diff --git a/components/spi_flash/flash_ops.c b/components/spi_flash/flash_ops.c
index f40925edb2..0b6bb8e3f6 100644
--- a/components/spi_flash/flash_ops.c
+++ b/components/spi_flash/flash_ops.c
@@ -126,7 +126,8 @@ const DRAM_ATTR spi_flash_guard_funcs_t g_flash_guard_no_os_ops = {
    bootloader, partition table, or running application region.
 */
 #if CONFIG_SPI_FLASH_DANGEROUS_WRITE_ALLOWED
-#define CHECK_WRITE_ADDRESS(ADDR, SIZE)
+// Following helps in masking "unused variable" warning
+#define CHECK_WRITE_ADDRESS(ADDR, SIZE) ({(void) guard;})
 #else /* FAILS or ABORTS */
 #define CHECK_WRITE_ADDRESS(ADDR, SIZE) do {                            \
         if (guard && guard->is_safe_write_address && !guard->is_safe_write_address(ADDR, SIZE)) {                       \