diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index b6a0408..2af26a0 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -41,6 +41,11 @@ include( TDESetupPaths )
 tde_setup_paths( )
 
 
+##### optional stuff ############################
+
+option( WITH_TRACING "Enable code tracing" OFF )
+
+
 ##### user requested modules ####################
 
 option( BUILD_ALL "Build all" OFF )
diff --git a/ConfigureChecks.cmake b/ConfigureChecks.cmake
index caa3a7d..8d86a1c 100644
--- a/ConfigureChecks.cmake
+++ b/ConfigureChecks.cmake
@@ -23,11 +23,14 @@ tde_setup_largefiles( )
 
 
 ##### check for gcc visibility support
-
 if( WITH_GCC_VISIBILITY )
   tde_setup_gcc_visibility( )
 endif( WITH_GCC_VISIBILITY )
 
+##### enable code tracing
+if( WITH_TRACING )
+  add_definitions( -DENABLE_TRACING )
+endif ( )
 
 # check required packages
 pkg_search_module( XMU xmu )