diff --git a/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_debug.h b/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_debug.h
index d2ea89f59c1..4c3b8ba171c 100644
--- a/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_debug.h
+++ b/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_debug.h
@@ -170,8 +170,8 @@ void _debug_assert_fail(const char *expr,
                         const char *file, 
                         unsigned line, 
                         const char *function)
-#ifdef __GNUC__
-   __attribute__((__noreturn__))
+#if defined(__GNUC__) && !defined(DEBUG)
+   __attribute__((noreturn))
 #endif
 ;