diff --git a/make/autoconf/flags-cflags.m4 b/make/autoconf/flags-cflags.m4
index ab8c48e16d4..2706bc5cc8d 100644
--- a/make/autoconf/flags-cflags.m4
+++ b/make/autoconf/flags-cflags.m4
@@ -113,6 +113,19 @@ AC_DEFUN([FLAGS_SETUP_DEBUG_SYMBOLS],
   # Debug prefix mapping if supported by compiler
   DEBUG_PREFIX_CFLAGS=
 
+  UTIL_ARG_WITH(NAME: native-debug-symbols-level, TYPE: literal,
+    DEFAULT: [auto], VALID_VALUES: [auto 1 2 3],
+    CHECK_AVAILABLE: [
+      if test x$TOOLCHAIN_TYPE = xmicrosoft; then
+        AVAILABLE=false
+      fi
+    ],
+    DESC: [set the native debug symbol level (GCC and Clang only)],
+    DEFAULT_DESC: [toolchain default],
+    IF_AUTO: [
+      RESULT=""
+    ])
+
   # Debug symbols
   if test "x$TOOLCHAIN_TYPE" = xgcc; then
     if test "x$ALLOW_ABSOLUTE_PATHS_IN_OUTPUT" = "xfalse"; then
@@ -137,8 +150,9 @@ AC_DEFUN([FLAGS_SETUP_DEBUG_SYMBOLS],
       )
     fi
 
-    CFLAGS_DEBUG_SYMBOLS="-g -gdwarf-4"
-    ASFLAGS_DEBUG_SYMBOLS="-g"
+    # Debug info level should follow the debug format to be effective.
+    CFLAGS_DEBUG_SYMBOLS="-gdwarf-4 -g${NATIVE_DEBUG_SYMBOLS_LEVEL}"
+    ASFLAGS_DEBUG_SYMBOLS="-g${NATIVE_DEBUG_SYMBOLS_LEVEL}"
   elif test "x$TOOLCHAIN_TYPE" = xclang; then
     if test "x$ALLOW_ABSOLUTE_PATHS_IN_OUTPUT" = "xfalse"; then
       # Check if compiler supports -fdebug-prefix-map. If so, use that to make
@@ -157,8 +171,9 @@ AC_DEFUN([FLAGS_SETUP_DEBUG_SYMBOLS],
     FLAGS_COMPILER_CHECK_ARGUMENTS(ARGUMENT: [${GDWARF_FLAGS}],
         IF_FALSE: [GDWARF_FLAGS=""])
 
-    CFLAGS_DEBUG_SYMBOLS="-g ${GDWARF_FLAGS}"
-    ASFLAGS_DEBUG_SYMBOLS="-g"
+    # Debug info level should follow the debug format to be effective.
+    CFLAGS_DEBUG_SYMBOLS="${GDWARF_FLAGS} -g${NATIVE_DEBUG_SYMBOLS_LEVEL}"
+    ASFLAGS_DEBUG_SYMBOLS="-g${NATIVE_DEBUG_SYMBOLS_LEVEL}"
   elif test "x$TOOLCHAIN_TYPE" = xxlc; then
     CFLAGS_DEBUG_SYMBOLS="-g1"
   elif test "x$TOOLCHAIN_TYPE" = xmicrosoft; then
diff --git a/make/langtools/src/classes/build/tools/symbolgenerator/CreateSymbols.java b/make/langtools/src/classes/build/tools/symbolgenerator/CreateSymbols.java
index 03cb62429c1..1cf422f0023 100644
--- a/make/langtools/src/classes/build/tools/symbolgenerator/CreateSymbols.java
+++ b/make/langtools/src/classes/build/tools/symbolgenerator/CreateSymbols.java
@@ -303,6 +303,8 @@ public class CreateSymbols {
         try (OutputStream fos = new FileOutputStream(ctSymLocation);
              OutputStream bos = new BufferedOutputStream(fos);
              ZipOutputStream jos = new ZipOutputStream(bos)) {
+            // Do not compress ct.sym, allow external compressor to work on it.
+            jos.setLevel(0);
             for (Entry<String, Set<FileData>> e : directory2FileData.entrySet()) {
                 jos.putNextEntry(createZipEntry(e.getKey(), timestamp));
                 for (FileData fd : e.getValue()) {