Benign ectopic thyroid tissue within the trachea is a rare cause of upper airway obstruction. Nevertheless, it may present considerable difficulties in diagnosis and management, and can be mistaken for bronchial asthma. Thorough history taking and careful physical examination in patients assumed to be asthmatics but not responding to bronchodilator therapy may be the key to establishing diagnosis of diseases simulating asthma. The following case report illustrates this point and emphasizes the fact that not all wheezes are asthma.