diff --git a/boost/numeric/bindings/lapack/gesvd.hpp b/boost/numeric/bindings/lapack/gesvd.hpp
index 2cff31c..1fc66fe 100644
--- a/boost/numeric/bindings/lapack/gesvd.hpp
+++ b/boost/numeric/bindings/lapack/gesvd.hpp
@@ -408,7 +408,9 @@ namespace boost { namespace numeric { namespace bindings {
 
       int const m = traits::matrix_size1 (a);
       int const n = traits::matrix_size2 (a);
+#ifndef NDEBUG /* this variable is only used in assertions below */
       int const minmn = m < n ? m : n; 
+#endif
 
       assert (minmn == traits::vector_size (s)); 
       assert (!(jobu == 'O' && jobvt == 'O'));