diff --git a/compiler/systems/t_msdos.pas b/compiler/systems/t_msdos.pas
index 1b9f3f1c7a..f7dfe3bd70 100644
--- a/compiler/systems/t_msdos.pas
+++ b/compiler/systems/t_msdos.pas
@@ -271,6 +271,8 @@ begin
     LinkRes.Add('debug codeview')
   else if cs_debuginfo in current_settings.moduleswitches then
     LinkRes.Add('debug watcom all');
+  if cs_link_separate_dbg_file in current_settings.globalswitches then
+    LinkRes.Add('option symfile');
 
   { add objectfiles, start with prt0 always }
   case current_settings.x86memorymodel of
diff --git a/compiler/systems/t_win16.pas b/compiler/systems/t_win16.pas
index 676ba3e625..229be8496a 100644
--- a/compiler/systems/t_win16.pas
+++ b/compiler/systems/t_win16.pas
@@ -232,6 +232,8 @@ begin
     LinkRes.Add('debug dwarf')
   else if target_dbg.id=dbg_codeview then
     LinkRes.Add('debug codeview');
+  if cs_link_separate_dbg_file in current_settings.globalswitches then
+    LinkRes.Add('option symfile');
 
   { add objectfiles, start with prt0 always }
   case current_settings.x86memorymodel of