diff --git a/include/config.h b/include/config.h
index 375c677bf..4b3bc9218 100644
--- a/include/config.h
+++ b/include/config.h
@@ -584,7 +584,9 @@ typedef unsigned char uchar;
 
 /* EXTRA_SANITY_CHECKS adds extra impossible calls,
  * probably not useful for normal play */
-/* #define EXTRA_SANITY_CHECKS */
+#if (NH_DEVEL_STATUS != NH_STATUS_RELEASED)
+#define EXTRA_SANITY_CHECKS
+#endif
 
 /* BREADCRUMBS employs the use of predefined compiler macros
  * __FUNCTION__ and __LINE__ to store some caller breadcrumbs