diff --git a/scripts/build b/scripts/build
index 0c7d9a1398..31cf7c611f 100755
--- a/scripts/build
+++ b/scripts/build
@@ -126,7 +126,8 @@ if [ ! -f $STAMP ]; then
                            --enable-shared"
 
     TARGET_CMAKE_OPTS="-DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=$CMAKE_CONF \
-                       -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr"
+                       -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr \
+                       -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release"
 
   # configure HOST build defaults
     HOST_CONFIGURE_OPTS="--host=$HOST_NAME \
@@ -140,8 +141,15 @@ if [ ! -f $STAMP ]; then
                          --disable-static \
                          --enable-shared"
 
+    if [ "$DEBUG" = "yes" ]; then
+      CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE="Debug"
+    else
+      CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE="Release"
+    fi
+
     HOST_CMAKE_OPTS="-DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=$CMAKE_CONF \
-                     -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=$ROOT/$TOOLCHAIN"
+                     -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=$ROOT/$TOOLCHAIN \
+                     -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=$CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE"
 
   # configure INIT build defaults
     INIT_CONFIGURE_OPTS="$TARGET_CONFIGURE_OPTS"