diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index c5fa0e6e..3bd6c67d 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -6,9 +6,14 @@ require_gcc_version(4.8)
 require_clang_version(3.5) # clang 3.5 needed for spdlog dependency
 
 # Default value is not to build test cases
-if(NOT DEFINED BUILD_TESTING)
+if(NOT BUILD_TESTING)
     set(BUILD_TESTING OFF CACHE INTERNAL "BUILD_TESTING")
-endif(NOT DEFINED BUILD_TESTING)
+endif(NOT BUILD_TESTING)
+
+# Default vaule is to build in release mode
+if(NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
+    set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE Release CACHE INTERNAL "CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE")
+endif(NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
 
 add_subdirectory(vendor)
 add_subdirectory(src)
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4527dda5..c0dd55bd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ Build & Install
  2. Build
 
         $ mkdir cmake && cd cmake
-        $ cmake .. -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
+        $ cmake ..
         $ make
         
  3. Install