diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index e7873a24..a7097a01 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -15,6 +15,18 @@ option(try_OpenMP "try to use OpenMP if available" ON)
 set(qt_version AUTO CACHE STRING "provide a specific Qt version to be used.")
 set_property(CACHE qt_version PROPERTY STRINGS AUTO 3 4 5)
 
+#--- set a default build type if none was specified ---------------------------
+set(default_build_type "Release")
+ 
+if(NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE AND NOT CMAKE_CONFIGURATION_TYPES)
+  message(STATUS "Setting build type to '${default_build_type}' as none was specified.")
+  set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE "${default_build_type}" CACHE
+      STRING "Choose the type of build." FORCE)
+  # Set the possible values of build type for cmake-gui
+  set_property(CACHE CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE PROPERTY STRINGS
+    "Debug" "Release" "MinSizeRel" "RelWithDebInfo")
+endif()
+
 #--- perform some checks and generate the config.h ----------------------------
 include(CheckTypeSize)
 include(CheckIncludeFiles)
@@ -218,6 +230,9 @@ message(" -------")
 message("") 
 message(" ${CMAKE_HOST_SYSTEM_NAME} ${CMAKE_SYSTEM_PROCESSOR} - ${CMAKE_HOST_SYSTEM_VERSION}")
 message("")
+message(" Build Type: ${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE}")
+message(" -----------")
+message("")
 message(" Requirements:")
 message(" -------------")
 message("")