diff --git a/tools/perf/Makefile b/tools/perf/Makefile
index a2108ca1cc17..bb74c79cd16e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/Makefile
+++ b/tools/perf/Makefile
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ ifeq ("$(origin DEBUG)", "command line")
   PERF_DEBUG = $(DEBUG)
 endif
 ifndef PERF_DEBUG
-  CFLAGS_OPTIMIZE = -O6 -D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2
+  CFLAGS_OPTIMIZE = -O6
 endif
 
 ifdef PARSER_DEBUG
@@ -180,6 +180,12 @@ ifeq ($(call try-cc,$(SOURCE_HELLO),$(CFLAGS) -Werror -Wvolatile-register-var,-W
        CFLAGS := $(CFLAGS) -Wvolatile-register-var
 endif
 
+ifndef PERF_DEBUG
+	ifeq ($(call try-cc,$(SOURCE_HELLO),$(CFLAGS) -D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2,-D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2),y)
+		CFLAGS := $(CFLAGS) -D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2
+	endif
+endif
+
 ### --- END CONFIGURATION SECTION ---
 
 ifeq ($(srctree),)