diff --git a/src/add-ons/kernel/file_systems/bfs/Jamfile b/src/add-ons/kernel/file_systems/bfs/Jamfile
index 42fc004cdb..d080267dfc 100644
--- a/src/add-ons/kernel/file_systems/bfs/Jamfile
+++ b/src/add-ons/kernel/file_systems/bfs/Jamfile
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ SubDir OBOS_TOP src add-ons kernel file_systems bfs ;
 
 	if $(DEBUG) {
 		defines += DEBUG ;
+	} else {
+		# the gcc on BeOS doesn't compile BFS correctly with -O2 or more
+		OPTIM = -O1 ;
 	}
 
 	defines = [ FDefines $(defines) ] ;