diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index c48ff2d46f66891470161da6677f3ac883b71753..a814ff5883042b3863652ad1b6d7b9ff3f01dc4a 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ FIND_PACKAGE(Boost REQUIRED)
 # Eigen #######
 FIND_PACKAGE(Eigen REQUIRED)
 
+SET(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE release)
+
 # add the necessary include directories
 INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES(. ${EIGEN_INCLUDE_DIR} ${Boost_INCLUDE_DIRS})