diff --git a/lib/common/threading.h b/lib/common/threading.h
index d806c89d01c..e61ef0ff992 100644
--- a/lib/common/threading.h
+++ b/lib/common/threading.h
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 #ifndef THREADING_H_938743
 #define THREADING_H_938743
 
+#include "debug.h"
+
 #if defined (__cplusplus)
 extern "C" {
 #endif
@@ -75,10 +77,12 @@ int ZSTD_pthread_join(ZSTD_pthread_t thread, void** value_ptr);
  */
 
 
-#elif defined(ZSTD_MULTITHREAD)   /* posix assumed ; need a better detection method */
+#elif defined(ZSTD_MULTITHREAD)    /* posix assumed ; need a better detection method */
 /* ===   POSIX Systems   === */
 #  include <pthread.h>
 
+#if DEBUGLEVEL < 1
+
 #define ZSTD_pthread_mutex_t            pthread_mutex_t
 #define ZSTD_pthread_mutex_init(a, b)   pthread_mutex_init((a), (b))
 #define ZSTD_pthread_mutex_destroy(a)   pthread_mutex_destroy((a))
@@ -96,6 +100,31 @@ int ZSTD_pthread_join(ZSTD_pthread_t thread, void** value_ptr);
 #define ZSTD_pthread_create(a, b, c, d) pthread_create((a), (b), (c), (d))
 #define ZSTD_pthread_join(a, b)         pthread_join((a),(b))
 
+#else /* DEBUGLEVEL >= 1 */
+
+#include <stdlib.h>
+
+/* Use pointers for mutex/cond so we are alerted if we leak them. */
+
+#define ZSTD_pthread_mutex_t            pthread_mutex_t*
+#define ZSTD_pthread_mutex_init(a, b)   (*(a) = (pthread_mutex_t*)malloc(sizeof(pthread_mutex_t)), *(a) ? pthread_mutex_init(*(a), (b)) : 1)
+#define ZSTD_pthread_mutex_destroy(a)   (pthread_mutex_destroy(*(a)), free(*(a)))
+#define ZSTD_pthread_mutex_lock(a)      pthread_mutex_lock(*(a))
+#define ZSTD_pthread_mutex_unlock(a)    pthread_mutex_unlock(*(a))
+
+#define ZSTD_pthread_cond_t             pthread_cond_t*
+#define ZSTD_pthread_cond_init(a, b)    (*(a) = (pthread_cond_t*)malloc(sizeof(pthread_cond_t)), *(a) ? pthread_cond_init(*(a), (b)) : 1)
+#define ZSTD_pthread_cond_destroy(a)    (pthread_cond_destroy(*(a)), free(*(a)))
+#define ZSTD_pthread_cond_wait(a, b)    pthread_cond_wait(*(a), *(b))
+#define ZSTD_pthread_cond_signal(a)     pthread_cond_signal(*(a))
+#define ZSTD_pthread_cond_broadcast(a)  pthread_cond_broadcast(*(a))
+
+#define ZSTD_pthread_t                  pthread_t
+#define ZSTD_pthread_create(a, b, c, d) pthread_create((a), (b), (c), (d))
+#define ZSTD_pthread_join(a, b)         pthread_join((a),(b))
+
+#endif
+
 #else  /* ZSTD_MULTITHREAD not defined */
 /* No multithreading support */