diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index a9952fc3..c770561a 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ set(PROGRAM_PREFIX CACHE STRING "prepended to ldc binary name")
 set(PROGRAM_SUFFIX CACHE STRING "appended to ldc binary name")
 option(USE_BOEHM_GC "use the Boehm garbage collector internally")
 option(GENERATE_OFFTI "generate complete ClassInfo.offTi arrays")
+option(USE_METADATA "use metadata and related custom optimization passes")
 
 if(D_VERSION EQUAL 1)
 	set(DMDFE_PATH dmd)
@@ -208,6 +209,10 @@ if(GENERATE_OFFTI)
 	add_definitions(-DGENERATE_OFFTI)
 endif(GENERATE_OFFTI)
 
+if(USE_METADATA)
+    add_definitions(-DUSE_METADATA)
+endif(USE_METADATA)
+
 if(CMAKE_MINOR_VERSION LESS 6)
 	set(EXECUTABLE_OUTPUT_PATH ${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/bin CACHE PATH "output dir for built executables")
 	set(LIBRARY_OUTPUT_PATH ${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/lib CACHE PATH "output dir for built libraries")
diff --git a/gen/main.cpp b/gen/main.cpp
index dc52ac22..84478800 100644
--- a/gen/main.cpp
+++ b/gen/main.cpp
@@ -941,12 +941,13 @@ LDC_TARGETS
         std::string errormsg;
         for (int i = 0; i < llvmModules.size(); i++)
         {
+#if USE_METADATA
             //FIXME: workaround for llvm metadata bug:
             //  the LinkInModule call asserts with metadata unstripped
             llvm::ModulePass* stripMD = createStripMetaData();
             stripMD->runOnModule(*llvmModules[i]);
             delete stripMD;
-            
+#endif // USE_METADATA
             if(linker.LinkInModule(llvmModules[i], &errormsg))
                 error("%s", errormsg.c_str());
             delete llvmModules[i];
diff --git a/gen/metadata.h b/gen/metadata.h
index aba4c65c..a9525ed2 100644
--- a/gen/metadata.h
+++ b/gen/metadata.h
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#if USE_METADATA
+
 #ifndef LDC_GEN_METADATA_H
 #define LDC_GEN_METADATA_H
 
@@ -46,3 +48,5 @@ enum ClassDataFields {
 };
 
 #endif
+
+#endif // USE_METADATA
diff --git a/gen/optimizer.cpp b/gen/optimizer.cpp
index a15c4121..4b1d98ec 100644
--- a/gen/optimizer.cpp
+++ b/gen/optimizer.cpp
@@ -160,8 +160,10 @@ static void addPassesForOptLevel(PassManager& pm) {
             if (!disableSimplifyRuntimeCalls)
                 addPass(pm, createSimplifyDRuntimeCalls());
 
+#if USE_METADATA
             if (!disableGCToStack)
                 addPass(pm, createGarbageCollect2Stack());
+#endif // USE_METADATA
         }
         // Run some clean-up passes
         addPass(pm, createInstructionCombiningPass());
@@ -221,6 +223,7 @@ static void addPassesForOptLevel(PassManager& pm) {
 bool ldc_optimize_module(llvm::Module* m)
 {
     if (!optimize()) {
+#if USE_METADATA
         if (!disableStripMetaData) {
             // This one always needs to run if metadata is generated, because
             // the code generator will assert if it's not used.
@@ -228,6 +231,7 @@ bool ldc_optimize_module(llvm::Module* m)
             stripMD->runOnModule(*m);
             delete stripMD;
         }
+#endif
         return false;
     }
 
@@ -266,11 +270,13 @@ bool ldc_optimize_module(llvm::Module* m)
     if (optimize)
         addPassesForOptLevel(pm);
 
