diff --git a/core/box/hak_wrappers.inc.h b/core/box/hak_wrappers.inc.h
index 41477c33..49c712d0 100644
--- a/core/box/hak_wrappers.inc.h
+++ b/core/box/hak_wrappers.inc.h
@@ -89,10 +89,14 @@ void* malloc(size_t size) {
 #ifndef NDEBUG
     uint64_t count = atomic_fetch_add(&malloc_count, 1);
 #endif
+#if !HAKMEM_BUILD_RELEASE
+    // Debug-only trace counter: in release builds this atomic increment
+    // is disabled to avoid hot-path cache misses and contention.
     static _Atomic int g_wrap_malloc_trace_count = 0;
     if (atomic_fetch_add_explicit(&g_wrap_malloc_trace_count, 1, memory_order_relaxed) < 256) {
         HAK_TRACE("[wrap_malloc_enter]\n");
     }
+#endif
     // NDEBUG: malloc_count increment disabled - removes 27.55% bottleneck
 
     // Phase 20-2: BenchFast mode (structural ceiling measurement)
@@ -226,11 +230,15 @@ void* malloc(size_t size) {
 }
 
 void free(void* ptr) {
+#if !HAKMEM_BUILD_RELEASE
+    // Debug-only trace counters; disabled in release to keep free() hot path
+    // free of atomic increments.
     static _Atomic int g_wrap_free_trace_count = 0;
     if (atomic_fetch_add_explicit(&g_wrap_free_trace_count, 1, memory_order_relaxed) < 256) {
         HAK_TRACE("[wrap_free_enter]\n");
     }
     atomic_fetch_add_explicit(&g_free_wrapper_calls, 1, memory_order_relaxed);
+#endif
     if (!ptr) return;
 
     // Phase 20-2: BenchFast mode (structural ceiling measurement)