diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index ad2c6f89c08..ca658f2e0dd 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -53,6 +53,10 @@ if(NOT EXECUTABLE_OUTPUT_PATH)
 	set(FIRST_RUN "TRUE")
 endif()
 
+# set default build type to Release
+if(NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
+	set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE "Release")
+endif()
 
 # this starts out unset
 list(APPEND CMAKE_MODULE_PATH "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/build_files/cmake/Modules")