diff --git a/Makefile.rules b/Makefile.rules
index b71c5d2b9bb03d08734f71098f3dffad059d870e..2851d2f9f4e1dfab49b98e017c15300287a3308d 100644
--- a/Makefile.rules
+++ b/Makefile.rules
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ ifeq ($(findstring DONT_OPTIMIZE,$(MENUSELECT_CFLAGS)),)
     # ppro's, etc, as well as the AMD K6 and K7.  
     #K6OPT=-DK6OPT
 
-    OPTIMIZE?=-O2
+    OPTIMIZE?=-O6
     ASTCFLAGS+=$(OPTIMIZE)
 endif