diff --git a/Include/internal/pycore_mimalloc.h b/Include/internal/pycore_mimalloc.h
index 14c98108ec131e..44c160b7ac19bf 100644
--- a/Include/internal/pycore_mimalloc.h
+++ b/Include/internal/pycore_mimalloc.h
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ typedef enum {
 #  define MI_DEBUG_FREED      PYMEM_DEADBYTE
 #  define MI_DEBUG_PADDING    PYMEM_FORBIDDENBYTE
 #ifdef Py_DEBUG
-#  define MI_DEBUG 1
+#  define MI_DEBUG 2
 #else
 #  define MI_DEBUG 0
 #endif
diff --git a/Objects/mimalloc/alloc.c b/Objects/mimalloc/alloc.c
index e6286b54bedc14..c133f23fc9830d 100644
--- a/Objects/mimalloc/alloc.c
+++ b/Objects/mimalloc/alloc.c
@@ -609,7 +609,10 @@ bool _mi_free_delayed_block(mi_block_t* block) {
   // get segment and page
   const mi_segment_t* const segment = _mi_ptr_segment(block);
   mi_assert_internal(_mi_ptr_cookie(segment) == segment->cookie);
+#ifndef Py_GIL_DISABLED
+  // The GC traverses heaps of other threads, which can trigger this assert.
   mi_assert_internal(_mi_thread_id() == segment->thread_id);
+#endif
   mi_page_t* const page = _mi_segment_page_of(segment, block);
 
   // Clear the no-delayed flag so delayed freeing is used again for this page.