diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 701e5f02ecd0..858e12a66b9c 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 2.8.7)
 
 project(bcc)
-set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE Release)
+if(NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
+  set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE Release)
+endif()
 
 enable_testing()