As @user253751 pointed it out: **both variables get optimized out** because they are **not used**. Yes, most likely that's the case. I added a line: `gameObject.name = y.ToString()` Now it **crashes** when I press L. So yes, probably it was removed due to not being used. **But then my followup question is:** Why doesn't it just **throw an exception**? **Instead of crashing** alltogether? The System.Exception throwing hotkey still works just as it should: I press the key -> dev console appears with exception.