The prevailing hypothesis to explain pCO₂ rise at the last glacial termination calls upon enhanced ventilation of excess respired carbon that accumulated in the deep sea during the glacial. Recent studies argue lower [O₂] in the glacial ocean is indicative of increased carbon respiration. The magnitude of [O₂] depletion was 100-140µmol/kg at the glacial maximum. Because respiration is coupled to d¹³C of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), [O₂] depletion of 100-140µmol/kg from carbon respiration would lower deep water d¹³C_DIC by ~ 1‰ relative to surface water. Prolonged sequestration of respired carbon would also lower the amount of ¹⁴C in the deep sea. We show that Pacific Deep Water d¹³C_DIC did not decrease relative to the surface ocean and D¹⁴C was only ~50‰ lower during the late glacial. Model simulations of the hypothesized ventilation change during deglaciation lead to large increases in d¹³C_DIC, D¹⁴C and ε¹⁴C that are not recorded in observations.