diff --git a/tools/docker/rust/Dockerfile.ockamd b/tools/docker/rust/Dockerfile.ockamd
index b9258b008c4..ee46a762451 100644
--- a/tools/docker/rust/Dockerfile.ockamd
+++ b/tools/docker/rust/Dockerfile.ockamd
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ RUN apt update && apt install -y pkg-config libssl-dev
 COPY . . 
 WORKDIR implementations/rust
 RUN cargo test
-RUN cargo build --bin ockamd
+RUN cargo build --bin ockamd --release
 
 FROM ubuntu:20.04
 COPY --from=builder implementations/rust/target/debug/ockamd /usr/local/bin/ockamd