diff --git a/debian/rules.in b/debian/rules.in
index cf1b94f1d..fe242e618 100755
--- a/debian/rules.in
+++ b/debian/rules.in
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 #!/usr/bin/make -f
 # -*- makefile -*-
 
+MY_MAKEFLAGS=
+ifneq (,$(filter parallel=%,$(DEB_BUILD_OPTIONS)))
+  NUMJOBS=$(patsubst parallel=%,%,$(filter parallel=%,$(DEB_BUILD_OPTIONS)))
+  MY_MAKEFLAGS=-j$(NUMJOBS)
+endif
+
 configure: configure-stamp
 configure-stamp:
 	dh_testdir
@@ -11,9 +17,9 @@ configure-stamp:
 	touch configure-stamp
 
 build: build-stamp
-build-stamp: configure-stamp  
+build-stamp: configure-stamp
 	dh_testdir
-	cd bin && make
+	cd bin && make $(MY_MAKEFLAGS)
 	touch $@
 
 clean: