diff --git a/crates/wasmtime/src/config.rs b/crates/wasmtime/src/config.rs
index dbd5f47a71..b3c32f2bc6 100644
--- a/crates/wasmtime/src/config.rs
+++ b/crates/wasmtime/src/config.rs
@@ -365,8 +365,6 @@ impl Config {
     /// This option is `true` by default.
     ///
     /// [`WasmBacktrace`]: crate::WasmBacktrace
-    #[deprecated = "Backtraces will always be enabled in future Wasmtime releases; if this \
-                    causes problems for you, please file an issue."]
     pub fn wasm_backtrace(&mut self, enable: bool) -> &mut Self {
         self.wasm_backtrace = enable;
         self
diff --git a/crates/wasmtime/src/trap.rs b/crates/wasmtime/src/trap.rs
index 41b59fe0d4..e1e3fdd9ad 100644
--- a/crates/wasmtime/src/trap.rs
+++ b/crates/wasmtime/src/trap.rs
@@ -98,7 +98,9 @@ pub(crate) fn from_runtime_box(
             error,
             needs_backtrace,
         } => {
-            debug_assert!(needs_backtrace == backtrace.is_some());
+            debug_assert!(
+                needs_backtrace == backtrace.is_some() || !store.engine().config().wasm_backtrace
+            );
             (error, None)
         }
         wasmtime_runtime::TrapReason::Jit(pc) => {
diff --git a/tests/all/traps.rs b/tests/all/traps.rs
index a8005e1053..ae62280c6e 100644
--- a/tests/all/traps.rs
+++ b/tests/all/traps.rs
@@ -1160,3 +1160,28 @@ fn standalone_backtrace_disabled() -> Result<()> {
     f.call(&mut store, ())?;
     Ok(())
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn host_return_error_no_backtrace() -> Result<()> {
+    let mut config = Config::new();
+    config.wasm_backtrace(false);
+    let engine = Engine::new(&config)?;
+    let mut store = Store::new(&engine, ());
+    let module = Module::new(
+        &engine,
+        r#"
+            (module
+                (import "" "" (func $host))
+                (func $foo (export "f") call $bar)
+                (func $bar call $host)
+            )
+        "#,
+    )?;
+    let func = Func::wrap(&mut store, |_cx: Caller<'_, ()>| -> Result<()> {
+        bail!("test")
+    });
+    let instance = Instance::new(&mut store, &module, &[func.into()])?;
+    let f = instance.get_typed_func::<(), ()>(&mut store, "f")?;
+    assert!(f.call(&mut store, ()).is_err());
+    Ok(())
+}