diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 879e463..e89ada4 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -31,8 +31,6 @@ endmacro()
 # the final executable name
 set(EXE_NAME babelstream)
 
-# select default build type
-set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE "Release")
 # for chrono and some basic CXX features, models can overwrite this if required
 set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 11)