diff --git a/projects/samskivert/build.xml b/projects/samskivert/build.xml
index b6f8110a..09cec2e5 100644
--- a/projects/samskivert/build.xml
+++ b/projects/samskivert/build.xml
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
   <!-- build the java class files -->
   <target name="compile" depends="prepare">
     <javac srcdir="${src.dir}" destdir="${deploy.dir}/classes"
-           debug="on" optimize="off" deprecation="off">
+           debug="on" optimize="on" deprecation="off">
       <classpath refid="classpath"/>
     </javac>
   </target>