diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 4ee00490d..93f081b99 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -6,11 +6,6 @@ if(NOT DEFINED CMAKE_CUDA_ARCHITECTURES)
     set(CMAKE_CUDA_ARCHITECTURES 75)
 endif()
 
-# Default CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug for single-config generators (Ninja/Makefiles) when not specified
-if(NOT CMAKE_CONFIGURATION_TYPES AND NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
-  set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE Debug CACHE STRING "Build type")
-endif()
-
 project(simphony VERSION 0.7.0 LANGUAGES CXX CUDA)
 
 # Use CMake's standard testing option, but avoid enabling this project's tests