diff --git a/common.gypi b/common.gypi
index 147cc70fa5d5df..36f0dc760a8f31 100644
--- a/common.gypi
+++ b/common.gypi
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@
         'variables': {
           'v8_enable_handle_zapping': 1,
         },
-        'defines': [ 'DEBUG', '_DEBUG' ],
+        'defines': [ 'DEBUG', '_DEBUG', 'V8_ENABLE_CHECKS' ],
         'cflags': [ '-g', '-O0' ],
         'conditions': [
           ['target_arch=="x64"', {