diff --git a/src/corelib/kernel/qcoreevent.h b/src/corelib/kernel/qcoreevent.h
index 0c83919bc50..4b2915a43d5 100644
--- a/src/corelib/kernel/qcoreevent.h
+++ b/src/corelib/kernel/qcoreevent.h
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ protected: \
     Class* Class::clone() const \
     { \
         auto c = new Class(*this); \
-        QEvent *e = c; \
+        [[maybe_unused]] QEvent *e = c; \
         /* check that covariant return is safe to add */ \
         Q_ASSERT(reinterpret_cast<quintptr>(c) == reinterpret_cast<quintptr>(e)); \
         return c; \