diff --git a/platforms/libretro/Makefile b/platforms/libretro/Makefile
index 4ed24991..b809a5d7 100644
--- a/platforms/libretro/Makefile
+++ b/platforms/libretro/Makefile
@@ -326,10 +326,10 @@ ifeq ($(DEBUG), 1)
 	CXXFLAGS += -O0 -DDEBUG -g
 else
 	BUILD_CONFIG = Release
-	CXXFLAGS += -O3
+	CXXFLAGS += -O3 -DNDEBUG
 endif
 
-GIT_VERSION ?= "$(shell git describe --abbrev=7 --dirty --always --tags || echo unknown)"
+GIT_VERSION ?= $(shell git describe --abbrev=7 --dirty --always --tags || echo unknown)
 ifneq ($(GIT_VERSION)," unknown")
 	CXXFLAGS += -DEMULATOR_BUILD=\"$(GIT_VERSION)\"
 endif