diff --git a/lib_com/options.h b/lib_com/options.h
index 0ee80d1cf2b25a0c611dacfd1933b1879d6e7dee..d4d5d09613da07fe7f8a44ca1b51fb4b40f713ba 100644
--- a/lib_com/options.h
+++ b/lib_com/options.h
@@ -153,10 +153,11 @@
 #define FIX_562_ISM2_64KBPS                             /* VA: issue 562: fix ISM2 at 64kbps issue */
 #define FIX_559_EXTL_IGF_MISMATCH                       /* VA: issue 559: fix mismatch between st->extl and st->igf observed as crash in PlanarSBA bitrate switching */
 #define FIX_572_LFE_LPF_ENC                             /* FhG: issue 572: always apply the low pass filter to the LFE channel */
-
 #define FIX_QMETA_SID_5k2                               /* Nokia: Issue 137: enable using full 5.2k bitrate in MASA SID */
 #define FIX_578_PARAMMC_ILD_BS                          /* FhG: Issue 578: transmitt also center ILD in band 0 when LFE is active in 3TC ParamMC */
 #define FIX_UNCLR_ISSUE                                 /* VoiceAge: issue 574: Fix UNCLR mis-classifications in noisy speech stereo */
+#define FIX_TCX_LOWRATE_LIMITATION                      /* VA: issue 577: TCX bitrate limitation only when DEBUGGING is active */
+
 /* ################## End DEVELOPMENT switches ######################### */
 /* clang-format on */
 
diff --git a/lib_enc/ivas_decision_matrix_enc.c b/lib_enc/ivas_decision_matrix_enc.c
index 9c938e0a1a5ba16d5265f6ea9305e7422929d5c4..b160193ad3144dfadd7708640b915ff7b085770c 100644
--- a/lib_enc/ivas_decision_matrix_enc.c
+++ b/lib_enc/ivas_decision_matrix_enc.c
@@ -164,6 +164,8 @@ void ivas_decision_matrix_enc(
             /* select TCX core or HQ core using bits_frame_nominal to match the TCX configuration bitrate */
             st->core = mdct_classifier( st, fft_buff, enerBuffer, st->bits_frame_nominal * FRAMES_PER_SEC );
         }
+
+#ifndef FIX_TCX_LOWRATE_LIMITATION
         /* Warning: TCX not available at low bitrates -> replace it by GSC */
         if ( st->core == TCX_20_CORE && st->total_brate < STEREO_TCX_MIN_RATE )
         {
@@ -175,6 +177,7 @@ void ivas_decision_matrix_enc(
                 st->coder_type = INACTIVE;
             }
         }
+#endif
     }
 
     /* do not allow TD stereo ACELP core -> DFT stereo TCX core switching as it is on the WC complexity path */
@@ -219,18 +222,35 @@ void ivas_decision_matrix_enc(
         {
             st->core = HQ_CORE;
         }
+    }
 
-        /* TCX not available at low bitrates -> replace it by GSC */
-        if ( st->core == TCX_20_CORE && st->total_brate < STEREO_TCX_MIN_RATE )
+#ifndef FIX_TCX_LOWRATE_LIMITATION
+    /* TCX not available at low bitrates -> replace it by GSC */
+    if ( st->core == TCX_20_CORE && st->total_brate < STEREO_TCX_MIN_RATE )
+    {
+        st->core = ACELP_CORE;
+        st->coder_type = AUDIO;
+        st->sp_aud_decision2 = 0;
+
+        if ( st->low_rate_mode )
         {
-            st->core = ACELP_CORE;
-            st->coder_type = AUDIO;
-            st->sp_aud_decision2 = 0;
+            st->coder_type = INACTIVE;
+        }
+    }
+#endif
+#endif
 
-            if ( st->low_rate_mode )
-            {
-                st->coder_type = INACTIVE;
-            }
+#ifdef FIX_TCX_LOWRATE_LIMITATION
+    /* TCX not available at low bitrates -> replace it by GSC */
+    if ( st->core == TCX_20_CORE && st->total_brate < STEREO_TCX_MIN_RATE )
+    {
+        st->core = ACELP_CORE;
+        st->coder_type = AUDIO;
+        st->sp_aud_decision2 = 0;
+
+        if ( st->low_rate_mode )
+        {
+            st->coder_type = INACTIVE;
         }
     }
 #endif