diff --git a/dtool/Config.pp b/dtool/Config.pp
index d3037faa30..8350d2d6bd 100644
--- a/dtool/Config.pp
+++ b/dtool/Config.pp
@@ -198,6 +198,11 @@
 // (empty) to explicitly enable or disable this feature.
 #defer PRC_RESPECT_TRUST_LEVEL $[= $[OPTIMIZE],4]
 
+// Similarly, the descriptions are normally saved only in a
+// development build, not in a release build.  Set this value true to
+// explicitly save them anyway.
+#defer PRC_SAVE_DESCRIPTIONS $[< $[OPTIMIZE],4]
+
 // This is the end of the PRC variable customization section.  The
 // remaining variables are of general interest to everyone.
 
diff --git a/dtool/LocalSetup.pp b/dtool/LocalSetup.pp
index d3317dd083..e5b555e306 100644
--- a/dtool/LocalSetup.pp
+++ b/dtool/LocalSetup.pp
@@ -279,6 +279,9 @@ $[cdefine LINK_IN_PHYSICS]
    above. */
 $[cdefine PRC_RESPECT_TRUST_LEVEL]
 
+/* Define if you want to save the descriptions for ConfigVariables. */
+$[cdefine PRC_SAVE_DESCRIPTIONS]
+
 
 /* Define if your processor stores words with the most significant
    byte first (like Motorola and SPARC, unlike Intel and VAX).  */
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBase.cxx b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBase.cxx
index 973a808f05..d1ad259663 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBase.cxx
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBase.cxx
@@ -33,9 +33,11 @@ ConfigVariableBase(const string &name,
   if (value_type != VT_undefined) {
     _core->set_value_type(value_type);
   }
+#ifdef PRC_SAVE_DESCRIPTIONS
   if (!description.empty()) {
     _core->set_description(description);
   }
+#endif  // PRC_SAVE_DESCRIPTIONS
   if (flags != 0) {
     _core->set_flags(flags);
   }
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBase.h b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBase.h
index b64b72e76f..e50cd0ed84 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBase.h
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableBase.h
@@ -26,6 +26,16 @@
 #include "configVariableManager.h"
 #include "vector_string.h"
 
+// Use this macro to wrap around a description passed to a
+// ConfigVariable constructor.  This allows the description to be
+// completely compiled out, so that it won't even be a part of the
+// string table, in the absence of PRC_SAVE_DESCRIPTIONS.
+#ifdef PRC_SAVE_DESCRIPTIONS
+#define PRC_DESC(description) description
+#else
+#define PRC_DESC(description) ""
+#endif
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //       Class : ConfigVariableBase
 // Description : This class is the base class for both
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableDouble.I b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableDouble.I
index 6e3ce6fa30..50262eb430 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableDouble.I
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableDouble.I
@@ -29,6 +29,24 @@ ConfigVariableDouble(const string &name) :
   _core->set_used();
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: ConfigVariableDouble::Constructor
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE ConfigVariableDouble::
+ConfigVariableDouble(const string &name, double default_value, 
+                     const string &description, int flags) :
+#ifdef PRC_SAVE_DESCRIPTIONS
+  ConfigVariable(name, ConfigVariableCore::VT_double, description, flags)
+#else
+  ConfigVariable(name, ConfigVariableCore::VT_double, string(), flags)
+#endif
+{
+  set_default_value(default_value);
+  _core->set_used();
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: ConfigVariableDouble::operator =
 //       Access: Published
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableDouble.cxx b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableDouble.cxx
index 3eb260f5fd..df2275fdc8 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableDouble.cxx
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableDouble.cxx
@@ -19,18 +19,14 @@
 #include "configVariableDouble.h"
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-//     Function: ConfigVariableDouble::Constructor
-//       Access: Published
+//     Function: ConfigVariableDouble::set_default_value
+//       Access: Private
 //  Description: 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-ConfigVariableDouble::
-ConfigVariableDouble(const string &name, double default_value, 
-                     const string &description, int flags) :
-  ConfigVariable(name, ConfigVariableCore::VT_double, description, flags)
-{
+void ConfigVariableDouble::
+set_default_value(double default_value) {
   ostringstream strm;
   strm << default_value;
 
   _core->set_default_value(strm.str());
-  _core->set_used();
 }
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableDouble.h b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableDouble.h
index 74f55ec39f..4c0ac85d1a 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableDouble.h
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableDouble.h
@@ -30,8 +30,9 @@
 class EXPCL_DTOOLCONFIG ConfigVariableDouble : public ConfigVariable {
 PUBLISHED:
   INLINE ConfigVariableDouble(const string &name);
-  ConfigVariableDouble(const string &name, double default_value,
-                       const string &description = string(), int flags = 0);
+  INLINE ConfigVariableDouble(const string &name, double default_value,
+                              const string &description = string(), 
+                              int flags = 0);
 
   INLINE void operator = (double value);
   INLINE operator double () const;
@@ -45,6 +46,9 @@ PUBLISHED:
 
   INLINE double get_word(int n) const;
   INLINE void set_word(int n, double value);
+
+private:
+  void set_default_value(double default_value);
 };
 
