diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index e0837c4c..edc0f5c5 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ write_to = "brainiak/_version.py"
  build-dir = "build/{wheel_tag}"
  metadata.version.provider = "scikit_build_core.metadata.setuptools_scm"
  sdist.include = ["brainiak/_version.py"]
+ cmake.build-type = "Release"
 
 
 [tool.coverage.run]