diff --git a/hal/common/mbed_error.c b/hal/common/mbed_error.c
index 3b121934221..6fc72009a79 100644
--- a/hal/common/mbed_error.c
+++ b/hal/common/mbed_error.c
@@ -24,9 +24,11 @@
 #endif
 
 WEAK void error(const char* format, ...) {
+#ifndef NDEBUG
     va_list arg;
     va_start(arg, format);
     mbed_error_vfprintf(format, arg);
     va_end(arg);
+#endif
     exit(1);
 }