diff --git a/lib/easy.c b/lib/easy.c
index 2ac92a2f66..b7507019b9 100644
--- a/lib/easy.c
+++ b/lib/easy.c
@@ -712,6 +712,9 @@ static CURLcode easy_events(CURLM *multi)
 
   return wait_or_timeout(multi, &evs);
 }
+#else /* CURLDEBUG */
+/* when not built with debug, this function doesn't exist */
+#define easy_events(x) CURLE_NOT_BUILT_IN
 #endif
 
 static CURLcode easy_transfer(CURLM *multi)