diff --git a/gas/as.c b/gas/as.c
index c2da78870ef..a04e615d35d 100644
--- a/gas/as.c
+++ b/gas/as.c
@@ -102,8 +102,9 @@ int verbose = 0;
    MD_AFTER_PARSE_ARGS.  */
 int flag_dwarf_cie_version = -1;
 
-/* The maximum level of DWARF DEBUG information we should manufacture.  */
-unsigned int dwarf_level = 4;
+/* The maximum level of DWARF DEBUG information we should manufacture.
+   This defaults to 3 unless overridden by a command line option.  */
+unsigned int dwarf_level = 3;
 
 #if defined OBJ_ELF || defined OBJ_MAYBE_ELF
 int flag_use_elf_stt_common = DEFAULT_GENERATE_ELF_STT_COMMON;