diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/debug.h b/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/debug.h
index 16fbb6fbab35c85f8206c42664884fc841c342be..8c0b5c57c76b2bd4a6205c3b27c26267f91a3ae8 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/debug.h
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath5k/debug.h
@@ -165,7 +165,9 @@ ath5k_debug_printtxbuf(struct ath5k_softc *sc,
 
 #else /* no debugging */
 
-#define ATH5K_TRACE(_sc) /* empty */
+#include <linux/compiler.h>
+
+#define ATH5K_TRACE(_sc) typecheck(struct ath5k_softc *, (_sc))
 
 static inline void __attribute__ ((format (printf, 3, 4)))
 ATH5K_DBG(struct ath5k_softc *sc, unsigned int m, const char *fmt, ...) {}