diff --git a/pythonforandroid/build.py b/pythonforandroid/build.py
index f9da24d3d..22b99b62e 100644
--- a/pythonforandroid/build.py
+++ b/pythonforandroid/build.py
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@ class Context:
     # Whether to strip debug symbols in `.so` files
     with_debug_symbols = False
 
+    # Whether to byte-compile the python stdlib and site-packages with -OO
+    optimize_python = True
+
     env = environ.copy()
     # the filepath of toolchain.py
     root_dir = None
diff --git a/pythonforandroid/recipes/python3/__init__.py b/pythonforandroid/recipes/python3/__init__.py
index 3f1b91ef7..46048364a 100644
--- a/pythonforandroid/recipes/python3/__init__.py
+++ b/pythonforandroid/recipes/python3/__init__.py
@@ -412,7 +412,10 @@ def compile_python_files(self, dir):
             longer used...uses .pyc (https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0488)
         '''
         args = [self.ctx.hostpython]
-        args += ['-OO', '-m', 'compileall', '-b', '-f', '-q', dir]
+        if self.ctx.optimize_python:
+            # -OO = strip docstrings and asserts
+            args.append('-OO')
+        args += ['-m', 'compileall', '-b', '-f', '-q', dir]
         subprocess.call(args)
 
     def create_python_bundle(self, dirn, arch):
diff --git a/pythonforandroid/toolchain.py b/pythonforandroid/toolchain.py
index 0d06797a3..0fa9bd9f5 100644
--- a/pythonforandroid/toolchain.py
+++ b/pythonforandroid/toolchain.py
@@ -396,6 +396,13 @@ def __init__(self):
             help=('The java build tool to use when packaging the APK, defaults '
                   'to automatically selecting an appropriate tool.'))
 
+        # Also an argument of the bootstrap build.py
+        generic_parser.add_argument(
+            '--no-optimize-python', dest='optimize_python',
+            action='store_false', default=True,
+            help=('Whether to compile to optimised .pyc files, using -OO '
+                  '(strips docstrings and asserts)'))
+
         add_boolean_option(
             generic_parser, ['copy-libs'],
             default=False,
@@ -592,6 +599,8 @@ def __init__(self):
             args.unknown_args += ["--release"]
         if getattr(args, "with_debug_symbols", False):
             args.unknown_args += ["--with-debug-symbols"]
+        if not getattr(args, "optimize_python", True):
+            args.unknown_args += ["--no-optimize-python"]
         if getattr(args, "ignore_setup_py", False):
             args.use_setup_py = False
         if getattr(args, "activity_class_name", "org.kivy.android.PythonActivity") != 'org.kivy.android.PythonActivity':
@@ -618,6 +627,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         self.ctx.with_debug_symbols = getattr(
             args, "with_debug_symbols", False
         )
+        self.ctx.optimize_python = getattr(args, "optimize_python", True)
 
         # Process requirements and put version in environ
         if hasattr(args, 'requirements'):
diff --git a/tests/recipes/test_python3.py b/tests/recipes/test_python3.py
index b5e239cbc..158985c08 100644
--- a/tests/recipes/test_python3.py
+++ b/tests/recipes/test_python3.py
@@ -43,6 +43,16 @@ def test_compile_python_files(self, mock_subprocess):
             [hostpy, '-OO', '-m', 'compileall', '-b', '-f', '-q', fake_compile_dir],
         )
 
+    @mock.patch("pythonforandroid.recipes.python3.subprocess.call")
+    def test_compile_python_files_without_optimization(self, mock_subprocess):
+        fake_compile_dir = '/fake/compile/dir'
+        hostpy = self.recipe.ctx.hostpython = '/fake/hostpython3'
+        with mock.patch.object(self.recipe.ctx, 'optimize_python', False):
+            self.recipe.compile_python_files(fake_compile_dir)
+        mock_subprocess.assert_called_once_with(
+            [hostpy, '-m', 'compileall', '-b', '-f', '-q', fake_compile_dir],
+        )
+
     @mock.patch("pythonforandroid.recipe.Recipe.check_recipe_choices")
     @mock.patch("shutil.which")
     def test_get_recipe_env(