diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a2e92ff..6ab4556 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -155,6 +155,13 @@ Or pull things up in ghci with:
 
     stack ghci
 
+## Contributing
+
+If you'd like to contribute to the repo, use the above installation instructions to get started.
+
+When you're ready, make sure that the code compiles with the `Development` flag, i.e.:
+
+    stack build --flag queryparser:development
 
 ## Use
 
diff --git a/queryparser.cabal b/queryparser.cabal
index e3bf1be..7d8eacc 100644
--- a/queryparser.cabal
+++ b/queryparser.cabal
@@ -48,6 +48,11 @@ build-type:          Simple
 -- Constraint on the version of Cabal needed to build this package.
 cabal-version:       >=1.10
 
+flag development {
+    description: Enable development level of strictness
+    default: False
+    manual: True
+}
 
 library
   -- Modules exported by the library.
@@ -104,7 +109,10 @@ library
   hs-source-dirs:      src
 
 
-  ghc-options: -Wall -Werror
+  ghc-options:         -Wall
+
+  if flag(development)
+    ghc-options:       -Werror
 
   -- Base language which the package is written in.
   default-language:    Haskell2010
@@ -118,7 +126,10 @@ benchmark queryparser-bench
                      , text
   hs-source-dirs:      bench
 
-  ghc-options: -Wall -Werror -with-rtsopts=-M5M
+  ghc-options:         -Wall -with-rtsopts=-M5M
+
+  if flag(development)
+    ghc-options:       -Werror
 
   default-language:    Haskell2010
   default-extensions:  OverloadedStrings