diff --git a/apache2/re.c b/apache2/re.c
index cd630a70..18d55dfb 100644
--- a/apache2/re.c
+++ b/apache2/re.c
@@ -1210,7 +1210,9 @@ static int execute_operator(msre_var *var, msre_rule *rule, modsec_rec *msr,
             var->value_len));
     }
         
-    time_before_regex = apr_time_now(); /* IMP1 time_before_regex? */
+    if (msr->txcfg->debuglog_level >= 4) {
+        time_before_regex = apr_time_now(); /* IMP1 time_before_regex? */
+    }
     rc = rule->op_metadata->execute(msr, rule, var, &my_error_msg);
     if (msr->txcfg->debuglog_level >= 4) {
         msr_log(msr, 4, "Operator completed in %" APR_TIME_T_FMT " usec.",