diff --git a/lib_enc/ivas_masa_enc.c b/lib_enc/ivas_masa_enc.c
index 18590f5cc0eddd37f016ce1c6111244f78e02da9..461a43f80ec29aaf63f8b99196d7114dba80f118 100644
--- a/lib_enc/ivas_masa_enc.c
+++ b/lib_enc/ivas_masa_enc.c
@@ -3255,12 +3255,15 @@ static int16_t encode_ratio_ism_subframe(
 {
     int16_t b, b_signif;
     int16_t diff_idx[MAX_NUM_OBJECTS];
-    int16_t nbits, nbits0, nbits1, GR_order, GR_order_sb, bits_pos0;
+    int16_t nbits, nbits0, nbits1, GR_order, GR_order_sb;
     int16_t differential_subframe;
     int16_t ratio_ism_idx_ref[MAX_NUM_OBJECTS];
     int16_t bits_index;
     int16_t nbits00, nbits11;
     int16_t idx_sep_obj_local;
+#ifdef DEBUGGING
+    int16_t bits_pos0;
+#endif
 
     idx_sep_obj_local = idx_separated_obj;
     if ( idx_separated_obj > -1 )
@@ -3274,7 +3277,9 @@ static int16_t encode_ratio_ism_subframe(
     nbits0 = 0;
     nbits1 = 0;
 
+#ifdef DEBUGGING
     bits_pos0 = hMetaData->nb_bits_tot;
+#endif
     differential_subframe = 1; /* the differences are taken with respect to previous subframe */
 
     /* first subframe */