diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 7da8f1bca43..2b97a1b8d02 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -52,6 +52,12 @@ option(BUILD_PYTHON "Build python binaries" ON)
 # options that do not affect the main binaries, but affects testing binaries
 option(BUILD_TEST "Build C++ test binaries (need gtest and gbenchmark)" ON)
 
+# Set default build type
+if(NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
+    message(STATUS "Build type not set - defaulting to Release")
+    set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE "Release" CACHE STRING "Choose the type of build from: Debug Release RelWithDebInfo MinSizeRel Coverage." FORCE)
+endif()
+
 # ---[ Dependencies
 include(cmake/Dependencies.cmake)