diff --git a/src/App.zig b/src/App.zig
index cd8b67164..2ead3b9ad 100644
--- a/src/App.zig
+++ b/src/App.zig
@@ -237,10 +237,12 @@ pub fn needsConfirmQuit(self: *const App) bool {
 /// Drain the mailbox.
 fn drainMailbox(self: *App, rt_app: *apprt.App) !void {
     while (self.mailbox.pop()) |message| {
-        switch (message) {
-            // these tend to be way too verbose for normal debugging
-            .redraw_surface, .redraw_inspector => {},
-            else => log.debug("mailbox message={t}", .{message}),
+        if (std.log.logEnabled(.debug, .app)) {
+            switch (message) {
+                // these tend to be way too verbose for normal debugging
+                .redraw_surface, .redraw_inspector => {},
+                else => log.debug("mailbox message={t}", .{message}),
+            }
         }
         switch (message) {
             .open_config => try self.performAction(rt_app, .open_config),