diff --git a/emper/Emper.hpp b/emper/Emper.hpp
index d5c3dc57b40a468a3361fb40c1e6f0fdcc48395a..a7a8d00bd603d0a98b4617660b22821faabfe355 100644
--- a/emper/Emper.hpp
+++ b/emper/Emper.hpp
@@ -30,4 +30,12 @@ static const bool LIBURCU =
 #endif
 		;
 
+static const bool DEBUG =
+#ifndef NDEBUG
+		true
+#else
+		false
+#endif
+		;
+
 }	 // namespace emper