diff --git a/panda/src/express/mutexDummyImpl.I b/panda/src/express/mutexDummyImpl.I
index d5d88964d1..d2da56111e 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/mutexDummyImpl.I
+++ b/panda/src/express/mutexDummyImpl.I
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@ MutexDummyImpl() {
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 INLINE MutexDummyImpl::
 ~MutexDummyImpl() {
+#ifdef CHECK_REENTRANT_MUTEX
   nassertv(_lock_count == 0);
+#endif
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////