diff --git a/mkspecs/features/qt_tool.prf b/mkspecs/features/qt_tool.prf
index bae6138067..649c95d1d3 100644
--- a/mkspecs/features/qt_tool.prf
+++ b/mkspecs/features/qt_tool.prf
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ CONFIG += qt warn_on console
 isEmpty(QMAKE_INFO_PLIST): CONFIG -= app_bundle
 
 host_build {
-    CONFIG += release
+    !build_pass: CONFIG += release
     QT = bootstrap-private
     target.path = $$[QT_HOST_BINS]
 } else {
diff --git a/src/tools/bootstrap/bootstrap.pro b/src/tools/bootstrap/bootstrap.pro
index e57f4dfb2b..329521ab2e 100644
--- a/src/tools/bootstrap/bootstrap.pro
+++ b/src/tools/bootstrap/bootstrap.pro
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ option(host_build)
 TARGET = QtBootstrap
 QT =
 CONFIG += no_module_headers internal_module
+!build_pass: CONFIG += release
 
 MODULE_DEFINES = \
         QT_BOOTSTRAPPED \
@@ -33,8 +34,6 @@ MODULE_PRIVATE_INCLUDES = \
     \$\$QT_MODULE_INCLUDE_BASE/QtXml/$$QT_VERSION \
     \$\$QT_MODULE_INCLUDE_BASE/QtXml/$$QT_VERSION/QtXml
 
-CONFIG += release
-
 load(qt_module)
 
 INCLUDEPATH += $$QT_BUILD_TREE/src/corelib/global