diff --git a/panda/src/display/graphicsStateGuardian.cxx b/panda/src/display/graphicsStateGuardian.cxx
index fd64170f63..d381706835 100644
--- a/panda/src/display/graphicsStateGuardian.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/display/graphicsStateGuardian.cxx
@@ -461,7 +461,6 @@ traverse_prepared_textures(GraphicsStateGuardian::TextureCallback *func,
   }
 }
 
-#ifndef NDEBUG
 /**
  * Sets the "flash texture".  This is a debug feature; when enabled, the
  * specified texture will begin flashing in the scene, helping you to find it
@@ -481,31 +480,34 @@ traverse_prepared_textures(GraphicsStateGuardian::TextureCallback *func,
  */
 void GraphicsStateGuardian::
 set_flash_texture(Texture *tex) {
-  _flash_texture = tex;
-}
-#endif  // NDEBUG
-
 #ifndef NDEBUG
+  _flash_texture = tex;
+#endif
+}
+
 /**
  * Resets the "flash texture", so that no textures will flash.  See
  * set_flash_texture().
  */
 void GraphicsStateGuardian::
 clear_flash_texture() {
-  _flash_texture = nullptr;
-}
-#endif  // NDEBUG
-
 #ifndef NDEBUG
+  _flash_texture = nullptr;
+#endif
+}
+
 /**
  * Returns the current "flash texture", if any, or NULL if none.  See
  * set_flash_texture().
  */
 Texture *GraphicsStateGuardian::
 get_flash_texture() const {
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   return _flash_texture;
+#else
+  return nullptr;
+#endif
 }
-#endif  // NDEBUG
 
 /**
  * Sets the SceneSetup object that indicates the initial camera position, etc.
diff --git a/panda/src/display/graphicsStateGuardian.h b/panda/src/display/graphicsStateGuardian.h
index e1c9435fef..ff58c956d8 100644
--- a/panda/src/display/graphicsStateGuardian.h
+++ b/panda/src/display/graphicsStateGuardian.h
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ PUBLISHED:
   typedef bool TextureCallback(TextureContext *tc, void *callback_arg);
   void traverse_prepared_textures(TextureCallback *func, void *callback_arg);
 
-#ifndef NDEBUG
+#if !defined(NDEBUG) || !defined(CPPPARSER)
   void set_flash_texture(Texture *tex);
   void clear_flash_texture();
   Texture *get_flash_texture() const;
@@ -651,6 +651,8 @@ protected:
 
 #ifndef NDEBUG
   PT(Texture) _flash_texture;
+#else
+  PT(Texture) _flash_texture_unused;
 #endif
 
 public: