diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index e47f80e..84f251a 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -95,6 +95,11 @@ if(CONFIG_STENO_DICT_V4)
   steno_fetch_dict(plover ${STENO_PLOVER_JSON})
   steno_fetch_dict(lapwing ${STENO_LAPWING_JSON})
 
+  if(CONFIG_STENO_DEBUG_NO_EMBED)
+    # Bisect aid: no blob, dict_embed.S falls back to a 4-byte stub.
+    set(STENO_DICT_BIN "")
+  else()
+
   # Single run produces both blobs. The compiler FAILS the build if
   # either half exceeds its budget — entries are never trimmed.
   add_custom_command(
@@ -116,6 +121,8 @@ if(CONFIG_STENO_DICT_V4)
   add_custom_target(steno_dict_gen DEPENDS ${STENO_DICT_BIN})
   add_dependencies(app steno_dict_gen)
 
+  endif() # CONFIG_STENO_DEBUG_NO_EMBED
+
 # ── Legacy MPHF format (STENO_DICT_V4=n fallback) ────
 else()
 
@@ -228,10 +235,15 @@ endif() # CONFIG_STENO_DICT_V4
 if(STENO_DICT_BIN)
   file(WRITE ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/steno_dict_path.h
        "#define STENO_DICT_BIN_PATH \"${STENO_DICT_BIN}\"\n")
-  target_include_directories(app PRIVATE ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR})
   set_source_files_properties(${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/dict_embed.S
       TARGET_DIRECTORY app
       PROPERTIES OBJECT_DEPENDS ${STENO_DICT_BIN})
+else()
+  # Debug no-embed: header exists but defines no blob path;
+  # dict_embed.S falls back to a 4-byte stub.
+  file(WRITE ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/steno_dict_path.h
+       "/* STENO_DEBUG_NO_EMBED: no dictionary blob */\n")
 endif()
+target_include_directories(app PRIVATE ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR})
 
 endif() # CONFIG_STENO_ENGINE
diff --git a/Kconfig b/Kconfig
index 177fdb9..3d0373b 100644
--- a/Kconfig
+++ b/Kconfig
@@ -54,6 +54,19 @@ config STENO_CUSTOM_KEYMAP
 	bool "Custom steno keymap"
 	default n
 
+config STENO_DEBUG_NO_GATT
+	bool "Debug: omit the split-dict GATT service"
+	default n
+	help
+	  Bisect aid: compile split_dict.c without BT_GATT_SERVICE_DEFINE.
+
+config STENO_DEBUG_NO_EMBED
+	bool "Debug: skip dictionary blob embed"
+	default n
+	help
+	  Bisect aid: embed a 4-byte placeholder instead of the compiled
+	  dictionary blob. Lookups fail cleanly at runtime.
+
 choice STENO_UNICODE_MODE
 	prompt "Unicode output mode"
 	default STENO_UNICODE_MODE_NONE
diff --git a/src/split_dict.c b/src/split_dict.c
index f2c6592..1043578 100644
--- a/src/split_dict.c
+++ b/src/split_dict.c
@@ -186,6 +186,7 @@ static uint8_t notify_cb(struct bt_conn *conn,
 
 /* --- GATT Service Definition --- */
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_STENO_DEBUG_NO_GATT
 BT_GATT_SERVICE_DEFINE(steno_dict_svc,
     BT_GATT_PRIMARY_SERVICE(STENO_UUID_SERVICE),
 
@@ -196,6 +197,7 @@ BT_GATT_SERVICE_DEFINE(steno_dict_svc,
                            NULL, dict_req_write_cb, NULL),
     BT_GATT_CCC(NULL, BT_GATT_PERM_READ | BT_GATT_PERM_WRITE),
 );
+#endif /* !CONFIG_STENO_DEBUG_NO_GATT */
 
 /* --- Central-side API --- */