diff --git a/src/ccstruct/debugpixa.h b/src/ccstruct/debugpixa.h
index 37e6321563..6a776e9fab 100644
--- a/src/ccstruct/debugpixa.h
+++ b/src/ccstruct/debugpixa.h
@@ -12,7 +12,11 @@ class DebugPixa {
   // TODO(rays) add another constructor with size control.
   DebugPixa() {
     pixa_ = pixaCreate(0);
+#ifdef TESSERACT_DISABLE_DEBUG_FONTS
+    fonts_ = NULL;
+#else
     fonts_ = bmfCreate(nullptr, 14);
+#endif
   }
   // If the filename_ has been set and there are any debug images, they are
   // written to the set filename_.