diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 6bc6a611..b76dfb23 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -33,6 +33,12 @@ AC_FUNC_MALLOC
 AC_FUNC_REALLOC
 AC_CHECK_FUNCS([dup2 gettimeofday memset mkdir socket strerror])
 
+# Fix chars to unsigned
+CXXFLAGS="$CXXFLAGS -funsigned-char"
+
+#allow verbose mode compiles
+AC_ARG_ENABLE([verbose], AC_HELP_STRING([--enable-verbose], [Compile with verbose messages]), CXXFLAGS="-DDEBUG=4 $CXXFLAGS")
+
 AC_CONFIG_FILES([Makefile
                  lib/Makefile
                  src/converters/Makefile