diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index bfb096d..bc55747 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ project(yolanda C CXX)
 
 set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 11)
 set(CMAKE_C_STANDARD 99)
+set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE Debug)
 
 # Put the libaries and binaries that get built into directories at the
 # top of the build tree rather than in hard-to-find leaf directories.