diff --git a/tools/db_stress.cc b/tools/db_stress.cc
index f14c15e01d..37a93043ac 100644
--- a/tools/db_stress.cc
+++ b/tools/db_stress.cc
@@ -2360,8 +2360,8 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
   SetUsageMessage(std::string("\nUSAGE:\n") + std::string(argv[0]) +
                   " [OPTIONS]...");
   ParseCommandLineFlags(&argc, &argv, true);
-#if !defined(OS_MACOSX) && !defined(OS_WIN) && !defined(OS_SOLARIS) &&  \
-  !defined(OS_AIX)
+#if !defined(NDEBUG) && !defined(OS_MACOSX) && !defined(OS_WIN) && \
+  !defined(OS_SOLARIS) && !defined(OS_AIX)
   rocksdb::SyncPoint::GetInstance()->SetCallBack(
     "NewWritableFile:O_DIRECT", [&](void* arg) {
       int* val = static_cast<int*>(arg);