diff --git a/vm/cpu-ppc.hpp b/vm/cpu-ppc.hpp
index cd98d6a6ab..d284cbce78 100644
--- a/vm/cpu-ppc.hpp
+++ b/vm/cpu-ppc.hpp
@@ -14,13 +14,11 @@ static const fixnum xt_tail_pic_offset = 4;
 
 inline static void check_call_site(cell return_address)
 {
-#ifdef FACTOR_DEBUG
 	cell insn = *(cell *)return_address;
 	/* Check that absolute bit is 0 */
 	assert((insn & 0x2) == 0x0);
 	/* Check that instruction is branch */
 	assert((insn >> 26) == 0x12);
-#endif
 }
 
 static const cell b_mask = 0x3fffffc;
diff --git a/vm/cpu-x86.hpp b/vm/cpu-x86.hpp
index 97e5a20305..5f9fa15740 100644
--- a/vm/cpu-x86.hpp
+++ b/vm/cpu-x86.hpp
@@ -27,10 +27,8 @@ inline static unsigned char call_site_opcode(cell return_address)
 
 inline static void check_call_site(cell return_address)
 {
-#ifdef FACTOR_DEBUG
 	unsigned char opcode = call_site_opcode(return_address);
 	assert(opcode == call_opcode || opcode == jmp_opcode);
-#endif
 }
 
 inline static void *get_call_target(cell return_address)