diff --git a/cmake/build_helpers.cmake b/cmake/build_helpers.cmake
index 6a19d22cb..759a11ae3 100644
--- a/cmake/build_helpers.cmake
+++ b/cmake/build_helpers.cmake
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ macro(addVersionDefines)
         set(IMHEX_VERSION_STRING ${IMHEX_VERSION})
     elseif (CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE STREQUAL "Debug")
         set(IMHEX_VERSION_STRING ${IMHEX_VERSION}-Debug)
+        add_compile_definitions(DEBUG)
     elseif (CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE STREQUAL "RelWithDebInfo")
         set(IMHEX_VERSION_STRING ${IMHEX_VERSION}-RelWithDebInfo)
     elseif (CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE STREQUAL "MinSizeRel")