diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 83f1f79292..50fe7a4638 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -159,8 +159,13 @@ AC_SUBST(GST_LICENSE)
 dnl set location of plugin directory
 AG_GST_SET_PLUGINDIR
 
+# set by AG_GST_PARSE_SUBSYSTEM_DISABLES above
+dnl make sure it doesn't complain about unused variables if debugging is disabled
+NO_WARNINGS=""
+AG_GST_CHECK_GST_DEBUG_DISABLED([NO_WARNINGS="-Wno-unused"], [NO_WARNINGS=""])
+
 dnl define an ERROR_CFLAGS Makefile variable
-AG_GST_SET_ERROR_CFLAGS($GST_GIT)
+AG_GST_SET_ERROR_CFLAGS($GST_GIT, [$NO_WARNINGS])
 
 dnl define correct level for debugging messages
 AG_GST_SET_LEVEL_DEFAULT($GST_GIT)