diff --git a/vlib/builtin/builtin.v b/vlib/builtin/builtin.v
index 324dae4326..81d24ac612 100644
--- a/vlib/builtin/builtin.v
+++ b/vlib/builtin/builtin.v
@@ -43,14 +43,20 @@ fn panic_debug(line_no int, file, mod, fn_name, s string) {
 	eprintln('     file: $file')
 	eprintln('     line: ' + line_no.str())
 	eprintln('=========================================')
-	print_backtrace_skipping_top_frames(1)
+	// recent versions of tcc print better backtraces automatically
+	$if !tinyc {
+		print_backtrace_skipping_top_frames(1)
+	}
 	break_if_debugger_attached()
 	C.exit(1)
 }
 
 pub fn panic(s string) {
 	eprintln('V panic: $s')
-	print_backtrace()
+	// recent versions of tcc print better backtraces automatically
+	$if !tinyc {
+		print_backtrace()
+	}
 	break_if_debugger_attached()
 	C.exit(1)
 }