diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index c7bbbebca7493a75c94b0ec6cf0e4dd3b2df5b18..883a9a0e57a3b8685117a62987c6c6454ef38597 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 2.8)
 
 project(moose)
+set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE Release)
+
 if(POLICY CMP0048)
     cmake_policy(SET CMP0048 OLD )
 endif(POLICY CMP0048)