diff --git a/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/meson/setup-hook.sh b/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/meson/setup-hook.sh
index ab4b27e3bf6..6e8d94523e1 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/meson/setup-hook.sh
+++ b/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/meson/setup-hook.sh
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ mesonConfigurePhase() {
         -Dwrap_mode=${mesonWrapMode:-nodownload} \
         $mesonFlags"
 
-    mesonFlags="${crossMesonFlags+$crossMesonFlags }--buildtype=${mesonBuildType:-release} $mesonFlags"
+    mesonFlags="${crossMesonFlags+$crossMesonFlags }--buildtype=${mesonBuildType:-plain} $mesonFlags"
 
     echo "meson flags: $mesonFlags ${mesonFlagsArray[@]}"