diff --git a/build.sh b/build.sh
index c4f2226..03ca4f3 100755
--- a/build.sh
+++ b/build.sh
@@ -2,6 +2,15 @@ USING_VALGRIND=0
 
 FLAGS="-L3p/libs/ -I3p/include/ -Wall -Wextra -g -DUSING_VALGRIND=$USING_VALGRIND"
 
+# pass `--debug` to this script to enable debugging messages
+while test $# != 0
+do
+    case "$1" in
+    --debug) FLAGS="$FLAGS -DDEBUG" ;;
+    esac
+    shift
+done
+
 mkdir temp
 
 mkdir temp/utils
@@ -101,4 +110,4 @@ gcc src/main.c 						\
 	temp/common/executable.o 		\
 	-o build/noja $FLAGS -Lbuild/ -lnoja-compile -lnoja-objects -lxjson -lm
 
-rm -rf temp
\ No newline at end of file
+rm -rf temp