 #include "configVariableDouble.I"
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableEnum.I b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableEnum.I
index fff0830c3c..96e58d407a 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableEnum.I
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableEnum.I
@@ -26,7 +26,11 @@ template<class EnumType>
 INLINE ConfigVariableEnum<EnumType>::
 ConfigVariableEnum(const string &name, EnumType default_value, 
                    const string &description, int flags) :
+#ifdef PRC_SAVE_DESCRIPTIONS
   ConfigVariable(name, ConfigVariableCore::VT_enum, description, flags),
+#else
+  ConfigVariable(name, ConfigVariableCore::VT_enum, string(), flags),
+#endif
   _value_seq(-1),
   _value(default_value),
   _got_default_value(true),
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableEnum.h b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableEnum.h
index e8ca6ec305..99a9e3f86f 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableEnum.h
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableEnum.h
@@ -38,8 +38,9 @@
 template<class EnumType>
 class ConfigVariableEnum : public ConfigVariable {
 public:
-  ConfigVariableEnum(const string &name, EnumType default_value, 
-                     const string &description = string(), int flags = 0);
+  INLINE ConfigVariableEnum(const string &name, EnumType default_value, 
+                            const string &description = string(), 
+                            int flags = 0);
   INLINE ~ConfigVariableEnum();
 
   INLINE void operator = (EnumType value);
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableFilename.I b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableFilename.I
index a0cb28d680..56c1651b2d 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableFilename.I
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableFilename.I
@@ -39,7 +39,11 @@ ConfigVariableFilename(const string &name) :
 INLINE ConfigVariableFilename::
 ConfigVariableFilename(const string &name, const Filename &default_value, 
                        const string &description, int flags) :
+#ifdef PRC_SAVE_DESCRIPTIONS
   ConfigVariable(name, VT_filename, description, flags)
+#else
+  ConfigVariable(name, VT_filename, string(), flags)
+#endif
 {
   _core->set_default_value(default_value);
   _core->set_used();
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableInt.I b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableInt.I
index 5495f0558d..a48356ed16 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableInt.I
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableInt.I
@@ -29,6 +29,24 @@ ConfigVariableInt(const string &name) :
   _core->set_used();
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: ConfigVariableInt::Constructor
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE ConfigVariableInt::
+ConfigVariableInt(const string &name, int default_value, 
+                  const string &description, int flags) :
+#ifdef PRC_SAVE_DESCRIPTIONS
+  ConfigVariable(name, ConfigVariableCore::VT_int, description, flags)
+#else
+  ConfigVariable(name, ConfigVariableCore::VT_int, string(), flags)
+#endif
+{
+  set_default_value(default_value);
+  _core->set_used();
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: ConfigVariableInt::operator =
 //       Access: Published
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableInt.cxx b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableInt.cxx
index 8ca9d78177..729ad0d175 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableInt.cxx
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableInt.cxx
@@ -19,18 +19,14 @@
 #include "configVariableInt.h"
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-//     Function: ConfigVariableInt::Constructor
-//       Access: Published
+//     Function: ConfigVariableInt::set_default_value
+//       Access: Private
 //  Description: 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-ConfigVariableInt::
-ConfigVariableInt(const string &name, int default_value, 
-                  const string &description, int flags) :
-  ConfigVariable(name, ConfigVariableCore::VT_int, description, flags)
-{
+void ConfigVariableInt::
+set_default_value(int default_value) {
   ostringstream strm;
   strm << default_value;
 
   _core->set_default_value(strm.str());
-  _core->set_used();
 }
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableInt.h b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableInt.h
index 3e756fed97..f0693097ce 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableInt.h
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableInt.h
@@ -30,8 +30,9 @@
 class EXPCL_DTOOLCONFIG ConfigVariableInt : public ConfigVariable {
 PUBLISHED:
   INLINE ConfigVariableInt(const string &name);
-  ConfigVariableInt(const string &name, int default_value,
-                    const string &description = string(), int flags = 0);
+  INLINE ConfigVariableInt(const string &name, int default_value,
+                           const string &description = string(), 
+                           int flags = 0);
 
   INLINE void operator = (int value);
   INLINE operator int () const;
@@ -45,6 +46,9 @@ PUBLISHED:
 
   INLINE int get_word(int n) const;
   INLINE void set_word(int n, int value);
+
+private:
+  void set_default_value(int default_value);
 };
 
 #include "configVariableInt.I"
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableList.I b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableList.I
index f95619c644..c34e30d051 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableList.I
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableList.I
@@ -26,6 +26,29 @@ INLINE ConfigVariableList::
 ~ConfigVariableList() {
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: ConfigVariableList::Constructor
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE ConfigVariableList::
+ConfigVariableList(const string &name, 
+                   const string &description, int flags) :
+#ifdef PRC_SAVE_DESCRIPTIONS
+  ConfigVariableBase(name, VT_list, description, flags)
+#else
+  ConfigVariableBase(name, VT_list, string(), flags)
+#endif
+{
+  // A list variable implicitly defines a default value of the empty
+  // string.  This is just to prevent the core variable from
+  // complaining should anyone ask for its solitary value.
+  if (_core->get_default_value() == (ConfigDeclaration *)NULL) {
+    _core->set_default_value("");
+  }
+  _core->set_used();
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: ConfigVariableList::get_num_values
 //       Access: Published
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableList.cxx b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableList.cxx
index 2ee2f2c8fe..5080b5477f 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableList.cxx
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableList.cxx
@@ -18,25 +18,6 @@
 
