diff --git a/package/fontconfig/fontconfig.mk b/package/fontconfig/fontconfig.mk
index cc6ca88585..21eba76a83 100644
--- a/package/fontconfig/fontconfig.mk
+++ b/package/fontconfig/fontconfig.mk
@@ -20,5 +20,12 @@ FONTCONFIG_CONF_OPTS = \
 	-Dcache-dir=/var/cache/fontconfig \
 	-Ddoc=disabled
 
+FONTCONFIG_CFLAGS = $(TARGET_CFLAGS)
+
+# See: https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/fontconfig/fontconfig/-/issues/436
+ifeq ($(BR2_DEBUG_3),y)
+FONTCONFIG_CFLAGS += -g2
+endif
+
 $(eval $(meson-package))
 $(eval $(host-meson-package))