diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 33f3ef9..fcacbd3 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@ set(LIB_PATCH_VERSION "2")
 set(LIB_VERSION_STRING "${LIB_MAJOR_VERSION}.${LIB_MINOR_VERSION}.${LIB_PATCH_VERSION}")
 
 # compile in release with debug info mode by default
-SET(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE RelWithDebInfo CACHE STRING "Build Type")
+if(NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
+    set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE "RelWithDebInfo" CACHE STRING "Choose the type of build, options are: Debug Release RelWithDebInfo MinSizeRel." FORCE)
+endif()
 
 # Build all binaries in a separate directory
 SET(CMAKE_RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin)