diff --git a/config/esp32/BUILD.gn b/config/esp32/BUILD.gn
index e599e651d2f093..35abd89446fd30 100644
--- a/config/esp32/BUILD.gn
+++ b/config/esp32/BUILD.gn
@@ -17,16 +17,6 @@
 
 import("//build_overrides/chip.gni")
 
-config("esp32_config") {
-  defines = []
-  if (is_debug) {
-    defines = [ "BUILD_RELEASE=0" ]
-  } else {
-    defines = [ "BUILD_RELEASE=1" ]
-  }
-}
-
 group("esp32") {
   deps = [ "${chip_root}/src/lib" ]
-  public_configs = [ ":esp32_config" ]
 }