diff --git a/cmd/gotosocial/action/testrig/no_testrig.go b/cmd/gotosocial/action/testrig/no_testrig.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7205ecf6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/gotosocial/action/testrig/no_testrig.go
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+// GoToSocial
+// Copyright (C) GoToSocial Authors admin@gotosocial.org
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+//
+// This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+// GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+// along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+//go:build !debug && !debugenv
+
+package testrig
+
+import "github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/cmd/gotosocial/action"
+
+// Start creates and starts a gotosocial testrig server.
+// This is only enabled in debug builds, else is nil.
+var Start action.GTSAction
diff --git a/cmd/gotosocial/action/testrig/testrig.go b/cmd/gotosocial/action/testrig/testrig.go
index 95982fc72..19588c70a 100644
--- a/cmd/gotosocial/action/testrig/testrig.go
+++ b/cmd/gotosocial/action/testrig/testrig.go
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
 // You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 // along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
+//go:build debug || debugenv
+
 package testrig
 
 import (
@@ -52,7 +54,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/testrig"
 )
 
-// Start creates and starts a gotosocial testrig server
+// Start creates and starts a gotosocial testrig server.
+// This is only enabled in debug builds, else is nil.
 var Start action.GTSAction = func(ctx context.Context) error {
 	testrig.InitTestConfig()
 	testrig.InitTestLog()
diff --git a/cmd/gotosocial/main.go b/cmd/gotosocial/main.go
index 5c610f1a3..7d45c126d 100644
--- a/cmd/gotosocial/main.go
+++ b/cmd/gotosocial/main.go
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ import (
 	godebug "runtime/debug"
 	"strings"
 
-	"codeberg.org/gruf/go-debug"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 
 	_ "github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/docs"
@@ -63,11 +62,12 @@ func main() {
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(serverCommands())
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(debugCommands())
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(adminCommands())
-	if debug.DEBUG {
-		// only add testrig if debug enabled.
-		rootCmd.AddCommand(testrigCommands())
+
+	// Testrigcmd will only be set when debug is enabled.
+	if testrigCmd := testrigCommands(); testrigCmd != nil {
+		rootCmd.AddCommand(testrigCmd)
 	} else if len(os.Args) > 1 && os.Args[1] == "testrig" {
-		log.Fatalln("gotosocial must be built and run with the DEBUG enviroment variable set to enable and access testrig")
+		log.Fatal("gotosocial must be built and run with the DEBUG enviroment variable set to enable and access testrig")
 	}
 
 	// run
diff --git a/cmd/gotosocial/testrig.go b/cmd/gotosocial/testrig.go
index 20cca9f1c..124fc1105 100644
--- a/cmd/gotosocial/testrig.go
+++ b/cmd/gotosocial/testrig.go
@@ -23,19 +23,22 @@ import (
 )
 
 func testrigCommands() *cobra.Command {
-	testrigCmd := &cobra.Command{
-		Use:   "testrig",
-		Short: "gotosocial testrig-related tasks",
-	}
+	if testrig.Start != nil {
+		testrigCmd := &cobra.Command{
+			Use:   "testrig",
+			Short: "gotosocial testrig-related tasks",
+		}
 
-	testrigStartCmd := &cobra.Command{
-		Use:   "start",
-		Short: "start the gotosocial testrig server",
-		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-			return run(cmd.Context(), testrig.Start)
-		},
-	}
+		testrigStartCmd := &cobra.Command{
+			Use:   "start",
+			Short: "start the gotosocial testrig server",
+			RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+				return run(cmd.Context(), testrig.Start)
+			},
+		}
 
-	testrigCmd.AddCommand(testrigStartCmd)
-	return testrigCmd
+		testrigCmd.AddCommand(testrigStartCmd)
+		return testrigCmd
+	}
+	return nil
 }
diff --git a/testrig/config.go b/testrig/config.go
index ed98798d6..6a4254d61 100644
--- a/testrig/config.go
+++ b/testrig/config.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package testrig
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"strconv"
 	"time"
@@ -34,11 +35,13 @@ func init() {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	// Ensure global ffmpeg WASM pool initialized.
+	fmt.Println("testrig: precompiling ffmpeg WASM")
 	if err := ffmpeg.InitFfmpeg(ctx, 1); err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
 
 	// Ensure global ffmpeg WASM pool initialized.
+	fmt.Println("testrig: precompiling ffprobe WASM")
 	if err := ffmpeg.InitFfprobe(ctx, 1); err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}