diff --git a/clutter/meson.build b/clutter/meson.build
index 918153ee4..07256486b 100644
--- a/clutter/meson.build
+++ b/clutter/meson.build
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ if get_option('debug')
 elif buildtype != 'plain'
   clutter_debug_c_args += [
     '-DG_DISABLE_ASSERT',
-    '-DG_DISABLE_CHECKS',
     '-DG_DISABLE_CAST_CHECKS',
   ]
 endif
diff --git a/cogl/meson.build b/cogl/meson.build
index e73f1a8f9..277dfaba1 100644
--- a/cogl/meson.build
+++ b/cogl/meson.build
@@ -106,7 +106,6 @@ if get_option('debug')
   ]
 elif buildtype != 'plain'
   cogl_debug_c_args += [
-    '-DG_DISABLE_CHECKS',
     '-DG_DISABLE_CAST_CHECKS'
   ]
 endif