diff --git a/cmake/common.cmake b/cmake/common.cmake
index c982e211624..78ae02faa34 100644
--- a/cmake/common.cmake
+++ b/cmake/common.cmake
@@ -3,22 +3,6 @@
 
 set(CMAKE_MODULE_PATH "${CCF_DIR}/cmake;${CMAKE_MODULE_PATH}")
 
-set(default_build_type "RelWithDebInfo")
-if(NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE AND NOT CMAKE_CONFIGURATION_TYPES)
-  message(
-    STATUS
-      "Setting build type to '${default_build_type}' as none was specified."
-  )
-  set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE
-      "${default_build_type}"
-      CACHE STRING "Choose the type of build." FORCE
-  )
-  set_property(
-    CACHE CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE PROPERTY STRINGS "Debug" "Release" "MinSizeRel"
-                                    "RelWithDebInfo"
-  )
-endif()
-
 set(CMAKE_EXPORT_COMPILE_COMMANDS ON)
 
 find_package(Threads REQUIRED)
diff --git a/cmake/preproject.cmake b/cmake/preproject.cmake
index 368577b6e05..8e8ab916a10 100644
--- a/cmake/preproject.cmake
+++ b/cmake/preproject.cmake
@@ -36,4 +36,21 @@ if(CMAKE_C_COMPILER_ID MATCHES "Clang")
   endif()
 endif()
 
+# Build Release by default, with debug info
+set(default_build_type "RelWithDebInfo")
+if(NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE AND NOT CMAKE_CONFIGURATION_TYPES)
+  message(
+    STATUS
+      "Setting build type to '${default_build_type}' as none was specified."
+  )
+  set(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE
+      "${default_build_type}"
+      CACHE STRING "Choose the type of build." FORCE
+  )
+  set_property(
+    CACHE CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE PROPERTY STRINGS "Debug" "Release" "MinSizeRel"
+                                    "RelWithDebInfo"
+  )
+endif()
+
 set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 17)