diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index d65e62d88fc..88a1c63adad 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ endif()
 # this starts out unset
 list(APPEND CMAKE_MODULE_PATH "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/build_files/cmake/Modules")
 
+# avoid having empty buildtype
+set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE_INIT "Release")
+
 # quiet output for Makefiles, 'make -s' helps too
 # set_property(GLOBAL PROPERTY RULE_MESSAGES OFF)
 
diff --git a/GNUmakefile b/GNUmakefile
index 47073bf5734..b55890f9271 100644
--- a/GNUmakefile
+++ b/GNUmakefile
@@ -75,7 +75,8 @@ all:
 	@echo Building Blender ...
 	make -C $(BUILD_DIR) -s -j $(NPROCS) install
 	@echo
-	@echo run blender from "$(BUILD_DIR)/bin/blender"
+	@echo edit build configuration with: "$(BUILD_DIR)/CMakeCache.txt" run make again to rebuild.
+	@echo blender installed, run from: "$(BUILD_DIR)/bin/blender"
 	@echo
 
 debug: all