 #include "configVariableList.h"
 
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-//     Function: ConfigVariableList::Constructor
-//       Access: Published
-//  Description: 
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-ConfigVariableList::
-ConfigVariableList(const string &name, 
-                   const string &description, int flags) :
-  ConfigVariableBase(name, VT_list, description, flags)
-{
-  // A list variable implicitly defines a default value of the empty
-  // string.  This is just to prevent the core variable from
-  // complaining should anyone ask for its solitary value.
-  if (_core->get_default_value() == (ConfigDeclaration *)NULL) {
-    _core->set_default_value("");
-  }
-  _core->set_used();
-}
-
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: ConfigVariableList::output
 //       Access: Published
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableList.h b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableList.h
index 944d53901b..f9619a90fa 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableList.h
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableList.h
@@ -38,8 +38,9 @@
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 class EXPCL_DTOOLCONFIG ConfigVariableList : public ConfigVariableBase {
 PUBLISHED:
-  ConfigVariableList(const string &name, 
-                     const string &description = string(), int flags = 0);
+  INLINE ConfigVariableList(const string &name,
+                            const string &description = string(), 
+                            int flags = 0);
   INLINE ~ConfigVariableList();
 
   INLINE int get_num_values() const;
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableSearchPath.I b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableSearchPath.I
index 17be7e4703..148d6b4603 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableSearchPath.I
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableSearchPath.I
@@ -17,6 +17,31 @@
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: ConfigVariableSearchPath::Constructor
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE ConfigVariableSearchPath::
+ConfigVariableSearchPath(const string &name, 
+                         const string &description, int flags) :
+#ifdef PRC_SAVE_DESCRIPTIONS
+  ConfigVariableBase(name, VT_search_path, description, flags),
+#else
+  ConfigVariableBase(name, VT_search_path, string(), flags),
+#endif
+  _value_seq(-1),
+  _value_stale(true)
+{
+  // A SearchPath variable implicitly defines a default value of the empty
+  // string.  This is just to prevent the core variable from
+  // complaining should anyone ask for its solitary value.
+  if (_core->get_default_value() == (ConfigDeclaration *)NULL) {
+    _core->set_default_value("");
+  }
+  _core->set_used();
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: ConfigVariableSearchPath::Destructor
 //       Access: Published
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableSearchPath.cxx b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableSearchPath.cxx
index a94e8e48ab..9f87ec9738 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableSearchPath.cxx
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableSearchPath.cxx
@@ -19,27 +19,6 @@
 #include "configVariableSearchPath.h"
 #include "executionEnvironment.h"
 
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-//     Function: ConfigVariableSearchPath::Constructor
-//       Access: Published
-//  Description: 
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-ConfigVariableSearchPath::
-ConfigVariableSearchPath(const string &name, 
-                   const string &description, int flags) :
-  ConfigVariableBase(name, VT_search_path, description, flags),
-  _value_seq(-1),
-  _value_stale(true)
-{
-  // A SearchPath variable implicitly defines a default value of the empty
-  // string.  This is just to prevent the core variable from
-  // complaining should anyone ask for its solitary value.
-  if (_core->get_default_value() == (ConfigDeclaration *)NULL) {
-    _core->set_default_value("");
-  }
-  _core->set_used();
-}
-
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: ConfigVariableSearchPath::get_value
 //       Access: Published
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableSearchPath.h b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableSearchPath.h
index 0a659ac548..00d6f92b5d 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableSearchPath.h
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableSearchPath.h
@@ -45,8 +45,9 @@
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 class EXPCL_DTOOLCONFIG ConfigVariableSearchPath : public ConfigVariableBase {
 PUBLISHED:
-  ConfigVariableSearchPath(const string &name, 
-                           const string &description = string(), int flags = 0);
+  INLINE ConfigVariableSearchPath(const string &name, 
+                                  const string &description = string(), 
+                                  int flags = 0);
   INLINE ~ConfigVariableSearchPath();
 
   INLINE operator const DSearchPath & () const;
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableString.I b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableString.I
index 6b7fcb361b..44366bb09d 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/configVariableString.I
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/configVariableString.I
@@ -37,7 +37,11 @@ ConfigVariableString(const string &name) :
 INLINE ConfigVariableString::
 ConfigVariableString(const string &name, const string &default_value, 
                      const string &description, int flags) :
+#ifdef PRC_SAVE_DESCRIPTIONS
   ConfigVariable(name, VT_string, description, flags)
+#else
+  ConfigVariable(name, VT_string, string(), flags)
+#endif
 {
   _core->set_default_value(default_value);
   _core->set_used();