diff --git a/tree/treeplayer/test/dataframe/dataframe_nodes.cxx b/tree/treeplayer/test/dataframe/dataframe_nodes.cxx
index be77b23fa284c..7c01d9542c4ef 100644
--- a/tree/treeplayer/test/dataframe/dataframe_nodes.cxx
+++ b/tree/treeplayer/test/dataframe/dataframe_nodes.cxx
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ TEST(TDataFrameNodes, TSlotStackCheckSameThreadSameSlot)
    EXPECT_EQ(s.GetSlot(), s.GetSlot());
 }
 
+#ifndef NDEBUG
+
 TEST(TDataFrameNodes, TSlotStackGetOneTooMuch)
 {
    auto theTest = []() {
@@ -54,6 +56,8 @@ TEST(TDataFrameNodes, TSlotStackPutBackTooMany)
    ASSERT_DEATH(theTest(), "TSlotStack has a reference count relative to an index which will become negative");
 }
 
+#endif
+
 TEST(TDataFrameNodes, TLoopManagerGetImplPtr)
 {
    ROOT::Detail::TDF::TLoopManager lm(nullptr, {});