diff --git a/src/xenia/cpu/ppc/ppc_frontend.cc b/src/xenia/cpu/ppc/ppc_frontend.cc
index 1696cadfa..0a41efb77 100644
--- a/src/xenia/cpu/ppc/ppc_frontend.cc
+++ b/src/xenia/cpu/ppc/ppc_frontend.cc
@@ -55,26 +55,32 @@ Memory* PPCFrontend::memory() const { return processor_->memory(); }
 // Checks the state of the global lock and sets scratch to the current MSR
 // value.
 void CheckGlobalLock(PPCContext* ppc_context, void* arg0, void* arg1) {
-  auto global_mutex = reinterpret_cast<std::recursive_mutex*>(arg0);
   auto global_lock_count = reinterpret_cast<int32_t*>(arg1);
-  std::lock_guard<std::recursive_mutex> lock(*global_mutex);
+#ifdef _DEBUG
+   auto global_mutex = reinterpret_cast<std::recursive_mutex*>(arg0);
+   std::lock_guard<std::recursive_mutex> lock(*global_mutex);
+#endif
   ppc_context->scratch = *global_lock_count ? 0 : 0x8000;
 }
 
 // Enters the global lock. Safe to recursion.
 void EnterGlobalLock(PPCContext* ppc_context, void* arg0, void* arg1) {
   auto global_mutex = reinterpret_cast<std::recursive_mutex*>(arg0);
+#ifdef _DEBUG
   auto global_lock_count = reinterpret_cast<int32_t*>(arg1);
-  global_mutex->lock();
   xe::atomic_inc(global_lock_count);
+#endif
+  global_mutex->lock();
 }
 
 // Leaves the global lock. Safe to recursion.
 void LeaveGlobalLock(PPCContext* ppc_context, void* arg0, void* arg1) {
   auto global_mutex = reinterpret_cast<std::recursive_mutex*>(arg0);
+#ifdef _DEBUG
   auto global_lock_count = reinterpret_cast<int32_t*>(arg1);
   auto new_lock_count = xe::atomic_dec(global_lock_count);
   assert_true(new_lock_count >= 0);
+#endif
   global_mutex->unlock();
 }