diff --git a/srcpkgs/thunderbird/template b/srcpkgs/thunderbird/template
index b8cb35ad19e..9063ead6161 100644
--- a/srcpkgs/thunderbird/template
+++ b/srcpkgs/thunderbird/template
@@ -39,6 +39,12 @@ if [ "$XBPS_TARGET_NO_ATOMIC8" ]; then
 	makedepends+=" libatomic-devel"
 fi
 
+# try to minimize memory usage via debug symbols
+# 'LLVM ERROR: out of memory' while compiling gtkrust
+if [ "$XBPS_WORDSIZE" = "32" ]; then
+	nodebug=yes
+fi
+
 # we need this because cargo verifies checksums of all files in vendor
 # crates when it builds and gives us no way to override or update the
 # file sanely... so just clear out the file list
@@ -135,11 +141,11 @@ do_build() {
 
 	# work around large debug symbols on 32-bit hosts
 	if [ "$XBPS_WORDSIZE" = "32" ]; then
-		export CFLAGS="${CFLAGS/-g/-g1}"
-		export CXXFLAGS="${CXXFLAGS/-g/-g1}"
+		echo "ac_add_options --disable-debug-symbols" >>.mozconfig
+		echo "ac_add_options --disable-debug" >>.mozconfig
 		export LDFLAGS+=" -Wl,--no-keep-memory"
 		# patch the rust debug level, this is hardcoded
-		sed -i "s/debug_info = '2'/debug_info = '1'/" \
+		vsed -i 's/debug_info = "2"/debug_info = "0"/' \
 		build/moz.configure/toolchain.configure
 	fi