diff --git a/lib/validator.js b/lib/validator.js
index fd1354da4..3d5aa569b 100755
--- a/lib/validator.js
+++ b/lib/validator.js
@@ -143,13 +143,12 @@ internals.entry = function (value, schema, prefs) {
 
 internals.tracer = function (schema, prefs) {
 
-    Assert(schema.$_root.trace, 'Debug mode not supported');
-
     if (schema.$_root._tracer) {
         return { tracer: schema.$_root._tracer._register(schema) };
     }
 
     if (prefs.debug) {
+        Assert(schema.$_root.trace, 'Debug mode not supported');
         return { tracer: schema.$_root.trace()._register(schema), cleanup: true };
     }