diff --git a/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c b/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c
index 51391d5d2265..459b7c054711 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c
@@ -560,7 +560,8 @@ static int nft_request_module(struct net *net, const char *fmt, ...)
 static void lockdep_nfnl_nft_mutex_not_held(void)
 {
 #ifdef CONFIG_PROVE_LOCKING
-	WARN_ON_ONCE(lockdep_nfnl_is_held(NFNL_SUBSYS_NFTABLES));
+	if (debug_locks)
+		WARN_ON_ONCE(lockdep_nfnl_is_held(NFNL_SUBSYS_NFTABLES));
 #endif
 }