diff --git a/tools/perf/util/bpf-filter.y b/tools/perf/util/bpf-filter.y
index 5dfa948fc986..0e4d6de3c2ad 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/bpf-filter.y
+++ b/tools/perf/util/bpf-filter.y
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 
 %{
 
+#ifndef NDEBUG
+#define YYDEBUG 1
+#endif
+
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <linux/compiler.h>