diff --git a/plugins/tracers/Makefile.am b/plugins/tracers/Makefile.am
index 0a30538a50..f6efee64de 100644
--- a/plugins/tracers/Makefile.am
+++ b/plugins/tracers/Makefile.am
@@ -9,8 +9,10 @@ endif
 
 if GST_DISABLE_GST_DEBUG
 LOG_SOURCES =
+GST_PRINTF_LA =
 else
 LOG_SOURCES = gstlog.c
+GST_PRINTF_LA = $(top_builddir)/gst/printf/libgstprintf.la
 endif
 
 libgstcoretracers_la_DEPENDENCIES = $(top_builddir)/gst/libgstreamer-@GST_API_VERSION@.la
@@ -24,7 +26,7 @@ libgstcoretracers_la_SOURCES = \
 libgstcoretracers_la_CFLAGS = $(GST_OBJ_CFLAGS) \
   -DGST_USE_UNSTABLE_API
 libgstcoretracers_la_LIBADD = \
-	$(top_builddir)/gst/printf/libgstprintf.la \
+	$(GST_PRINTF_LA) \
 	$(GST_OBJ_LIBS)
 libgstcoretracers_la_LDFLAGS = $(GST_PLUGIN_LDFLAGS)
 libgstcoretracers_la_LIBTOOLFLAGS = $(GST_PLUGIN_LIBTOOLFLAGS)