diff --git a/src/share/vm/classfile/classLoaderData.cpp b/src/share/vm/classfile/classLoaderData.cpp
index 99e5723e0afd1293cda407281e9793123b03de39..f2ed60b32f81420ab92108c6bc9e292491088eea 100644
--- a/src/share/vm/classfile/classLoaderData.cpp
+++ b/src/share/vm/classfile/classLoaderData.cpp
@@ -650,9 +650,7 @@ void ClassLoaderDataGraph::cld_do(CLDClosure* cl) {
 void ClassLoaderDataGraph::cld_unloading_do(CLDClosure* cl) {
   // this method is only used by jfr now, if you need to use this method in another case,
   // this check should be removed.
-#if INCLUDE_TRACE
   assert(EnableJFR && FlightRecorder, "just check");
-#endif
 
   assert(SafepointSynchronize::is_at_safepoint(), "must be at safepoint!");
   // Only walk the head until any clds not purged from prior unloading