diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/rust/build-rust-crate/default.nix b/pkgs/build-support/rust/build-rust-crate/default.nix
index c4d1ef7b209e..17ce3f75fb1b 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/rust/build-rust-crate/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/rust/build-rust-crate/default.nix
@@ -352,6 +352,7 @@ crate_: lib.makeOverridable
           metadata hasCrateBin crateBin verbose colors
           extraRustcOpts buildTests codegenUnits;
       };
+      dontStrip = !release;
       installPhase = installCrate crateName metadata buildTests;
 
       # depending on the test setting we are either producing something with bins