diff --git a/package/pkg-cmake.mk b/package/pkg-cmake.mk
index 6331e0f3e7..fb8144e87b 100644
--- a/package/pkg-cmake.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-cmake.mk
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ define $(2)_CONFIGURE_CMDS
 	PATH=$(BR_PATH) \
 	$$($$(PKG)_CONF_ENV) $(HOST_DIR)/usr/bin/cmake $$($$(PKG)_SRCDIR) \
 		-DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE="$$(HOST_DIR)/usr/share/buildroot/toolchainfile.cmake" \
+		-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=$(if $(BR2_ENABLE_DEBUG),Debug,Release) \
 		-DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="/usr" \
 		-DCMAKE_COLOR_MAKEFILE=OFF \
 		-DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \