diff --git a/release/Makefile b/release/Makefile
index c4bbb1e5ae84..d563825e2376 100644
--- a/release/Makefile
+++ b/release/Makefile
@@ -210,6 +210,7 @@ disc1: packagesystem
 	ln -fs /tmp/bsdinstall_etc/resolv.conf ${.TARGET}/etc/resolv.conf
 	echo sendmail_enable=\"NONE\" > ${.TARGET}/etc/rc.conf
 	echo hostid_enable=\"NO\" >> ${.TARGET}/etc/rc.conf
+	echo debug.witness.trace=0 >> ${.TARGET}/etc/sysctl.conf
 	echo vfs.mountroot.timeout=\"10\" >> ${.TARGET}/boot/loader.conf
 	echo kernels_autodetect=\"NO\" >> ${.TARGET}/boot/loader.conf
 	cp ${.CURDIR}/rc.local ${.TARGET}/etc
@@ -237,6 +238,7 @@ bootonly: packagesystem
 	ln -fs /tmp/bsdinstall_etc/resolv.conf ${.TARGET}/etc/resolv.conf
 	echo sendmail_enable=\"NONE\" > ${.TARGET}/etc/rc.conf
 	echo hostid_enable=\"NO\" >> ${.TARGET}/etc/rc.conf
+	echo debug.witness.trace=0 >> ${.TARGET}/etc/sysctl.conf
 	echo vfs.mountroot.timeout=\"10\" >> ${.TARGET}/boot/loader.conf
 	echo kernels_autodetect=\"NO\" >> ${.TARGET}/boot/loader.conf
 	cp ${.CURDIR}/rc.local ${.TARGET}/etc
@@ -261,6 +263,7 @@ dvd: packagesystem
 	ln -fs /tmp/bsdinstall_etc/resolv.conf ${.TARGET}/etc/resolv.conf
 	echo sendmail_enable=\"NONE\" > ${.TARGET}/etc/rc.conf
 	echo hostid_enable=\"NO\" >> ${.TARGET}/etc/rc.conf
+	echo debug.witness.trace=0 >> ${.TARGET}/etc/sysctl.conf
 	echo vfs.mountroot.timeout=\"10\" >> ${.TARGET}/boot/loader.conf
 	echo kernels_autodetect=\"NO\" >> ${.TARGET}/boot/loader.conf
 	cp ${.CURDIR}/rc.local ${.TARGET}/etc