diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 778ed67f..d92af23a 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # rextendr (development version)
 
+* Sets the release profile to use `lto=true` and `codegen-units=1` to ensure compatible builds with WebR as well as reduce the overall compiled package size <https://github.com/extendr/rextendr/pull/466>. 
 * Fixes compatibility with WebR by adding `CARGO_PROFILE_DEV_PANIC="abort" CARGO_PROFILE_RELEASE_PANIC="abort"` when targeting `wasm32-unknown-emsacripten` target <https://github.com/extendr/rextendr/pull/461>
 
 # rextendr 0.4.1
diff --git a/R/use_extendr.R b/R/use_extendr.R
index 67f04ac0..b15a6589 100644
--- a/R/use_extendr.R
+++ b/R/use_extendr.R
@@ -135,8 +135,15 @@ use_extendr <- function(
       edition = edition,
       `rust-version` = "1.65"
     ),
-    lib = list(`crate-type` = array("staticlib", 1), name = lib_name),
-    dependencies = list(`extendr-api` = "*")
+    lib = list(
+      `crate-type` = array("staticlib", 1),
+      name = lib_name
+    ),
+    dependencies = list(`extendr-api` = "*"),
+    `profile.release` = list(
+      lto = TRUE,
+      `codegen-units` = 1L
+    )
   )
 
   use_rextendr_template(
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/use_extendr.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/use_extendr.md
index 44dce8cf..137ff321 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/_snaps/use_extendr.md
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/use_extendr.md
@@ -319,6 +319,10 @@
       
       [dependencies]
       extendr-api = '*'
+      
+      [profile.release]
+      lto = true
+      codegen-units = 1
 
 ---
 
@@ -405,6 +409,10 @@
       
       [dependencies]
       extendr-api = '*'
+      
+      [profile.release]
+      lto = true
+      codegen-units = 1
 
 # use_rextendr_template() can overwrite existing files