +384,9 @@ proc mainCommand*(graph: ModuleGraph) =
       when declared(system.getMaxMem): formatSize(getMaxMem()) & " peakmem"
       else: formatSize(getTotalMem()) & " totmem"
     let loc = $conf.linesCompiled
-    let build = if isDefined(conf, "danger"): "Dangerous Release"
-                elif isDefined(conf, "release"): "Release"
-                else: "Debug"
+    let build = if isDefined(conf, "danger"): "Dangerous Release build"
+                elif isDefined(conf, "release"): "Release build"
+                else: "***SLOW, DEBUG BUILD***; -d:release makes code run faster."
     let sec = formatFloat(epochTime() - conf.lastCmdTime, ffDecimal, 3)
     let project = if conf.filenameOption == foAbs: $conf.projectFull else: $conf.projectName
       # xxx honor conf.filenameOption more accurately
diff --git a/drnim/drnim.nim b/drnim/drnim.nim
index a591a8ef3d..cf77d17f06 100644
--- a/drnim/drnim.nim
+++ b/drnim/drnim.nim
@@ -1210,9 +1210,9 @@ proc mainCommand(graph: ModuleGraph) =
       when declared(system.getMaxMem): formatSize(getMaxMem()) & " peakmem"
       else: formatSize(getTotalMem()) & " totmem"
     let loc = $conf.linesCompiled
-    let build = if isDefined(conf, "danger"): "Dangerous Release"
-                elif isDefined(conf, "release"): "Release"
-                else: "Debug"
+    let build = if isDefined(conf, "danger"): "Dangerous Release build"
+                elif isDefined(conf, "release"): "Release build"
+                else: "***SLOW, DEBUG BUILD***; -d:release makes code run faster."
     let sec = formatFloat(epochTime() - conf.lastCmdTime, ffDecimal, 3)
     let project = if conf.filenameOption == foAbs: $conf.projectFull else: $conf.projectName
     rawMessage(conf, hintSuccessX, [