diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 55612a1..5c8454e 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -5,6 +5,11 @@ default-members = ["host"]
 # Reference spikes and the separate wasm32-wasip2 userland workspace.
 exclude = ["spikes", "userland"]
 
+# Line tables only: backtraces keep file and line, binaries stay small (each test
+# binary links V8, Wasmtime and deno_core). Set `debug = true` when you need a debugger.
+[profile.dev]
+debug = "line-tables-only"
+
 # Wasmtime compiles components with Cranelift. Optimize dependencies in dev
 # builds, so that tests and debug runs start guests quickly.
 [profile.dev.package."*"]