diff --git a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/ios/simulators.dart b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/ios/simulators.dart
index bc48e69565a..fc91b9ca40d 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/ios/simulators.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/ios/simulators.dart
@@ -452,6 +452,10 @@ class IOSSimulator extends Device {
       args.add("--observatory-port=$observatoryPort");
     }
 
+    ProtocolDiscovery observatoryDiscovery;
+    if (debuggingOptions.debuggingEnabled)
+      observatoryDiscovery = new ProtocolDiscovery.observatory(getLogReader(app: app));
+
     // Launch the updated application in the simulator.
     try {
       SimControl.instance.launch(id, app.id, args);
@@ -468,7 +472,6 @@ class IOSSimulator extends Device {
     // device has printed "Observatory is listening on..."
     printTrace('Waiting for observatory port to be available...');
 
-    ProtocolDiscovery observatoryDiscovery = new ProtocolDiscovery.observatory(getLogReader(app: app));
     try {
       Uri deviceUri = await observatoryDiscovery.nextUri();
       return new LaunchResult.succeeded(observatoryUri: deviceUri);