diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 7470bd21a..1f4b1e168 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -83,8 +83,8 @@ if(CMAKE_COMPILER_IS_GNUCXX)
             message(SEND_ERROR "You need at least G++ 4.7 to compile EmulationStation!")
     endif()
     #set up compiler flags for GCC
-    set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -std=c++11 -Wno-attributes") #support C++11 for std::, optimize
-    set(CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS "${CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS} -s")  #strip binary
+    set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -std=c++11 -Wno-attributes -O3") #support C++11 for std::, optimize
+    set(CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS "${CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS} -O3")  #-s = strip binary
 endif()
 
 if(${GLSystem} MATCHES "Desktop OpenGL")