diff --git a/Modules/_sre.c b/Modules/_sre.c
index 2b764b11cad..a363de2beb9 100644
--- a/Modules/_sre.c
+++ b/Modules/_sre.c
@@ -2760,7 +2760,7 @@ _compile(PyObject* self_, PyObject* args)
 #if defined(VVERBOSE)
 #define VTRACE(v) printf v
 #else
-#define VTRACE(v)
+#define VTRACE(v) do {} while(0)  /* do nothing */
 #endif
 
 /* Report failure */