diff --git a/libavutil/utils.c b/libavutil/utils.c
index dc841621d0..4c82503d9c 100644
--- a/libavutil/utils.c
+++ b/libavutil/utils.c
@@ -51,7 +51,9 @@ unsigned avutil_version(void)
         av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_ERROR, "Libavutil has been linked to a broken llrint()\n");
     }
 
+#if defined(ASSERT_LEVEL) && ASSERT_LEVEL > 0
     ff_check_pixfmt_descriptors();
+#endif
     checks_done = 1;
     return LIBAVUTIL_VERSION_INT;
 }