+#if USE_METADATA
     if (!disableStripMetaData) {
         // This one is purposely not disabled by disableLangSpecificPasses
         // because the code generator will assert if it's not used.
         addPass(pm, createStripMetaData());
     }
+#endif // USE_METADATA
 
     pm.run(*m);
     return true;
diff --git a/gen/passes/GarbageCollect2Stack.cpp b/gen/passes/GarbageCollect2Stack.cpp
index 2cbe834a..c990d920 100644
--- a/gen/passes/GarbageCollect2Stack.cpp
+++ b/gen/passes/GarbageCollect2Stack.cpp
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#if USE_METADATA
+
 //===- GarbageCollect2Stack - Optimize calls to the D garbage collector ---===//
 //
 //                             The LLVM D Compiler
@@ -642,3 +644,5 @@ bool isSafeToStackAllocate(Instruction* Alloc, DominatorTree& DT) {
   // All uses examined - not captured or live across original allocation.
   return true;
 }
+
+#endif // USE_METADATA
diff --git a/gen/passes/Passes.h b/gen/passes/Passes.h
index 29e9df21..f0695191 100644
--- a/gen/passes/Passes.h
+++ b/gen/passes/Passes.h
@@ -10,8 +10,10 @@ namespace llvm {
 // Performs simplifications on runtime calls.
 llvm::FunctionPass* createSimplifyDRuntimeCalls();
 
+#if USE_METADATA
 llvm::FunctionPass* createGarbageCollect2Stack();
 llvm::ModulePass* createStripMetaData();
+#endif // USE_METADATA
 
 llvm::ModulePass* createStripExternalsPass();
 
diff --git a/gen/passes/StripMetaData.cpp b/gen/passes/StripMetaData.cpp
index f6b95f61..b2402429 100644
--- a/gen/passes/StripMetaData.cpp
+++ b/gen/passes/StripMetaData.cpp
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#if USE_METADATA
+
 //===- StripMetaData - Strips D-specific metadata -------------------------===//
 //
 //                             The LLVM D Compiler
@@ -75,3 +77,5 @@ bool StripMetaData::runOnModule(Module &M) {
     }
     return Changed;
 }
+
+#endif // USE_METADATA
diff --git a/gen/typinf.cpp b/gen/typinf.cpp
index e29d520d..b88fec6a 100644
--- a/gen/typinf.cpp
+++ b/gen/typinf.cpp
@@ -302,6 +302,7 @@ void DtoResolveTypeInfo(TypeInfoDeclaration* tid)
 
     tid->ir.irGlobal = irg;
 
+#if USE_METADATA
     // don't do this for void or llvm will crash
     if (tid->tinfo->ty != Tvoid) {
         // Add some metadata for use by optimization passes.
@@ -321,6 +322,7 @@ void DtoResolveTypeInfo(TypeInfoDeclaration* tid)
             llvm::NamedMDNode::Create(metaname, &metadata, 1, gIR->module);
         }
     }
+#endif // USE_METADATA
 
     DtoDeclareTypeInfo(tid);
 }
diff --git a/ir/irclass.cpp b/ir/irclass.cpp
index c310b18d..edb73c65 100644
--- a/ir/irclass.cpp
+++ b/ir/irclass.cpp
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ LLGlobalVariable * IrStruct::getClassInfoSymbol()
     classInfo = new llvm::GlobalVariable(
         *gIR->module, tc->getPA().get(), false, _linkage, NULL, initname);
 
+#if USE_METADATA
     // Generate some metadata on this ClassInfo if it's for a class.
     ClassDeclaration* classdecl = aggrdecl->isClassDeclaration();
     if (classdecl && !aggrdecl->isInterfaceDeclaration()) {
@@ -90,6 +91,7 @@ LLGlobalVariable * IrStruct::getClassInfoSymbol()
         std::string metaname = CD_PREFIX + initname;
         llvm::NamedMDNode::Create(metaname, &metadata, 1, gIR->module);
     }
+#endif // USE_METADATA
 
     return classInfo;
 }