diff --git a/src/mac/carbon/app.cpp b/src/mac/carbon/app.cpp
index 587b1d2df6..d79c0356e8 100644
--- a/src/mac/carbon/app.cpp
+++ b/src/mac/carbon/app.cpp
@@ -555,6 +555,8 @@ DEFINE_ONE_SHOT_HANDLER_GETTER( wxMacAppEventHandler )
 WXIMPORT char std::__throws_bad_alloc ;
 #endif
 
+#if __WXDEBUG__
+
 pascal static void wxMacAssertOutputHandler(OSType componentSignature, UInt32 options, 
     const char *assertionString, const char *exceptionLabelString, 
     const char *errorString, const char *fileName, long lineNumber, void *value, ConstStr255Param outputMsg)
@@ -591,6 +593,8 @@ pascal static void wxMacAssertOutputHandler(OSType componentSignature, UInt32 op
 #endif
 }
 
+#endif //__WXDEBUG__
+
 bool wxApp::Initialize(int& argc, wxChar **argv)
 {
     // Mac-specific