diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 48e16059..3c5ebdf9 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 # Level zero loader changelog
 
+## v1.17.44
+* Add missing guard around debug message
 ## v1.17.43
 * Switch to monotonically increasing patch numbers
 * Fix warning by updating min cmake version to 3.5
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 156cf334..0052d550 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ message(FATAL_ERROR "Visual Studio Compiler Version >= 1900 Required to build.")
 endif()
 
 # This project follows semantic versioning (https://semver.org/)
-project(level-zero VERSION 1.17.43)
+project(level-zero VERSION 1.17.44)
 
 include(GNUInstallDirs)
 
diff --git a/source/loader/ze_loader.cpp b/source/loader/ze_loader.cpp
index 3bbd47f5..1d52642d 100644
--- a/source/loader/ze_loader.cpp
+++ b/source/loader/ze_loader.cpp
@@ -389,8 +389,10 @@ namespace loader
             }
         }
         if(allDrivers.size()==0){
-            std::string message = "0 Drivers Discovered";
-            debug_trace_message(message, "");
+            if (debugTraceEnabled) {
+                std::string message = "0 Drivers Discovered";
+                debug_trace_message(message, "");
+            }
             zel_logger->log_error("0 Drivers Discovered");
             return ZE_RESULT_ERROR_UNINITIALIZED;
         }