diff --git a/src/debug.cpp b/src/debug.cpp
index 77f87aa8d..5ce8bb213 100644
--- a/src/debug.cpp
+++ b/src/debug.cpp
@@ -22,9 +22,11 @@
 
 #include <mapnik/debug.hpp>
 
+#ifdef MAPNIK_LOG
 namespace mapnik {
     namespace logger {
         severity::type severity::severity_level_ =
             MAPNIK_DEBUG_AS_BOOL ? severity::debug : severity::error;
     }
 }
+#endif