diff --git a/src/vppinfra/dlmalloc.h b/src/vppinfra/dlmalloc.h
index fbc49e3..b3278f9 100644
--- a/src/vppinfra/dlmalloc.h
+++ b/src/vppinfra/dlmalloc.h
@@ -524,6 +524,17 @@
 #include <vppinfra/clib.h>
 #include <vppinfra/cache.h>
 
+/* --- begin vpp customizations --- */
+
+#if CLIB_DEBUG > 0
+#define FOOTERS 1  /* extra debugging */
+#endif
+#define USE_LOCKS 1
+#define DLM_ABORT {extern void os_panic(void); os_panic(); abort();}
+#define ONLY_MSPACES 1
+
+/* --- end vpp customizations --- */
+
 /* Version identifier to allow people to support multiple versions */
 #ifndef DLMALLOC_VERSION
 #define DLMALLOC_VERSION 20806
@@ -587,8 +598,6 @@
 /* The maximum possible size_t value has all bits set */
 #define MAX_SIZE_T           (~(size_t)0)
 
-#define USE_LOCKS 1
-
 #ifndef USE_LOCKS /* ensure true if spin or recursive locks set */
 #define USE_LOCKS  ((defined(USE_SPIN_LOCKS) && USE_SPIN_LOCKS != 0) || \
                     (defined(USE_RECURSIVE_LOCKS) && USE_RECURSIVE_LOCKS != 0))