diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/notifyCategory.I b/dtool/src/prc/notifyCategory.I
index 20678fbace..74c1965778 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/notifyCategory.I
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/notifyCategory.I
@@ -64,14 +64,17 @@ is_on(NotifySeverity severity) const {
   return (int)severity >= (int)get_severity();
 }
 
-#if defined(NOTIFY_DEBUG) || defined(CPPPARSER)
 /**
  * A shorthand way to write is_on(NS_spam).
  */
 INLINE bool NotifyCategory::
 is_spam() const {
+#if defined(NOTIFY_DEBUG) || defined(CPPPARSER)
   // Instruct the compiler to optimize for the usual case.
   return UNLIKELY(is_on(NS_spam));
+#else
+  return false;
+#endif
 }
 
 /**
@@ -79,10 +82,13 @@ is_spam() const {
  */
 INLINE bool NotifyCategory::
 is_debug() const {
+#if defined(NOTIFY_DEBUG) || defined(CPPPARSER)
   // Instruct the compiler to optimize for the usual case.
   return UNLIKELY(is_on(NS_debug));
-}
+#else
+  return false;
 #endif
+}
 
 /**
  * A shorthand way to write is_on(NS_info).
diff --git a/dtool/src/prc/notifyCategory.h b/dtool/src/prc/notifyCategory.h
index db767336b1..96d2897921 100644
--- a/dtool/src/prc/notifyCategory.h
+++ b/dtool/src/prc/notifyCategory.h
@@ -51,13 +51,8 @@ PUBLISHED:
   // to present a consistent interface to our scripting language, so during
   // the interrogate pass (that is, when CPPPARSER is defined), we still
   // pretend they're nonstatic.
-#if defined(NOTIFY_DEBUG) || defined(CPPPARSER)
   INLINE bool is_spam() const;
   INLINE bool is_debug() const;
-#else
-  constexpr bool is_spam() const { return false; }
-  constexpr bool is_debug() const { return false; }
-#endif
   INLINE bool is_info() const;
   INLINE bool is_warning() const;
   INLINE bool is_error() const;