diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index d8147bc9..b27f90bb 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ dnl ========================================================================
 dnl User selectable options
 
 dnl System wide options
+devel_mode="no"
 use_debug="no"
 trace_message="no"
 message_string="no"
@@ -278,6 +279,10 @@ build_productid="no"
 build_splash="yes"
 build_screensaver="yes"
 
+AC_ARG_ENABLE(develmode,
+[  --enable-develmode       developer mode <default=no>],
+devel_mode=$enableval)
+
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(debug,
 [  --enable-debug           build with debugging messages <default=no>],
 use_debug=$enableval)
@@ -1679,6 +1684,12 @@ if test "x$fixed_math" = "xyes"; then
             [Define if include fixed math routines])
 fi
 
+if test "x$devel_mode" = "xyes"; then
+    use_debug="yes"
+    trace_message="yes"
+    CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -Werror"
+fi
+
 if test "x$use_debug" = "xyes"; then
     AC_DEFINE(_DEBUG, 1,
             [Define if build with debugging messages])