diff --git a/gpgpusim_check.cmake b/gpgpusim_check.cmake
index c8c6e1862..5da46c979 100644
--- a/gpgpusim_check.cmake
+++ b/gpgpusim_check.cmake
@@ -117,12 +117,13 @@ execute_process(
 # Set with -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug|Release to change build type
 message(CHECK_START "Checking for CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE")
 if(NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
-    message(CHECK_PASS "not set")
+    set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE Release)
     set(GPGPUSIM_BUILD_MODE "release" CACHE STRING "" FORCE)
 else()
-    message(CHECK_PASS "${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE}")
     string(TOLOWER "${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE}" GPGPUSIM_BUILD_MODE)
+    set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE Debug)
 endif()
+message(CHECK_PASS "${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE}")
 # TODO: Make this step an installation phase that handle copying so and creating symlinks
 message(STATUS "Setting binary directory to ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}")